How to Treat Sticky Eyes in Babies

Every now and then you may notice that your baby gets a sticky eye. This is simply when your baby's eyelids may stick together after sleep, or perhaps get a gummy or sticky look during the day. Most people assume this is an infection called conjunctivitis, but sticky eyes can happen for a variety of reasons and may not need medical intervention. The following steps will assist you in treating the common sticky eye.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cotton balls or washcloths
• Saline solution
• Breastmilk

1. Make sure that you wash your hands really well before touching your baby's eyes. If it is an eye infection, it could spread easily and quickly. Wash your hands thoroughly after touching your baby's eyes too.

2. If both eyes are sticky, clean one at a time with two different cotton balls or washcloths.

3. Clean the eye from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner. You can use an herb tea such as chamomile, or perhaps a little saline solution.

4. If you have fresh breastmilk or know someone who is breastfeeding, you can put a few drops in your baby's eyes. This can act very quickly in curing sticky eyes.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't let your baby rub his or her eyes and spread the infection around.
• Consult your healthcare provider if your baby's eyelids become puffy or if the eye begins to have yellow discharge.
• Consult your healthcare provider if your baby is a newborn and it doesn't clear up within 12 hours.

[eastclearranch]

on 8/2/2009 Thankyou for sharing this, my baby is going through this right now and I didn't know what to do

[MyJB]

on 8/2/2009 Thanks for sharing knowledge of sticky eyes in babies.