During the first two months your baby's vision will become clearer and they will start to tell the difference between different shades. As time passes your baby will start to prefer brighter colours and more detailed patterns and shapes.

Things to look out for:

• Does your baby open their eyes and look at you?
• Do they look when you move your head side to side?
• Does your baby seem to have a “turn” in their eye?
• Think if anyone in the family had serious eye disease in childhood or a “turn” (squint)
• Have you noticed anything unusual about your babies eyes?

If you are worried about your child's eyesight contact your GP or call Just One Number.

From around 12 months your baby will be able to tell the difference between near and far. They will be able to recognise people they know approaching from a distance.

Things to look out for:

• Do they have difficulty seeing small objects?
• Do they seem to have any difficulty seeing, such as the television, recognising you across the room, bumping in to things or seeming clumsy?
• Losing interest in looking at things quickly?

If you are worried about your child's eyesight contact your GP or call Just One Number. 

By the time your child is 8 years old their eye sight should be fully developed.

Things to look out for:

• Sitting close to the TV.
• Holding objects very close to their face.
• Blinking a lot.
• Eye rubbing, sore looking and complaining of sore eyes.
• One eye turning in or out.

If you are worried about your child's eyesight contact your GP or call Just One Number.

If you notice an opaque or white reflection in the pupil of the eye, a change in the colour of their iris or that a red eye reflection is missing or dulled in one eye in a photograph, see your GP as soon as possible.

Usually this is to do with the angle of the camera and is nothing to worry about, but occasionally it can be a sign of a problem behind the eye.

If you are worried about your child's eyesight contact your GP or call Just One Number.

As babies get older they will start to become more aware of their surroundings. They will start to notice sounds around them and react to loud noises. You might notice they;

• Quieten or smile to a familiar voice.
• Turn to look where a noise has come from.
• React to noises they hear often.
• Respond to their own name and words they hear a lot.

If you are concerned they are not doing any of these things speak to your GP, health visitor or ring Just One Number.

In older children, signs of a possible hearing problem can include:

• Not paying attention or concentrating.
• Not responding when their name is called.
• Talking loudly and listening to the television at a high volume.
• Difficulty spotting where a noise has come from.
• Mispronouncing words.
• A change in their progress at school.

Speak to your GP if you are concerned about your child's hearing.