WHY DO BABIES RUB THEIR EYES?

A baby rubbing its eyes is usually a sign of fatigue and sleep readiness. Are you concerned about him unintentionally causing some harm to his eyes? Read on to know the reason behind this vigorous rubbing and how to prevent your babies from rubbing their eyes.
 

There are some possible reasons why babies rub their eyes.
 

Baby is sleepy
 

When babies rub their eyes and yawn, it means that they are sleepy and tired. When babies get tired, their eyes are fatigued. Just as a massage helps in relieving sore muscles, rubbing eyes helps during fatigue. By doing so, the baby gets relief from soreness and tension created in the muscles of the eyes, around the eyes, and on the eyelids.

Eyes are dry
 

Babies may also rub their eyes when they turn too dry. The eyes are protected by a tear film, which evaporates when it is exposed to air for a long time. This results in dry eyes, causing discomfort to babies, and they instinctively try to comfort themselves by rubbing their eyes. Because rubbing eyes stimulates tears, which restore moisture in the eyes.

 

Baby is curious
 

Babies tend to get curious when they develop fine motor skills. Among the things they do then is experiment by touching every part of their body to understand how the body will respond.

 

Baby is wondered or amazed
 

When you notice that your baby is not tired and still rubs eyes, it may be due to the incredible visual stimulation they get while doing so. Babies love the feeling of closing their eyes, rubbing them, and repeating it to see all those visual patterns. You might have also noticed that when you close and rub your eyes, you can see patterns and lights in the closed eyelids. It may be the reason your baby rubs eyes often.
 

There is something in their eyes
 

Your baby may also rub their eyes if something is irritating them. There could be crustiness around the eye, fluff, or a bit of dust in the eyes. These particles can irritate the eye so much that the baby may want to rub the eyes vigorously. But in this case, rubbing can cause more harm to your little one’s eyes as this may result in particle scratching the eye surface.
 

If rubbing of the eyes is seen along with crying and eyes turning red, it is a definitive signal that there is some particle in your baby’s eyes. In this case, dip a cotton ball in cold water and squeeze over the eyes slowly to flush away the particle. Wipe off any crustiness using a clean cotton cloth. If your baby is still experiencing irritation, take them to a healthcare provider.

 

How To Prevent Babies From Rubbing Their Eyes?
 

To minimize injuries and scratches to the eyes, you need to stop your baby from rubbing their eyes.
 

If your baby has a habit of rubbing the eyes, try covering their hands with mittens. You can also pull your baby’s long sleeve shirts to cover their hands to prevent them from rubbing their eyes.
 

You can also hold your little one’s hands away from the face if you think they may rub the eyes. Or, you can distract them by giving a toy or playing music and take their mind off of it.
 

The bottom line is, there is no need to panic or worry if you see your little one rubbing their eyes. But if you notice some other odd symptoms like squint or poor eye movement and eye-hand coordination, pediatric consultation is recommended.