Before I was pregnant, I started noticing black and white cards on Amazon. I was pretty confused about what they were about or how they could be of any use. One day, a friend of mine told me about the importance of black and white books for her child who has a visual impairment. Looking to support her, I started to look into black and white books, also called high-contrast books, and I learned they have so much value; both for her child and for all newborn babies. This led me to learn more about high-contrast baby items which included black and white picture cards and their benefits in using them with newborns. This is a simple item that can be easily made (or bought) and creates an easy activity for you to set up for your baby to help them grow!
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What Are Black and White Pictures for Babies?
A high-contrast card would have colors of contrasting colors such as black, white and red with a simple design. They might incorporate more colors or more complicated patterns as the baby grows.
Why Black and White Picture for Babies
Black and white picture cards are one of the very first sensory development activities for babies as they are a great way to help your baby develop visual control. Your newborn baby has just landed in a new and exciting place that is completely different from where they resided for the last 9ish months. Of course, they will want to explore their new environment with their sight! However, they will not have full control over their eye muscles and their vision will be blurry and gray. They will only be able to focus on items about 8 to 10 inches away. About the distance to your face when holding your little one. Black and white pictures are a great way to help them focus on an item. The high contrast between black and white on these cards helps your baby make out pictures that would otherwise be blurry or blended if other colors were used. The cards are simple and won’t visually overstimulate your baby or upset them.
Where and When Should I Use Black and White Pictures for Babies?
I found there were three main opportunities for engaging my little girl in high-contrast cards. The best opportunity for this type of play was during tummy time. You can prop them up against a box, book, or pole of their play gym. You can also make (see below) or buy an accordion-style folder to use to help prop them up. I would also tape some cards to the wall next to her diaper-changing station to give her something new to look at during diaper changes. And one of my favorite ways to use them was in the car! I had a handy dandy card holder that hooked around the headrest in the car so the cards faced her while she was in her car seat. Below, is a DIY version of the car holder. This was one of my favorite items to have because, in the beginning, she did NOT love the car. The black and white pictures gave her something new to focus on. Babies LOVE novelty as they explore the world around them, so be sure to mix it up: put cards in new places or change out the cards from time to time. Changing it up will keep her interested. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
Money Saving DIY Black and White Pictures for Babies
Lucky for us tired parents, this baby item is one of the easiest to make AND one of the most engaging items for them! If you have paper, a black marker, tape, and 5-10 minutes you will be able to make these cards. If you have the resources and want something a little fancier, I have some slightly more complex DIYs included. Below I will show you two different ways to make these cards. Pick the one that works best for your family! I will also show you several ways to create holders for these cards. If you have the time and finances, consider making a holder. However, holders are not necessary as you can always just tape the card wherever you want it! I suggest reading through and/or looking at the pictures of each style and holder to help you determine what you need and what resources you have to dedicate to this project.
DIY #1 The Quick Style:
For this method, you will need white paper/index cards/cardstock and a marker. Stencils and a red marker are optional.
- Cut the paper to the desired size.
- Use a black marker to make designs on the card.
- Optional: Use the red marker to add a pop of color.
- Optional: Laminate the pages with contact paper, clear packing tape, or by using a laminating machine.
- Optional: See the picture below for ideas on how to tie your cards together so they can stand up on their own during tummy time.
DIY #2 The Artsy Style
For this method, you will need white paper, black paper, scissors, a pencil, and a glue stick. Stencils, red paper, and address labels are optional.
- Cut some black and white paper to the desired size cards.
- Draw and/or trace designs on new pages of black and white paper.
- Cut out the designs.
- Glue on to the previously cut cards.
- Optional: Cut out designs from red paper to add a pop of color.
- Optional: Laminate your cards with contact paper, a laminating machine, or clear packing tape.
- Optional: See the picture below for ideas on how to tie your cards together so they can stand up on their own during tummy time.
DIY #3 The Techy Style
For this method, you will need a computer, white paper or card stock, and a printer and some understanding of Google Slides.
- First, open Google Slides.
- Then, go to File>page setup>customize
- After that, enter the size you want your picture cards to be.
- Next, click the plus sign to add a page for each picture card you want to make.
- Once you have your card pages set up, insert a shape on the first page, such as a heart.
- Then, fill in the heart with black, and make the background of the page white.
- Repeat with another shape on each page.
- Some of the pictures can be filled in white with black backgrounds.
- You can also search for “black line” clip art on the internet and fill it in with black or make the background black.
- Print your pages and cut out.
- Optional: Add red designs for a pop of color. Must use a color printer for this option.
- Optional: Laminate your picture cards with contact paper, a laminating machine, or clear packing tape.
- Optional: See the picture below for ideas on how to tie your cards together so they can stand up on their own during tummy time.
DIY Holders for Black and White Pictures for Babies
DIY #1 The Accordion Style
If you want your picture cards to stand up on their own during tummy time, use one of the methods shown in the picture to tie the cards together.
DIY # 5 Easy Accordion Holder
For this holder, you will need a poster board and a black marker.
- Cut a rectangular piece off the poster board. I recommend 28×7 inches.
