How To Massage Infant Tear Duct [repack] Today

There is nothing quite as disarming as looking into your newborn’s eyes. They are vast, curious, and clear. But sometimes, those beautiful eyes tell a different story—one written in crusty yellow discharge, persistent tears that spill down the cheek, or sticky lashes glued together after a nap.

You don’t need any special equipment. Just wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. Keep your fingernails short and smooth. Have a few clean, soft cotton balls or gauze pads nearby. how to massage infant tear duct

In many newborns, the very bottom of that “drainpipe” is still sealed by a thin, residual membrane that didn’t fully open before birth. The tears have nowhere to go, so they back up, pool in the eye, and eventually turn into the goopy discharge you are wiping away. There is nothing quite as disarming as looking

If this sounds familiar, your baby may have a blocked tear duct (medically known as nasolacrimal duct obstruction ). Before you panic, take a deep breath. This is incredibly common, affecting up to 20% of newborns. And in most cases, the solution is quite literally in your hands. You don’t need any special equipment

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This sticky, teary phase is temporary. One morning, you’ll wipe away a crusty eye and realize—the goop didn’t come back. You’ll notice a clear, bright eye looking back at you, tear-free. And you’ll know that your gentle, consistent touch helped open the door.

Welcome to the art of the tear duct massage. Think of your baby’s tear drainage system as a tiny drainpipe. Tears are produced in the gland above the eye, wash across the surface, and then drain away through tiny holes in the corner of the eye (puncta), down a narrow duct, and out into the nose.