Babies are new to this world! Their sense of curiosity and wonder grows as they explore new environments and develop new habits. The tricky thing with babies is that, since they can’t talk, they communicate in other ways. Rubbing their eyes every once in a while when they’re sleepy, curious, or overstimulated is one of these strategies, and it’s actually perfectly normal.
However, if your baby is rubbing their eyes too often or vigorously, this could point to an underlying concern, such as allergies or an infection. In this case, it’s time for your eye doctor to take a closer look.
Why Babies Rub Their Eyes
It’s incredibly common for infants and toddlers to rub their eyes. In most cases, this is perfectly normal. Babies begin rubbing their eyes when they’re only a few months old, a habit that often continues well into their toddler years.
Why is eye rubbing so normal for babies? Several developmental factors play a role:
- Developing Motor Skills: As babies gain control over their arms and hands, they naturally explore their bodies through touch. The eye area is easily accessible, and babies often discover that rubbing feels soothing or interesting.
- Immature Tear Production: Young babies don’t produce tears the same way adults do. Their tear ducts are still developing, which can lead to dry or irritated eyes that feel better when rubbed.
- Sensory Exploration: Babies learn about their world through touch, and rubbing their eyes provides sensory feedback that helps them understand their own bodies.
- Self-Soothing Mechanism: Much like thumb-sucking or hair-twirling, eye rubbing can become a self-soothing behaviour that babies use to calm themselves when they’re overstimulated or tired.
It’s important to recognize the difference between normal, occasional eye rubbing and excessive rubbing that might point to an underlying issue. Babies normally rub their eyes when they’re tired, fussy, or exploring their bodies. It shouldn’t cause redness, swelling, or apparent discomfort.
Why Your Baby Might Be Rubbing Their Eyes
When it comes to their overall eye health, there are a handful of possible reasons why your baby might be rubbing their eyes. Some are natural and harmless, while others benefit from a visit to your optometrist.
Fatigue
Babies are always hard at work. In fact, they’re literally learning how to see. This might seem surprising, but vision actually needs practice: it’s a skill that you learn over time. As with any new skill, learning to see well takes time, patience, and energy.
For babies, one of the most frequent causes of eye rubbing is simply fatigue. When they get tired, their eyes may feel heavy or strained, and rubbing may feel soothing.
That’s why you’ll notice babies rubbing their eyes during nap time or before bed, along with other sleepy cues like yawning, fussiness, or decreased activity.
Allergies
Even babies can have an allergic reaction to common allergens, such as:
- Pollen
- Pet dander
- Dust mites
- Certain fabrics or laundry detergents
- Perfumes or strong scents
Allergies can lead to itchy, watery, and sometimes red eyes, which babies rub to find relief. You might notice eye rubbing becomes worse during certain seasons or in certain environments.
Eye Infections
Bacterial or viral eye infections can cause discomfort that leads to rubbing. Possible signs of infection include:
- Redness in the whites of the eyes
- Yellow or green discharge
- Swelling around the eyes
- Crusty eyelids, especially after sleep
If your baby is rubbing their eyes, this could indicate a brewing infection, especially if they’ve been sick with another virus or were recently exposed to a source of infection.
Remember, bacterial and viral pink eye (conjunctivitis) are highly contagious. Always wash your hands (and your baby’s) and avoid rubbing or touching your eyes to prevent the spread of infection.
Is It Bad for Babies to Rub Their Eyes?
Even if something is normal, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s okay. You might have heard that rubbing your eyes is bad, but that’s something babies have yet to learn.
No matter how soothing it feels, frequently rubbing the eyes can lead to:
- Corneal abrasions
- Increased risk of eye infection
- Skin irritation
- Worsening underlying conditions
However, it can be hard to control what babies do. One option is to distract them with music and toys. You should also keep their fingernails short to reduce the risk of accidental scratching when rubbing inevitably does occur.
If your baby is constantly rubbing their eyes and showing signs of irritation and discomfort, it’s time to visit your eye doctor.
The Importance of Your Baby’s First Eye Exam
Many parents don’t realize that babies (as early as 6 months) can and should have eye exams long before they can read and know their ABCs.
Everyone benefits from routine eye exams, especially children! Young eyes grow rapidly during childhood and adolescence, and regular exams play a powerful role in healthy vision development. For babies, this can help identify issues that might cause eye rubbing.
These exams focus on monitoring and tracking a baby’s eye development, and can determine whether there’s an underlying issue or if there’s nothing to worry about.
Early eye exams also establish a baseline for your child’s vision, making it easier to detect changes over time.
Laying the Foundation for Healthy Vision
As a parent, you can’t escape concern. However, there are moments when you can breathe and take a step back, knowing that your baby is okay. Your baby rubbing their eyes now and then is one of those moments.
While eye rubbing isn’t ideal, it’s okay. Babies are still learning! With time, they’ll learn how to care for their eyes. Staying on top of their routine eye exams and looking out for potential concerns, like persistent and vigorous eye rubbing, can help foster strong and healthy vision.Connect with our West Coast Optical team to book your baby’s first eye exam!
