A typical 4‑month‑old can see clearly for several feet and often up to around 10–12 feet, though fine detail is still developing and vision is not yet adult‑sharp. This is far beyond the 8–12 inches of a newborn, so many babies at 4 months can recognize familiar faces and track objects from across a small room.

What a 4‑month‑old can see

By 4 months, babies generally:

• See objects and people several feet away, with many able to notice and follow someone moving across the room.

• Have much better color vision, noticing bright, high‑contrast colors like red and blue more easily.

Their depth perception is starting to improve, so they are better at telling how far away something is and may reach more accurately for nearby toys.

Practical takeaways for parents

• Expect your baby to spot you from across a small room and watch you move around, even if distant details are a bit blurry.

• Offer toys and faces within a few feet for the most engaging visual play, but know they can also enjoy looking out windows or at things on the wall.

• If your baby doesn’t seem to make eye contact at close range or doesn’t follow faces or toys at all, discussing this with a pediatrician or pediatric eye doctor is recommended.