Infant Blocked Tear Duct Massage Page

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before starting any home treatment for your infant.

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.

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. infant blocked tear duct massage

Place your clean pinky finger (or thumb) in the corner of the eye, right against the side of the nose.

Goopy Eyes No More: A Parent’s Guide to Infant Blocked Tear Duct Massage Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only

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.

Don’t Panic at the Goop: How to Treat a Blocked Tear Duct at Home Feel for the small, hard bony ridge of the nose

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.