Many parents ask the same question....Can my baby see me? I found this interesting article on the AAP website. When they are born they have periphal vision, which is the ability to see on both sides. They start out seeing objects 8-15 inches and then by one month of age they can see about 3 feet in front of them. All my friends who have newborns you will notice if you have bright lights on the baby will usually squint or close their eyes. To get them to open their eyes at this age dim the lights. Take a look at the attached link for more information on what your baby can see from birth to one month of age!
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/pages/Your-Baby's-Vision-1-Month.aspx