No parent can comprehend that pleasant feeling to watch their baby play, eat, smile and when he/she is trying to discover something new. Does it take all your stress away when you gaze at your little one with joy? What if you noticed your baby rubbing his/her eyes all of a sudden? For the most part, any parent would be in the impression that the baby needs sleep or is tired. Is it not?
Babies are fragile and paying attention to details is what parents have to do throughout. While you might be mistaken about your baby rubbing his/her eyes it could be a genuine concern that needs to be addressed. Always better to be safe and get it checked by a family doctor or Pediatrician.
Take a look at this article and get your facts right before you assume. Learn about what are the causes of babies rubbing their eyes and get aware of the preventive measures that need attention. Once you get to know in detail you would handle such a situation better and treat your baby and on the other hand, you can be of great help to a mother who knows nothing.
[Read: Eye Infections In Babies And Their Treatment]
Why Do Babies Rub Their Eyes – Know The Causes!
Babies rubbing their eyes is normal, if it is repeating too often then the right attention needs to be given to the baby before it worsens the situation. Take a look at reasons babies rub their eyes
No 1 – Being Sleep Deprived
This is the usual scenario that babies rub their eyes when they are feeling sleepy. They know that the eyes need rest and subconsciously they start to rub their eyes as it gives them some sort of satisfaction.
Basically, the eye muscles need to get calmer and their eyes do not have the energy to remain open after an exhausting day. It is for parents to understand that the baby needs a good nap and cannot stay awake for long beyond this.
Thus, whenever you see your baby rubbing his/her eyes and notice that the eyes are getting smaller. It is time to make an effort and put your baby to sleep before he/she gets cranky.
No 2 – Lack Of Moisture In The Eyes
When there is lack of moisture in the eyes, it is natural for your baby to rub his/her eyes, this is spontaneous because the eyes are craving for fluid and that is produced by the lacrimal glands. Rubbing eyes helps invigorate the glands. Only if these glands are stimulated will there be better fluid in the eyes.
Your baby might not be able to view things well and will have the tendency to rub eyes in order to be able to see better. This scenario or cause is not bothersome because it is not a strange gesture from your baby.
No 3 – Baby Feeling Drained Out
Tiredness can be one of the biggest reason for babies to rub their eyes. Some of our actions are unintentional and it happens because the body is trying to signal something. Rubbing eyes in tiredness are one of those signs of feeling drained out.
No 4 – Babies Inquisitive In Watching
There are times your baby is staring at a point and then those strained eyes need a break so they end up rubbing their eyes. You would have certainly experienced this with your little one. They even rub their eyes when their eyes are strained because of lights and this is another sign that indicates that your baby is sensing and learning to focus.
No 5 – Obstruction In The Eyes
Babies cannot escape what obstructs and stays in their eyes. They rub their eyes when they feel it prick, it could be dirt, their own lashes or they would touch something and rub their eyes that increases the irritation and an itchy feeling. This cannot be controlled but later on, their eyes can be cleaned with wet wipes or a soft cloth. One has to be gentle while cleaning the eyes. If dirt does not come out with a cloth then the best solution is to gently wash a babies eyes.
No 6 – Infection In The Eyes
Needless to say, infections are sure to push babies and make them rub their eyes. That said, if it is an infection then the signs are pretty evident, you will see that your baby’s eyes would turn red, there might be a swelling around the eyes and your baby might fall sick and get cranky because of the pain. The only way to get a solution to situations like this is to consult a doctor and get a baby treated.
In a nutshell, parents have to be smart in catching a problem. The points mentioned above would help one understand what are the causes of babies rubbing their eyes and what does a parent need to do next if it is a serious issue like an infection in the eyes.
[Read: Sticky Eyes In Infant]
What’s The Bad In Babies Rubbing Their Eyes?
When babies are excessively engrossed rubbing their eyes than can be putting themselves into unnecessary risk. Take a look at what can happen if the eye rubbing is not got in control
No 1 – Worsens Existing Eye-Infections
Your baby does not have a clue that he/she is having an infection, over that if he/she rubs eyes it would worsen the infection and this could be all the more harmful to the eyes. It is necessary that the babies should be kept away from rubbing their eyes more.
No 2 – Corneal Tissues Of The Eyes Get Affected
It is not good if babies keep rubbing their eyes because it hits on the corneal tissue. This tissue is delicate and has a relation with the eye-sight, it straight away has a negative impact on the eyes causing vision complications. To name one of them, babies might end up having myopia problems.
No 3 – Chances Of Having A Corneal Abrasion
It is dangerous if babies continuously rub their eyes because if at all there is something sharp in their hands or if they are harsh with rubbing their eyes it could cause an abrasion which is a big risk to take. The child should immediately be taken to a doctor.
[Read: First Aid Treatment for Eye Injuries]
All in all, the basics that all of us know is rubbing eyes with germs in the fingers can be risky.
However, there is a risk with vision and corneal abrasion as well. Therefore, if you are a new mommy or daddy and your baby is doing it often you need to take care of it immediately.
Note: If you are considering babies rubbing their eyes to be a sign of teething then it is a misconception because babies rubbing their cheeks is a sign of teething, not eyes.
How To Stop Babies From Rubbing Their Eyes?
While it might be a task to stop babies from rubbing their eyes, it is still necessary to do so. Take a look at how to prevent babies from rubbing their eyes and be safe
Mittens Will Help
Mittens are small baby gloves that cover a baby’s palms and saves him/her from getting poked in the eyes. When your kid is an infant you cannot even tell the child for him/her to understand. Therefore, the best option is to cover his/her palms with mittens.
Good Sleep Pattern
Pay attention when your baby needs you to sleep. Remember that babies cannot say what they feel, as parents you need to keep a check on your baby. Get your baby used to a good sleep pattern and make sure to be disciplined with if from your end.
Save Your Baby From Eye Infections
As babies are soft it is necessary to handle them with a lot of care. As rubbing eyes can cause infections, it is better to keep your baby from an environment that is not hygienic and keep sharp things away from your baby. Be watchful about where have you put your baby, what is your baby holding and what is around your baby.
In conclusion, the hygiene and safety of babies are on the parents and caretakers. Babies are innocent and they need to be kept safe from infections when they rub their eyes. Babies will undoubtedly rub their eyes when they are asleep or when they feel some sort of stress on their eyes. If parents can cover their palms, keep their nails short and have cleanliness in the surrounding it will solve the purpose.
Save Babies Eyes By Having Your Eyes On Them!
