Why does my baby have a lot of eye mucus when he wakes up in the morning?

Everyone has a different definition of happiness, but many people always go through big changes after becoming parents. Many people always think that waking up every morning to see their baby’s smile is a very happy thing, but many parents will find that their baby has a lot of eye mucus when they get up. Usually, many parents always think that this is a symptom of getting angry. In fact, there are many reasons for this phenomenon. Let’s understand why babies have a lot of eye mucus when they get up in the morning.

Why does my baby have a lot of eye mucus when he wakes up in the morning?

1. Normal children, when they are 2-3 months old, may have some eye mucus on their eyes when they wake up in the morning. This is because the eyelashes tend to grow inward during this period, and the friction and stimulation of the eyeballs produce eye mucus. Generally, around 1 year old, eyelashes will grow outwards naturally and eye mucus will gradually decrease, so there is no need for treatment. You can wipe it clean with a warm towel or use a cotton swab dipped in 2% boric acid solution and gently wipe it from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner.

2. If a child is born with a layer of grayish white stuff on his eyes, it is not eye boogers. This layer of grayish white stuff is medically called "vernix caseosa". Vernix caseosa has the function of protecting the skin and preventing heat dissipation. It can be absorbed by itself, so it cannot be wiped off casually. Another reason for excessive eye mucus is that the child has accumulated heat in the body, which is commonly known as "getting angry".

3. Most of the time, it is caused by the habit of eating high-calorie foods such as fish, shrimp, and meat, and less consumption of fruits and vegetables. In addition to excessive eye mucus, it is often accompanied by symptoms such as fear of heat, sweating, dry stool, and thick tongue coating. The best way to treat it is to change bad eating habits, drink more water, and take some Chinese medicine to clear away heat and fire, and to help digestion and relieve stagnation when necessary.

4. If your child suddenly has a lot of eye mucus and is accompanied by itchy and red eyes, you should go to the hospital for a check-up to see if he has "pink eye disease." In addition to the topical use of chloramphenicol eye drops and erythromycin ointment for this disease, personal hygiene should also be emphasized. Children should be reminded not to rub their eyes with dirty hands, and not to share washbasins, towels and other bathing items with others to prevent cross infection.

5. The baby's nasolacrimal duct is underdeveloped. The nasolacrimal duct of infants is short and underdeveloped, and the valve at the opening is underdeveloped and located at the inner canthus of the eye. This prevents tears from draining smoothly, leading to accumulation of eye mucus. Cleaning method: If the cause is incomplete development of the nasolacrimal duct, the mother can massage the baby's nose bridge with her hands every day to help keep the nasolacrimal duct unobstructed.

Parents must not panic when their children have physical problems. First, they must understand the cause and then prescribe the right medicine. The above is an introduction to the reasons why babies have a lot of eye mucus when they wake up in the morning. If such symptoms appear, you must observe whether the baby has symptoms of distress and frequent eye mucus. If necessary, take the baby to the hospital for examination. In addition, you must give the baby more boiled water on a regular basis.