Babies are not born with clear vision. In the first 3 months, infants cannot see much beyond 8 to 10 inches from their faces- the perfect distance to gaze up at mom or dad while being lovingly cradled. Then, as their muscles develop so does their vision and eye-movement control. They begin to better judge distances and make progress in grasping at objects they see. By 9-12 months, a baby should be able to coordinate their eyes and hands together. 

It is just before or during this stage that parents are encouraged to take their babies in for an eye exam. The optometrist will check for vision acuity, eye movement ability and any other issues related to eye health. Much of a baby's early development is dependent upon their exposure to stimulus, and most parents rely on audio-visual stimulus in the early months of infancy. Should a baby have any issues with vision, early detection can help parents adjust or start corrective measures.