Infant Blocked Tear Duct: Massage

Look at the inner corner of your baby’s eye (the side closest to the nose). Feel for the small, hard bony ridge of the nose. Right next to that bone, just inside the eye socket, is a tiny sac. That’s your target.

Press down. You aren't trying to poke the eye. You are trying to compress the tear sac against the bone. It should feel like pressing a button.

Wash your hands thoroughly. Cut your fingernails short. Sit in a comfortable chair and lay your baby on your lap, facing you. infant blocked tear duct massage

The tears have nowhere to go, so they spill out onto the cheek, and the stagnant moisture breeds bacteria, causing that white, yellow, or green discharge. Your pediatrician might call it "Crigler massage." You can call it "the boogie sweep." The goal is to use fluid pressure (the tears you push down) to pop open that little membrane.

Be consistent, be gentle, and be patient. One morning, you’ll wake up, and those eyes will be bright, clear, and dry. And you can stop playing eye doctor. Look at the inner corner of your baby’s

Goopy Eyes No More: A Parent’s Guide to Infant Blocked Tear Duct Massage

First, take a deep breath. This is not an eye infection (though it can look like one). It is not usually painful for the baby. And in 90% of cases, it resolves on its own by the time the baby turns one. That’s your target

If you’ve noticed a constant watery eye, some yellowish goop in the corner of your newborn’s eye, or lashes that seem glued shut after a nap, you are likely dealing with a very common issue: a blocked tear duct (dacryostenosis).