When Do Babies’ Eyes Change Color and When Is It Permanent?

Guessing what color your baby’s eyes will be is an exciting part of early parenthood. Some babies are born with blue or gray eyes that change over time, while others have brown eyes from birth.^6,10 Your baby’s eye color may shift several times before it becomes permanent, which can leave parents wondering what to expect.¹ Gradual eye color changes during infancy are usually a normal part of development.¹

Most eye color changes happen within the first six to nine months of life, and by a baby’s first birthday, you usually have a good idea of their final eye color.^1,5,6 In some children, subtle changes in shade can continue until around age 3.⁷ Understanding when and why these changes happen can help explain what you’re seeing as your baby grows.

When Will My Baby’s Eyes Change Color?

Eye color changes usually begin in the first few months of life and depend largely on genetics and melanin production.

Black, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic babies typically have more melanin and are therefore more likely to be born with brown eyes that remain brown.^6,7,8 White or Caucasian babies, on the other hand, are often born with blue or gray eyes that gradually darken during their first year of life.^1,6,8 For some babies, the final eye color may not be fully set until age 2 or 3, although this is less common.⁷

Related: What Color Eyes Will Your Baby Have?

Why Do Babies’ Eyes Change Color?

A baby’s eye color comes from the iris, the colored ring around the pupil, which contains a pigment called melanin.^1,2 Melanin is also responsible for skin and hair color.^7,9 During infancy, pigment-producing cells in the iris can produce more melanin, gradually changing the eyes’ color.^1,6 These changes often slow after the first 6 months, although they can continue beyond that point.¹

Multiple genes influence how much melanin the iris produces.^3,6 People with brown eyes typically have a genetic makeup that leads to higher melanin levels. Babies with hazel or green eyes produce moderate amounts of melanin, while babies with blue eyes produce very little.^3,10

Why Do My Newborn’s Eyes Appear Blue?

If your newborn’s eyes appear blue at birth, their irises have a low melanin concentration.^6,10 Blue eyes do not contain blue pigment. Their appearance comes from the way light scatters within an iris that contains little melanin.^6,10

The eyes may stay blue if the iris doesn’t produce much more melanin after birth. If more melanin develops, they may become green, hazel, or brown.¹¹

Related: Baby Vision Development by Age: Newborn to Infant

What If My Baby’s Eyes Are Different Colors?

Some babies are born with a condition called heterochromia, which occurs when a person has eyes with different colored irises or more than one color within the same iris.⁴ Heterochromia is uncommon and usually harmless.⁴ There are several ways in which heterochromia can occur, including:^4,12

• At birth due to genetics
• As a result of another condition
• Due to a problem during eye development
• From an injury to the eye

If your baby’s eyes are different colors or you notice a new change in one eye’s color or appearance, contact your pediatrician. They can determine whether your baby needs an eye specialist’s evaluation.¹²

Genetics allow for many possible eye color combinations, which means it’s not always possible to predict a baby’s final eye color based on their parents alone.³ Watching those gradual changes unfold can be exciting. As your baby grows, you’ll get a clearer idea of the eye color they’ll keep.^1,7