Why is my baby staring at the ceiling fan?
Babies have a tendency to look at simple things with so much fascination, it kind of makes you question what processes and connections are going on their freshly developing minds. But sometimes babies can stare at things for what seems like hours, and it may be concerning, like staring at the ceiling fan.
Is a ceiling fan OK for a newborn?
It doesn't matter what type of ceiling fan you have. It can be an ugly, outdated fan or a new one. As long as it's moving and creates some sort of contrast against the ceiling, your baby will probably love it. Why Ceiling Fans?
What do babies look for in a ceiling design?
But when it comes to the ceiling specifically, there might be some contrast there that interests them, like the light fixture or a shadow. "Newborns and infants are visually attracted to stark contrast. For example, instead of looking out the window, they will fix on where the window meets the frame, where light meets dark," Kohn says.
Can babies with autism stare at ceiling fans?
The article explained that doctors can begin screening a baby for autism at 18 months, but there is so much variability in how each individual baby develops, it is hard to make a reliable diagnosis. If your baby is under 4 months of age, staring at a ceiling fan may just be visually stimulating for them.
The Motion
One of the reasons the ceiling fan attracts your baby’s attention is that your baby notices the movement of the fan. Since your baby is likely lying on the floor or in his crib on his back, he is automatically looking up.
The Light
If your ceiling fan also has a light on it, your baby might be captivated by the bright light on the fan. If the room is otherwise dark, the ceiling fan may provide the only source of light in the room, which makes it even more obvious to your baby. Your baby might also notice the shadows on the ceiling when the light is on.
The Action
Babies tend to get bored just like adults do! Your baby might favor looking at the ceiling fan because your baby is bored and craving a bit of action. Those fan blades that are moving around and around may even excite your little one because your baby is bored and ready to move and play.
The Calming Force
Some babies look at the ceiling fan because this can be a very calming activity for them. The ceiling fan moves at a constant speed, so this can be soothing for a baby to watch. You might even find that your baby falls asleep watching the ceiling fan as it spins. Notice how your baby’s eyes get heavier and heavier as he continues to watch the fan.
Swinging Objects
Take a moment to observe your ceiling fan. Does your ceiling fan have any fancy fan pulls or other pulls hanging from it? For example, some people attach fancy pulls such as hummingbirds or glittery chains from their ceiling fans. One idea to consider is that your baby may not be captivated by the ceiling fan.
The Odd Shape
You may even notice that your baby stares at the ceiling fan when it isn’t even on. This may seem odd because the fan isn’t moving, yet your baby stares at it constantly. This is a very common occurrence. One reason so many babies stare at ceiling fans when they are off is simply that these are strange looking objects.
The Need for Interaction
If your baby spends a lot of time staring at the ceiling fan, you may take it as a sign to provide some other form of stimulation for a bit just to give your baby time away from the fan. For example, this is a good time to get the baby’s attention on another activity such as reading a book, listening to music, or playing with toys.
Why do kids stare at ceiling fans?
Many experts believe that when older children tend to stare at things like ceiling fans, it can be a sign that they are on the autism spectrum.
How old should a baby be to stare at a ceiling fan?
If your baby is under 4 months of age, staring at a ceiling fan may just be visually stimulating for them. If your baby is older than that, or if you see signs that concern you, just keep your pediatrician in the loop.
When does a baby's vision develop?
A baby’s vision develops slowly over their first six to eight months, notes Gritchen, which is one of the reasons why high contrast objects and moving objects like ceiling fans are more likely to attract the baby’s attention.
When should a baby be able to see the ceiling?
So your baby should be able to make and maintain eye contact with you by 9 weeks old. But when it comes to the ceiling specifically, there might be some contrast there that interests them, like the light fixture or a shadow. "Newborns and infants are visually attracted to stark contrast.
How long does it take for a baby to stare at the ceiling?
But Hafeez says that it may not be normal for a baby to stare at the ceiling after about 12 to 16 weeks.
Why do babies cross their eyes?
You may even notice that your baby frequently crosses their eyes. Kohn says this is because "they are not focused on anything and their eye muscles are a bit weak.". Usually this goes away by 2 to 4 months old, and can even be a reason why your child keeps looking up at the ceiling — "weakness of their extraocular muscles, ...
What is the brain of an infant?
An infant’s brain is developing, absorbing, and processing their new surroundings. This is happening while their eyes are getting used to our world, and their vision is developing focus," all while also becoming accustomed to "visual and audio cues that represent safety, nourishment, and contact.". Basically, it's a lot.
About Author
Sangeetha loves balancing her personal and professional life. These days, the major chunk of her time is spent on listening to 'how to beat the Piggy from robloks'; thanks to her 8 year old daughter.
3 Comments
Sooo true, I was super worried as to why the baby is looking at the ceiling fan day and night !
Why is the fan at a low speed good for babies?
Keeping the fan at a low speed provides the right amount of white noise without being too loud. The low speed also insures that the baby isn’t losing too much body heat.
How do ceiling fans help with SIDS?
They effectively then suffocate in their sleep. Ceiling fans reduce the risk of SIDS by improving air flow in the room. With a ceiling fan constantly circulating the air, carbon dioxide is moved away from the face and new air replaces it. This can keep your baby’s breathing healthy.
Why do babies breathe in carbon dioxide?
The supposed cause of SIDS is that babies breathe in too much carbon dioxide from the exhalation of relatives sleeping with them or soft bedding, toys, or poor ventilation keeping their own exhalation too close to their face. When they’re breathing in too much carbon dioxide, they’re not getting enough oxygen.
How to prevent SIDS in newborn?
There are other methods you should use to prevent SIDS, such as placing your baby on their back to sleep and keeping toys and other soft bedding out of the crib. Ceiling fans can help cut down risk, though.
How to keep baby from getting cold from fan?
The best way to ensure that your baby doesn’t get too cold from the fan is to not place the crib directly under the fan. Ceiling fans also create ventilation and air circulation that can reduce your baby’s risk of SIDS.
Is it safe to have a ceiling fan in a nursery?
With the distraction of setting up the nursery, some parents might not even stop to question whether or not a ceiling fan is safe. Ceiling fans are indeed safe for babies, as long as you use them properly. Contents [ show]
Can a baby breathe in a fan?
Don’t feel bad about not installing the fan yourself; look at it as the right choice for the safety of your baby. Be sure to clean your fan monthly. Dust and dirt from the air can build up on your fan’s blades. If pieces of this buildup fall off of your fan, a baby can breathe them in and potentially choke.
