Why Babies Stare At You So Much

Have you been out and about and noticed a baby staring at you like you hold all the answers to the universe? It can seem odd and a bit creepy but this is completely normal. Babies are inquisitive by nature and are very curious during the first few months after birth as everything is new to them. They want to take in their environment and their surroundings. Development also plays an important role in babies unintentionally getting into a staring competition with you, but there may also be other reasons why they can’t take their eyes off of you. If you’d like to know more about why babies stare so much, this is the article for you. Read on!

In This Article

1. You Are Wearing Bright Colors

You don’t have to don a flashy neon green t-shirt to capture a baby’s attention; even a lovely shade of pink or a bright yellow will suffice. A baby’s vision evolves as they grow, and a critical aspect of this development is exposure to vibrant colors. Research indicates that newborns find it easier to see and focus on high-contrast objects and colors that sharply contrast with each other (1). This explains why a baby might fixate on you when you wear bright jewelry, clothing, or if you have brightly colored hair, such as orange.

2. You Have Unique Features

You Have Unique Features
share button

Image: Shutterstock

If you’ve ever held a baby and found them reaching for your glasses or poking at your freckles, now you understand why. Babies can’t resist, they’re simply fascinated by your distinctive features. This fascination can extend to accessories you might be wearing that they don’t encounter frequently, so you should be cautious about safeguarding your ears if you’re donning long, dangling earrings. It’s important to remember that everything babies encounter or gaze upon is new to them each day, and their curiosity is piqued by any unique feature they’ve never seen before. Whether it’s colorful glasses, an unusual beard shape, a less common hair color, or an abundance of freckles, these traits are likely to capture a baby’s attention and pique their interest. You’re the lucky one in their eyes!

3. They Are Drawn To Movement

Typically, babies start to recognise movements upon turning 8 weeks or 3 months old (2). This is when their sensory movement starts to develop even more which is important as it is integral in helping the brain develop well. This is why you may wake up to find your 3 month old lying in their crib, staring at the ceiling fan like their life depends on it or why they are obsessed with games like peek-a-boo. They cause a lot of stimulation and make the baby look! Your baby could not be more impressed.

4. You’re Their Mother

You’re Their Mother
share button

Image: Shutterstock

If you’re the baby’s mother, it’s pretty straightforward. They’re gazing at you because they recognize you as their mom. Studies have even shown that newborns can distinguish their mother’s face from that of a stranger. Babies begin to identify their mother’s voice even before they see her, as early as the third trimester of pregnancy (3). They can hear it, albeit softly and muffled, and they can even hear their mother’s heartbeat (4). It’s quite fascinating! Shortly after birth, babies also use their sense of smell to determine who is caring for them. This is one of the reasons why skin-to-skin contact is emphasized right after delivery.

5. They Think You’re Beautiful

They Think You’re Beautiful
share button

Image: Shutterstock

Beauty is subjective, and in this case, the baby’s eyes are the judges. Surprisingly, research indicates that babies have a preference for gazing at faces they find attractive. To investigate this, researchers conducted experiments where infants were shown faces of individuals considered attractive by adults, as well as faces of individuals considered less attractive by adults. The results revealed that infants spent more time looking at the attractive faces compared to the less attractive ones. So, if you find a baby staring at you while you’re out and about, consider it a flattering compliment – you’re looking exceptionally good that day!

Finding a baby randomly staring at you can throw you off. But we promise that they are not having murderous thoughts, no matter how intense their eye contact is. On the contrary, they probably find you fascinating, beautiful or are just enamored by experiencing you for the first time. Or maybe you’re just moving your hands around too much. Whatever the case may be, we hope this article clarified why babies can’t take their eyes off of you!

Was this article helpful?
thumbsupthumbsdown
The following two tabs change content below.