Massaging Blocked Tear Duct «8K»

Massage (known medically as Crigler massage ) uses gentle pressure to create hydraulic force, popping that stubborn valve open and flushing the duct clean. Before you begin, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Trim your fingernails to avoid scratching the delicate eye area.

Dip a cotton ball in warm water. Wipe from the inner corner of the eye (near the nose) to the outer corner. Use a fresh cotton ball for each wipe.

For most infants, this condition resolves on its own within the first year. But there is a simple, drug-free technique that can help speed up the process, avoid infections, and bring relief to your little one: Why Do Ducts Get Blocked? Imagine a drainpipe smaller than a grain of rice. That is your baby’s tear duct. It runs from the inner corner of the eye down into the nose. In up to 20% of newborns, the valve at the bottom of that pipe (the Hasner valve) doesn’t open properly at birth. Tears have nowhere to go, so they pool in the eye, overflow down the cheek, and stagnate, leading to that sticky, white-to-yellow discharge. massaging blocked tear duct

Press your finger gently but firmly against that spot. You aren’t poking the eyeball; you are pressing the tissue against the bone.

Keep massaging, keep wiping, and take a picture of the gummy eye for the baby book. In a few weeks or months, when the tears flow where they should, you’ll be grateful you took the time to clear the way. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before starting any home treatment for your infant. Massage (known medically as Crigler massage ) uses

The gummy eye. It’s a phrase that strikes fear into the heart of new parents. You wake up, lean over the crib to greet your sleeping angel, and find one eye crusted shut with yellow-green discharge. Before you panic about pink eye or an infection, take a deep breath. Chances are, your baby is dealing with a very common condition: a blocked tear duct (nasolacrimal duct obstruction).

Clean cotton balls or gauze, warm water, and a calm baby (try doing this during a diaper change or right before a feeding when they are relaxed). Dip a cotton ball in warm water

Keeping that pressure, roll your finger downward along the side of the nose, about half an inch toward the nostril. Imagine you are squeezing toothpaste through a tube from the top to the bottom.