Why Do Babies Rub Their Eyes? 5 Possible Reasons

Your baby is a part of you and you get to know if anything is troubling them even if they don’t say. It’s like telepathy- you know it when they need you. However, sometimes parenting can be tricky and might leave us confused even if we know that there’s something fishy. Constant eye rubbing is something of that sort. Babies rub their eyes for various reasons and knowing them will help you understand the problem faster.

Here are 5 possible reasons why your little one is rubbing their eyes frequently without giving it a rest:

1. They Are Tired

It may not be a tough one because children often rub their eyes when they are tired or when they are sleepy. If your baby is rubbing their eyes and yawning or dozing off at the same time, you need to put him/her down for a nap or sleep if it’s bedtime. Rubbing will soothe the sore muscles in the eye area just the same way it does in any other part of our body. If you don’t take a cue and put your baby down for sleep, you may have to deal with the crankiness and the crying that will shortly follow.

Sometimes, even if your baby is sleepy and rubbing eyes, he/she may not be able to go to sleep. Make sure that the environment is dark, comfortable, of the right temperature, and silent. You can lie down next to your baby and cuddle to ensure your presence. This will make them feel protected and they will drift off to sleep before they get too tired.

2. Dryness Of The Eyes

The protective layer of tears dries up when you keep your eyes open for a long time because of the exposure to air. The same applies to babies. They may be rubbing their eyes because they are too dry. Rubbing the eyes promotes tearing which will help deal with the dryness. If your baby has been up for a long time, put him/her down for sleep. Watching TV or looking into mobile phone screens for a long time will also make the eyes dry because your child may not be blinking as many times as necessary. You can consult a doctor and, if necessary, he will suggest lubricating eye drops for your child.

3. Wow! The Spots

Your babies may rub their eyes just because they want to see the spots and colors that show up. Your little ones are new to basically everything around them and they are just learning to understand what things are. Seeing the spots and lines may be fascinating to them even if they aren’t great for you.

4. Foreign Particles Inside The Eyes

Irritants like dust and eyelashes can get stuck inside the eyes and hurt your little one. This is one of the reasons why babies rub their eyes frequently. Bring your baby close to bright light and inspect the eyes. Also, wash eyes with clean and cool water. If the irritation persists, take your child to a doctor.

5) Eye Infections

Eye infections can affect babies too. Unlike us, they don’t care about washing their hands after a play session on the floor. Babies are curious about everything and they want to touch everything around them. Also, they touch their eyes often without worrying about the germs that are present on their hands. This makes them vulnerable to eye infections. If there is redness, discharge, or swelling along with the constant eye rubbing, seek medical help immediately.

Sometimes, allergy can also cause eye irritation and rubbing. If you find it happening often, seek the help of your doctor to understand what is the allergen that’s bothering your baby. Also, remember to maintain a nutritious diet for your little one and make sure they get enough sleep. Sometimes, a lot of our health issues can be solved if we are careful about our lifestyle.

Was this article helpful?

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.