What happens when a child sleeps with his eyes open?

Parents need to pay attention to children's sleep problems, because children's growth and development depend entirely on sleep. Some children may have sleep problems, which may affect their physical development to a certain extent. For example, many children keep their eyes open when they sleep, which can lead to dry eyes in the long run. Let’s take a look at what happens when children sleep with their eyes open.

It's normal for babies to sleep with their eyes open, it just looks a little strange. In medical terminology, sleeping with eyes open is called incomplete eyelid closure, commonly known as "rabbit eyes".

If your baby falls asleep with his eyes open, it's not harmful to him or her and it doesn't mean he or she has a sleeping problem. This phenomenon is common in infants. However, most babies no longer have this problem by the time they are 12 to 18 months old. Next, let me tell you why babies sleep with their eyes open!

No one knows exactly why some babies sleep with their eyes open. There are also few related studies. This may be related to the fact that babies spend more time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Babies may keep their eyes open during REM sleep because this stage is a more active sleep cycle. Compared to adults, infants get much more REM sleep, which accounts for about 50% of their total sleep.

If you think your baby looks strange with his eyes open while sleeping, you can gently close his eyelids.

If your baby continues to sleep with his eyes open for several hours at a time, or if he continues to do so frequently after he is 18 months old, it is recommended that you take him to see a doctor. In rare cases, your baby's inability to close his eyes properly may be caused by a malformation of the eyelids. Apart from this situation, there is nothing to worry about if your baby sleeps with his eyes open.

By the way, there is some evidence that lagophthalmos can be inherited. If you notice your baby sleeping with his eyes open, ask your husband if this happens to you, too. In rare cases, sleeping with the eyes open in adults can be a sign of certain medical conditions, such as facial nerve damage, thyroid disease, or even a tumor. If you have such concerns, it is best to go to the hospital for a check-up.