When Do Baby's Eyes Change Color: Factors for a Possible Development in Determining the Eye Color

Since the minute you first laid eyes on the baby, you've undeniably fallen in love with their appealing gaze.

You may have also heard beliefs about the possibility of babies' eye colors to experience changes within the initial year, and you might be interested about whether this is a mere fantasy or an accurate situation.

Well, it's true! A baby's eye color can indeed change in shade during the first 12 months of life, especially if the baby has fair skin and light eyes.

What Causes the Change in Color of Infants' Eyes

To inquire further into the reasons behind these variations, we consulted with experts to understand why some babies encountered adjustments in eye color and when you can foresee the discovery of your little one's true eye shades.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes that, at birth, especially for fair-skinned babies, eyes tend to be light-colored due to little melanin, the pigment in control for color in eyes, skin, and hair.

According to Dr. Douglas Fredrick, a pediatric ophthalmologist at Stanford Children's Health in Palo Alto, California, the amount of melanin in the iris, the colored part of the eye, precepts the eventual eye color.

After birth, vulnerability to light prompts melanin production, adding to the possible darkening or alteration of eye color over time. Importantly,

Dr. Fredrick notes that the color change is not caused by pigments like blue, gray, green, or hazel, as there is only brown pigment in the eye, determining whether the eyes will be light or dark.

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Factors Influencing the Baby's Eye Color

As for predicting the eye color your baby will have, genetics play a crucial role in determining the amount of melanin or pigment in their body. While it might seem straightforward that two brown-eyed parents would have a brown-eyed baby, multiple genes contribute to eye color, making it more complex.

Dr. Fredrick emphasizes the involvement of genetics from both parents and even grandparents, highlighting the difficulty in predicting a baby's eye color in advance. The process is solely influenced by genetics, unaffected by factors like diet, activities, or light exposure.

If your baby is born with brown eyes, it means their genetic code has already determined the melanin level, and their eye color won't change. However, not all babies with light-colored eyes undergo darkening; sometimes, the blue, green, gray, or hazel hues remain constant.

The most significant change in eye color typically occurs between 6 to 9 months of life, with a gradual shift that might surprise you one day. By 12 months, most babies will settle into their permanent eye color, though Dr. Fredrick notes rare instances of continued changes up to age 6.

While such changes are generally harmless, if you notice unusual circumstances like a single eye changing color or cloudiness in your baby's eye (though this is exceptionally rare), it's advisable to consult a pediatrician, pediatric ophthalmologist, or healthcare provider for further evaluation.

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