- At birth a baby’s retina is not fully developed; a newborn retina can only detect EXTREME contrasts between light and dark, or black and white.
- High-contrast, black and white images with sharp outlines are much easier for baby to see in the first few months of life while eyesight is still developing.
- With everything appearing a little out-of-focus it’s no surprise that your baby will be completely absorbed when a book of black and white images is put in front of them.
- “Anything with very obvious contrast – such as black and white edges and lines – is an optimal stimulant for the visual system. This type of stimulation basically gets the system up and running” – Professor Usha Goswami, director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education at Cambridge University.
Why are black and white books important for a baby’s development?
Babies are not born knowing how to see. They have to learn to ‘see’ just as they have to learn how to walk and talk. The eyes must learn to work together and also how to focus. Messages and pathways from the eye to the brain will form over time depending on the baby’s visual experiences. Repeated use of black and white imagery will help grow these pathways and stimulate development of the optic nerve.
Sensory stimulation is vital for developing sensory pathways in the brain and to promote normal development. When we are born we have billions of neurons which are not fully connected at birth. Our brains need to build synapses to connect these neurons and thus form pathways for messages to reach the brain (think of it like wiring). Research has shown that a newborn’s brain develops 2-3 million synapses every second! Connections between these synapses are strengthened through repeated positive activities and sensory experiences. If not used, the synapses may die out and lead to a phenomenon known as pruning. Sensory stimulation (visual, sound, touch, smell) also helps the child learn about the world, as well as communicate and form attachments to other people. Failing to provide children with adequate sensory stimulation puts them at a high risk of developmental and cognitive delays.
What makes our black and white books the best high-contrast books on the market?
- Our images have been designed specifically for newborn vision
- Unlike other high-contrast baby books, we don’t include fine lines or small detail; the graphics are optimised for developing eyes
- Our images are made up of bold patterns and shapes that are easy for young babies to focus on
- When using colour we only use contrasting colour; there are no lighter shades or tones that would be confusing to the newborn eye
- Our black and white books are printed with baby-safe inks
- Our cloth books are printed on baby-friendsly organic cotton
- We are yet to come across a baby that hasn’t loved staring at our books!
A baby’s eyesight will continue to develop over the first 6 months – use of our specially designed black and white, and high-contrast books, will help to nurture that development by helping , while also providing much-needed entertainment and stimulation for your baby.
See our ‘Baby Vision Guide‘ for a month-by-month guide to infant visual development.
High-contrast books are top of the list of recommended books for babies on the Raising Children website.