When Do Baby Eyes Change Color?
Other than hearing your baby cry for the first time, seeing their eyes open is a stupefying experience in any parent's life. Their little eyes will open for the first time, and you'll finally see what they look like for the first time! Or will you?
When you see your baby's eye color for the first time, this isn't necessarily the color that they will be forever! At birth, babies' eyes can appear a bluish gray, and this is usually due to the lack of pigment. Keep reading to learn when a baby's eyes change.
Parts of the Eye
It's easy to confuse the different parts of the eye. The pupil is the black dot in the center of the eye that allows light in so that you can begin to process what you are seeing. This part of the eye will get bigger or smaller depending on how much light there is.
The outer part of the eye (the white part) is called the sclera. The sclera should usually be white but can be different colors. If your baby's sclera is a yellowish color, they may have jaundice. If they are red or pink, they may have some irritation or inflammation.
The part of the eye that has the color is the iris. When people talk about eye color, this is the part that they are talking about! Eyes come in a wide variety of colors and shades. The most common colors are brown, blue, and green, but there are also other eye colors, such as gray, red, and even multicolored eyes (heterochromia).
What Color Eyes Are Babies Born With?
The color of eyes that your baby has at birth will most likely not be the color that they carry for the rest of their life. Babies are typically born with a grayish-blue eye color that will settle into their designated eye color by approximately six months old.
Their eyes are this light color at birth because they still lack pigment, and they have been in the dark womb for nine months. Once they have grown a little and been exposed to sunlight, your little one will soon have a more permanent eye color!
How Will I Know What Color My Baby's Eyes Will Be?
The simple answer is: you won't. Unless you have a crystal ball up your sleeve, you will not know for sure what color eyes your baby will have!
Thankfully, with the use of punnett squares, we can begin to guess the likelihood of our babies having certain eye colors. Here are some possibilities we can consider when thinking about a baby's potential eye color:
If both parents have blue eyes, it is likely the baby will have blue eyes.
If both parents have brown eyes, it is likely the baby will have brown eyes.
If a grandparent has blue eyes, it will increase the likelihood that the baby will have blue eyes.
If one parent has blue eyes and the other has brown, it is close to 50/50 that the baby will have either color.
A fun fact is that brown is the most common eye color in the world. Brown eyes are even more common in areas that have hotter climates. This is because people have higher levels of melanin in their skin, eyes, and hair to help protect them from the sun.
When Will My Baby Get Their Permanent Eye Color?
Before you see your baby's eyes for the first time and get excited about the color, keep in mind that this may not be their forever eye color! Your baby's eye color should settle in by the time they are approximately six months old. This is not a hard and fast fact, as it can still change for a few years after their birth as they are continuously exposed to the elements. Their eye color will ultimately depend on how much melanin they have in their iris'.
Melanin is secreted by melanocytes, which are cells in the skin and the eyes. The more melanin the melanocytes produce, the darker the eyes and skin will be. Because of the amount of melanin required to create brown eyes, if your baby was born with brown eyes, it is likely that they will remain brown throughout their lifetime.
Alternatively, blue eyes require the least melanin. This is why as your baby ages and is exposed to more light throughout their life; their eyes can potentially get darker and change into green or hazel, and potentially brown. Whatever color your baby's eyes end up, though, you will be sure to enjoy looking longingly into their sparkling gaze! When they aren't napping, of course.
Can Babies Have Different Colored Eyes?
Sometimes, babies are born with different colored eyes. They could have both eyes a different color or part of their eye a different color. This usually happens with a disproportionate distribution of melanin and can be caused by genetic mutations, genetic inheritance, or even caused by an injury or illness.
Your baby's pediatrician can give you more information on this condition. If this comes on suddenly or changes over time, it is important to have them checked out.
Track Your Baby's Milestones with Baby Connect
As parents, one of the things we love to do the most is reminisce about when our babies were smaller. While we do live in the moment, we can't help but remember the past! "Remember when they sneezed for the first time?"
Remembering when your baby reaches milestones, learns new skills, or even gets their first teeth are all things that many parents want to keep track of. Not only is this helpful for you to answer questions when asked by friends and family, but it will also help in case their pediatrician has questions. Baby Connect was designed with this in mind and is an invaluable resource to parents everywhere!
