What Colour Eyes Will My Baby Have?

The colour of your baby's eyes has a lot to do with genetics and polygenics (inherited characteristics / traits). The following factors will determine the colour of your baby's eyes:

• What colour eyes you and the father have.
• Which of yours and the father's eye colours are dominant or recessive.
• Whether yours and the father's eye colours are considered to be homozygous or heterozygous.

Parents' eye colour

The eventual eye colour of your baby is very hard to foresee. Even if both parents have blue eyes it is still possible for their baby to have green or brown eyes. This is because of inherited characteristics. Race factors can also decide what colour your baby's eyes will be.

Dominant or recessive eye colour?

Your baby's final eye colour will mainly be affected by whether or not yours or the father's eye colours are dominant or recessive. Whoever has the dominant gene will influence your baby's colour. Brown and possibly green are believed to be dominant colours.

Homozygous or heterozygous?

You and your partner will either have homozygous (same trait) or heterozygous (different trait) eye colours. It is most likely to be heterozygous. It is very hard to determine which type you have without detailed genetic testing. If your eye colour is heterozygous, then your baby could end up with an eye colour of someone else in your family that is different from your own.

Despite all these factors to determine your baby's eye colour, your baby will probably be born with dark blue eyes. The reason for this is because one of the body's natural pigments called melanin isn't present in the irises at birth. As the pigmentation increases, the colour of your baby's eyes will change. Any change usually happens by the time your baby is 12 months old.

Have fun guessing what colour your baby's eyes will be before you give birth. Whatever the outcome, they will be the most beautiful pair of eyes you will have ever seen.