Your baby's vision – previously about 20/40 at best – is now almost adult-like in its clarity and depth perception. Though your baby's short-range sight is still best, his or her long-range vision is good enough to recognize people and objects across a room. Your baby may see a toy on the other side of the room and try to crawl toward it. His or her eyes are also probably close to their final color, though you may see subtle changes later.

Getting handy

Your baby may start looking for dropped objects and may use an index finger to point at them. Pieces of food can now be raked up by fingers and held in a closed fist. Your baby has learned to open a hand to drop and throw objects with greater precision and is probably beginning to master the pincer grasp, too – the delicate maneuver that lets him or her pick up small objects with the thumb and first finger.

Your baby's also a fan of poking things and getting those little fingers into holes, making this a great time to cover outlets around the house.

Your baby's fears

There'll be times when your baby is afraid of things he or she can't understand. Even things that weren't a worry before, like a ringing doorbell or a whistling teakettle, may now cause fright. When this happens, the most important thing you can do as a parent is to offer comfort and reassurance. Tell your baby that you're there and everything is okay. A hug or a snuggle may be all he or she needs.

Related Items Will my baby's eyes stay this color? Developmental milestones: Sight My baby won't let me comfort her when she cries. Help!