What my baby really sees

The sense of sight, which was the least utilized in the mother's womb, takes months to develop. A baby's vision differs from that of an adult in several aspects: visual acuity, visual field, depth perception, and color perception. If an adult had the same vision as a one-month-old baby, we would consider them blind.

In the first few weeks after birth, babies can only perceive large, simple patterns and high-contrast images. These carefully selected motifs can be found in the HANNIline Contrast Card Set 0+, which was designed in collaboration with developmental psychologists. With the baby-friendly contrast cards, you can spark your baby's curiosity, lay the foundation for future language development, and playfully strengthen your bond. How does it work?

Initially, babies see the world around them as if through frosted glass – very blurry. How can you imagine this? Here you can see a small colorful train through the eyes of a baby:

SPARKING CURIOSITY

Newborns can distinguish between light and dark but perceive primarily black-white colors. They begin to recognize colors within the first few months of life—first red, then green, yellow, and blue. It takes about six months for their visual acuity and contrast sensitivity to approach that of an adult in their immediate surroundings. However, it can take up to three years for children to achieve the full visual acuity of an adult.

Despite the significant visual limitations in the first few weeks, newborns and babies can still meet their needs well. They can recognize their parents' faces and distinguish them from strangers by focusing on the person's hairline. Babies see best at a distance of about 20-30 cm, which is approximately the distance between a mother's breast and her face. The lack of fine motor skills makes the absence of sharp vision less of an issue.

Unlike pastel-colored objects, a newborn can easily perceive the HANNIline cards with bright colors and contrasts. This quickly captures the baby's attention and sparks an interest in seeing—whether at home, in a stroller, or in the car.

We offer three contrast card sets that support babies' development and are tailored to their vision capabilities in many ways: color and motif selection, as well as detail accuracy. For example, in the first set 0+, we use very simple black-and-white motifs with red accents from the baby's immediate surroundings—a house, a teddy bear, or a flower. The set 6+ features a colorful and more detailed world, including animals, perfect for all curious little ones.

FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT

Speaking is crucial not only for the calming effect of a familiar voice but also for healthy brain development during the first years of life. Just like visual stimuli, verbal stimuli are essential. "A lack of spoken words can virtually paralyze the brain." (C. Meves) Studies show that supporting language development from day one is a valuable investment in the future. However, adults often find it challenging to converse with newborns. Our cards are a perfect aid to practice the first sounds (e.g., animal noises), explain the world around them, and lay the foundation for future language development. The more you talk to your baby, the easier it will be for them to learn the language and recognize speech patterns.

With the Contrast Card Set 3+, your baby can learn a lot about rural life—What sounds does a tractor make? What does a cow look like? What color is a duck's beak? You can create colorful stories from the individual cards across all sets—there are virtually no limits to creativity. If you need a creative impulse, QR codes can play the appropriate sounds. These codes also contain a short story that can serve as inspiration for a cozy storytelling time.

STRENGTHENING BONDS

Parents are their babies' first and best teachers. When a mother looks at her baby and talks to them, the baby develops affection and love even faster. Our cards are an invitation to spend more active time with the baby from the first month—not only for the mother or father but also for the whole family and friends. This way, the bond can be strengthened in a playful manner.

What should you keep in mind? Important tips for using the contrast cards are summarized in the parent guide, which is included in every pack. A baby's brain is programmed to learn from its interactions with the environment and its caregivers. The outside world is, therefore, the brain's nourishment, and it is up to us how we shape this world for our baby. Our cards are a perfect gift for every baby—a gift for a lifetime.