Babies usually start looking you in the eye when they are about six to eight weeks old. Your face is going to be what they look at most, so if your baby doesn't make eye contact by their two month well visit, be sure to mention it to your pediatrician so they can take another look.
As per the growth milestones set by pediatricians, most babies start to make eye contact at around three months of age. If an infant fails to make eye contact in the first six months, immediate consultation with an expert is recommended.
Some babies become overstimulated by eye contact and the neural messages their brain is receiving! They might refuse to have eye contact for some time afterwards, even for weeks. Over time you will learn your baby's particular personality and know their cues for when they're keen to have eye contact.
For the First Few Months…
It is normal for a baby's eyes to wander or move randomly during the first couple months of life because they are learning how to use their eyes together.
It takes your baby's eyes some time to adjust to the world, so at first they might not always look or function the way you expect. For example, it's perfectly normal in the first three months of life for your infant's eyes to be crossed, or for him not to be able to see much past your face when you're holding him.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that a baby can show signs of ASD from the age of 9 months . However, the Autism Science Foundation states that early signs of ASD may appear in babies as young as 2 months of age.
Around 2 months old, babies can focus and make eye contact. The older the infant gets, the more interactive and progressive the eye contact becomes." Once your child hits the six-month mark, they should be interested in the people around them and their general environment.
Autism is a complex brain disorder that affects about 1 in 88 children. A main symptom is impaired social interaction, including a lack of eye contact.
Generally, you should expect a typically developing infant to scan between four and eight times per minute. The older the child, the more times he/she should scan between the two objects5.
When they feel that they need a break from too many sights and sounds, they may look away. As they get older, their whole head may turn from you. Do not feel rejected when your baby looks away; this is a normal part of your baby's development and one way for them to control how aroused or excited they become.
You can use play to help your child increase eye contact, and there are countless ways to do so. With young children, use peek-a-boo to practice getting and giving eye contact. Use a smile, tickle, laugh, hug, squeeze, make funny faces, make funny sounds, or whatever your child likes, to reinforce when your eyes meet.
In the United States, avoiding eye contact sends the message that you are uncomfortable in the situation. You may be perceived as rude, unfriendly or even arrogant. Depending on the circumstances, you may appear to be submissive or overly dominant.
A Word From Verywell
Eye contact is an important social-emotional skill that helps us build bonds, learn, feel safe, and communicate. When babies and children avoid direct gaze, it can be a normal response to uncomfortable feelings or situations, but it can also point to other issues.
Autism signs by 3 months
They don't respond to loud noises. They don't grasp and hold objects. They don't smile at people. They don't babble.
Unusual body movements
Infants who may later be diagnosed with autism may repeatedly stiffen their arms, hands, or legs. They may also display unusual body movements, such as rotating the hands on the wrists, uncommon postures, or other repetitive behaviors.
At both ages, those in the autism and disability groups are more likely than the controls to transition quickly from whimpering to intense crying. This suggests that the children have trouble managing their emotions, the researchers say.
Children with High Functioning Autism have a problem maintaining eye contact with the parent or caregiver. They may not respond to caregivers in the way other children do. They may not laugh or play with the same mannerisms.
Some children show ASD symptoms within the first 12 months of life. In others, symptoms may not show up until 24 months of age or later. Some children with ASD gain new skills and meet developmental milestones until around 18 to 24 months of age, and then they stop gaining new skills or lose the skills they once had.
Your baby can see objects about 45 cm away. Your baby will watch you move around now, following you with their eyes from side to side as well as up and down. Your 2-month-old is more alert to sound and will look at you when you talk. Your baby is also more vocal, gurgling and making single vowel sounds like 'a' or 'o'.
Your 2-month-old is wide-eyed and curious, smiling at faces and engaging with everything around her/him. Babies at this age are social and love to interact. Here is how your little one will be growing, learning and changing during this sweet age.
Respond enthusiastically to your baby's sounds and smiles. Tell your baby what they are looking at or doing and what you're doing. Name familiar objects as you touch them or bring them to your baby. Have "conversations" with your baby.
Early signs of autism or other developmental delays include the following: 2 months: Doesn't respond to loud sounds, watch things as they move, smile at people, or bring hands to mouth. Can't hold head up when pushing up while on tummy.
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have been found to demonstrate lower levels of social smiling than typically developing children and children with other developmental disorders (Dawson, Hill, Spencer, Galbert, & Watson, 1990; Kasari, Sigman, Mundy, & Yirmiya, 1990; Wetherby, Prizant, & Hutchinson, 1998).
While you can't prevent having a child with an autistic disorder, you can increase your odds of having a healthy baby by doing these lifestyle changes: Live healthy. Have regular check-ups, eat well-balanced meals, and exercise. Make sure you have good prenatal care, and take all recommended vitamins and supplements.