Baby's eye color - when is it determined?

Does your child have bright blue eyes ? Wait until the first birthday to say whether he inherited them from mom or dad, because the color could change: the melanin responsible for the color of the iris affects the first year of the child's birth . And if you notice a slight tremor, do not be afraid - in the first months of life is normal.

You have just given birth and as soon as you take your child in your arms, you look into his eyes. And one of the first questions you ask yourself is: What color are his eyes ? But to find out their exact color, you will have to wait at least until he is one year old.

When a child is born , his eyes are always gray or blue because melanin is in small amounts. The color of the iris , as well as the color of the skin and hair , depends on the amount of melanin. In fact, melanin is produced by special cells called melanocytes, which are activated by light. Before birth, the baby stayed in the dark for 9 months, so the melanocytes are activated after birth and complete their work around the first year. Therefore, only after your child's first birthday will you be really sure what color his eyes are.

Your child will have blue eyes if his melanocytes produce less melanin, and vice versa if they produce more, they will be green or hazelnut . When melanocytes are very active, the eyes will be brown (the most common color).

Eye color is determined by a hereditary gene , but there is no established rule, as is commonly thought.

• Two blue-eyed parents are more likely to have blue -eyed children , but this is not always the case.
• Two parents with brown eyes are more likely to have their child's eyes brown , but this is not a guarantee.
• If one parent has brown eyes and the other has blue eyes, the probability of inheriting the eyes of one or the other parent is equally high.
• If one of the grandparents has blue eyes and the parents have brown eyes, the child is more likely to have blue eyes .

Specific eye movements in newborns

Apart from the color of the eyes , in the first months the parents notice with concern that the children are a little different , but this is quite normal. Most of the development of the eyes is due to the brain. One of the great challenges for the brain is to coordinate the movements of both eyes in one direction. For these movements to be harmonious, the two hemispheres of the brain must cooperate by analyzing the information and directing the eye movements in the desired direction.

By the end of the second month, the child may have difficulty tracking the movements of a rocking toy, but after the second month he will be able to move his eyes from left to right and back to the direction of the object's rocking.

The other major change in vision occurs in the sixth month . At this age, the two hemispheres of the brain are on good terms, and the two eyes always follow together something they want to see. Then the eyes should move in the same direction, even if one is closed at that moment. To check that eye movements are coordinated, cover one eye and then open it suddenly and see if both are pointing in the same direction or not.

Sometimes the shape of a young child 's head creates illusions of eye defects , but this is not the case. For example, if a newborn has a larger nasal bridge, the eyes may look unnaturally concave. But you can share your concerns with your pediatrician for a more detailed explanation.

If after the sixth month you notice any abnormalities in eye movement , it is necessary to consult your child 's doctor. The reason may be that one eye sees better than the other. This is the so-called blurred vision. In this case, it is important to take action as soon as possible, as soon as possible before the third year. Therapy depends on the severity of the problem. In some children, lenses or apertures are placed on the eye to draw the brain's attention to the less developed eye.