Watching our babies sleep is one of the most satisfying experiences a parent can have. The life which was brought to this world by you sleeps peacefully and all you got to do is adoring them. Have you ever noticed that the baby is staring at you while he is still asleep? It is not a cute thing to watch but, most of the babies do it. You are probably reading this article after witnessing your baby sleep with his eyes open.
Keep reading to know whether you should wake him up, let them continue to sleep, or take them to the doctor if they sleep with their eyes open.
CONTENT
1. Is it normal for babies to sleep with their eyes open?
2. What to do when my baby sleeps with his eyes open?
3. When to be concerned about sleeping with the eyes open?
1. Is it normal for babies to sleep with their eyes open?
There is nothing to worry about if your baby sleeps with his eyes open. It is a common behavior among babies, and the medical term nocturnal lagophthalmos is used to name this condition. Sleeping with the eyes open has no adverse impacts on the health of your baby. It neither is a symptom of an underlying health problem.
Although the medical terms sound complicated, nocturnal lagophthalmos is widely observed among both adults and babies. 1.4% sleep with their eyes open, and for about 13% of them, nocturnal lagophthalmos is hereditary.
Causes of “nocturnal lagophthalmos”
Research has not identified the exact reasons for sleeping with the eyes open. But there are few main potential causes of this condition.
- Heredity- When one or both of the parents sleeps with their eyes open, there is a high chance that their baby too will do the same.
- Immature nervous system and REM – The rapid eye movement sleep stage combined with an under-developed nervous system also lead to keeping the eyes open while the babies are asleep. Babies experience a longer duration of REM sleep compared to adults. Eye movements are a part of the REM sleep stage. Therefore, babies might have their eyes open for more time during sleep.
- Birth abnormalities. Some babies are born in a way that they cannot close their eyes. It is a very rare condition and happens due to a congenital abnormality. Surgery is needed to help the babies with this abnormality to sleep well.
2. What to do when my baby sleeps with his eyes open?
You do not need to do anything if your baby is sleeping comfortably. Check whether your baby’s eyes are getting dried or irritated. In the case where his eyes are dried and irritated, you can use a humidifier to keep the room cool.
It is most likely for your baby’s eyes to dry up while sleeping as the baby is not blinking. If the baby has dry eyes throughout the day, you have to consult a doctor for an eye drop or an ointment to prevent damage to the cornea.
Some parents prefer to close the baby’s eyes as it is scary to watch the baby sleeping with the eyes open. It is not necessary to shut the eyes forcefully. But if you choose to do it, you have to wait until the baby is fast asleep. Use your finger and gently move down their eyes lids without putting pressure on the eye.
Creating a suitable environment for sleep can also help your baby to have a comfy slumber. Keep the room dark, play white noise, and minimize all the other disturbances to ensure that your baby will not wake up even if he is light sleeping.
3. When to be concerned about sleeping with the eyes open?
It is common for babies to sleep with their eyes open, and it is not a cause of concern. But if you are worried, you can talk about it with your pediatrician on your next visit. If you feel like your baby’s eyes are widely opened and look like a symptom of another health condition, meet your pediatrician as soon as possible.
Birth abnormalities can prevent your baby from closing their eyes fully while sleeping. Your pediatrician will have to diagnose if a birth defect has caused your baby to sleep with his eyes partially or widely open. These abnormalities can be rectified by surgery, and no reason to panic about them.