- Fold the rectangular piece in half. Then fold it in half again. This will create 4 squares.
- Unfold and refold it accordion style.
- Next, create designs on the board. You can do this by choosing one of these options:
- Cut and glue paper designs onto the rectangular piece
- Print out black and white images and glue them on the rectangular piece
- Draw black and white designs with markers on the rectangular piece.
- Optional: Add a pop of red
- Optional: Laminate the holder with contact paper, clear packing tape, or by using a large laminating machine.
DIY # 6 Versatile Accordion Holder
This accordion holder takes a little more time and materials. However, you are able to change the cards. For this DIY, you’ll need duct tape, clear page protectors, and a poster board.
- Cut a rectangular piece out of the poster board. Make sure it is long and tall enough to hold the cards you want to use.
- Fold the rectangular piece into four rectangles. Fold the rectangular piece back and forth accordion style.
- Cut four clear page protectors to go on each of the four rectangles. The page protectors should be slightly smaller than the rectangles. They should leave about a cm of cardboard on each side.
- Using the duct tape, tape the page protectors down on three of the sides.
- Now you are able to slide cards in and out through the open side!
DIY #7 Convertible Card Holder
This accordion holder allows you to use these cards as a single card or attach them together to use as an accordion holder during tummy time. For this DIY, you’ll need black and white cards, a hole puncher, and yarn.
- Hole punch two holes on each side of your black and white cards.
- Tie them together with yarn.
- If you want to take them apart, it is very easy to do and use the cards separately!
- Alternate: You can also do this with tape, but it is harder to take them apart this way.
DIY #8 Easy and Quick Car Holder
This car card holder allows you to hang black and white designs in the car to allow your baby to have something to look at. For this DIY, you’ll need white cardboard, a black marker, duct tape, and string.
- Cut out a piece of cardboard.
- Next, create designs on the board. You can do this by choosing one of these options:
- Cut and glue paper designs onto the rectangular piece
- Print out black and white images and glue them on the rectangular piece
- Draw black and white designs with markers on the rectangular piece.
- Optional: Add a pop of red
- Tape yarn to the back of the board.
- Use the yarn to tie the board to the back of the car seat facing the car seat.
DIY #9 Versatile Car Holder
This accordion holder takes a little more time and materials. However, you are able to change the cards. For this DIY, you’ll need duct tape, clear page protectors, and poster board.
- Cut a piece out of the poster board. Make sure it is long and tall enough to hold the cards you want to use.
- Cut four clear page protectors to go on each of the four corners. The page protectors should be slightly smaller than the area they are covering. They should leave about a cm of cardboard on each side.
- Using the duct tape, tape the page protectors down on three of the sides.
- Now you are able to slide cards in and out through the open side!
- Tape yarn to the back of the board.
- Use the yarn to tie the board to the back of the car seat facing the car seat.
Time-Saving Black and White Pictures Baby Product Recommendations
Low on time? Aren’t crafty? Simply don’t like doing it yourself? Below I have included some links for black and white cards and holders at several price points.
Lovevery Black and White Cards
Lovevery has a kit for 0 to 3-month-olds that has several black and white items. However, you can also order a set of cards from their website for $7. There are 4 different sets available.
We subscribed to the kit and used the cards from the kit. The kit also comes with an accordion card holder. The Looker kit is $80
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This set of cards is available on Amazon in 9 different packs. They are double sided with a black side and a white picture and a white side with a black picture. They are at a higher price point than the individual packs from Lovevery but contain a couple more cards.
This set is available on Amazon and gives you a whopping 50 cards for a very reasonable price. I would say my biggest gripe with these cards is that they are called “flashcards.” They are not flashcards. They are actually the opposite. They are slow cards.
This book is available on Amazon. While several black and white accordion-style pictures made out of soft materials are available on Amazon, many reviews shared frustration as to not being able to stand these products up because they are too soft. This book is great because it folds out into an accordion-style picture set for your baby to look at during tummy time. It’s a two-for-one! Note: I recently saw this book at a bookstore, and it was not the accordion style. Make sure to double-check the description to ensure it is the accordion-style book.
While I used a now-retired car picture holder from the Lovevery Looker play kit with my daughter, this version would work just the same! You cannot change the cards out, but you CAN flip it over for a colored version.
Free and Easy Black and White Pictures for Babies
Low on time and money? Here are a few options. First, I made this free printable of black and white cards just for you! Print it out at home or the local library and cut them out. Voila! You are done!
Also, check out Black and White by Tana Hoban at your nearest library. This wordless book unfolds in the accordion style and can be used as black and white pictures for tummy time. It also wouldn’t hurt to ask your local library if they have any black and white or baby kits for you to check out. Also, check out this blog post for more black and white baby book ideas! Books can be propped up for your baby to look at the illustrations.
Final Thoughts on Black and White Pictures for Babies
No matter how you do it, your baby will love the opportunity to look at some high contrast images so give yourself a pat on the back! I would love to know which way you think you’ll try so leave a comment below. If you enjoyed learning about black-and-white pictures for babies, check out this blog post about black and white newborn toys.
