Mesmerised Black and White Gifts for Newborns

1. Mesmerised Flash Cards

These fun, simple, flash card graphics will not only help your baby's developing vision, but will keep your baby 'mesmerised' and engaged during the early months of life. Use the cards as flash cards or as wall art in a baby's room. Babies will love to look at them from their cot or while on the the change table.

• Suitable for babies aged 0-9 months
• Each set contains 8 double sided cards printed on thick board with rounded corners
• Printed with baby safe vegetable inks

2. Mesmerised Black and White Board Book

From a ladybug and its spots, to a snail crawling up the side of the page, the designs will delight both parents and baby. Black and white images with sharp outlines are much easier for baby to see in the first few months of life when it is hard for them to focus, and hard for them to see shades of colour. Mesmerised will not only keep your baby stimulated and engaged, but will also help to nurture visual development. This book is a perfect baby shower or new born gift.

• Suitable for babies aged 0-6 months
• 18 page board book measuring 15cm x 15cm with rounded corners
• Printed with baby safe vegetable inks

3. Mesmerised Faces for Baby Black Soft Book

Each face has been carefully designed in a simple manner to make it easy for baby to recognise the basic features of the face, and to incorporate shapes and patterns that will stimulate babies vision. Faces for baby is a concertina-style book that is able to stand up on the floor beside baby and is easy to grab and hold when baby gets a bit older.

• Suitable for babies aged 0-9 months
• 4 double sided panels, 14.5cm x 14.5cm
• 100% cotton fabric outer, foam inner.
• Conforms to Australian/NZ Toy Safety Standard AS/NZS ISO 8124

Why black and white for babies?

A newborn babies eye sight is very poor. While babies are capable of seeing images, the brain is still in the development stage for processing these images. Their vision is blurry, and limited to about 30cm from baby's face. While baby may be able to see some colour, they will find it difficult to differentiate between shades and tones. Black and white high contrasting images are therefore much easier for baby  to see in the first few months of life. High contrasting images are an ideal visual stimulant for a newborn's eyes. A baby’s eyesight develops over the first 6 months of life gradually enabling them to see some bright colour at around 2 months of age, and then lighter shades of colour over the following months. Length and depth of vision will also gradually increase during these months. Mesmerised products can also be used to encourage babies to turn their heads to both sides - exercising muscles and encouraging movement to help avoid a flat spot on one side of their head.

About the author

Katey Love is a talented Australian designer and illustrator based in Hobart, Tasmania. Katey is a mother to two girls and developed these 3 products after finding her daughters were "mesmerised" by black and white images as babies.