One of the difficult parts of parenting would be getting your child to sleep quickly! But once they do, expect a peaceful slumber for a few hours. But have you ever noticed that your baby’s sleeping with his eyes open? While it looks amusing, you’re probably wondering if it’s any cause for alarm. That’s why it’s important to know the reasons your baby sleeps this way and if it’s normal or not. So if you have a baby sleeping with eyes open, then read on as I show you why it happens and what you can do to make his sleep a peaceful one.
Is a Baby Sleeping With Eyes Open Normal?
You may have noticed that your baby sleeps with his eyes open, getting confused to see if he is sleeping or staring up! Sometimes the eyes may be slightly open or flickering, while other times it’s wide open! Is it a serious problem you need to have checked?
Fortunately, you won’t need to worry about this particular sleeping habit your baby has because it’s completely normal. There are various causes as to why it happens, but unless your baby has stranger sleeping habits and starts to display signs of fever or discomfort, then that’s the time you’ll need to take him to the doctor.
Why My Baby Sleeps With His Eyes Open
There are two main reasons as to why your baby sleeps with his eyes open:
- Hereditary
If you or your partner has had episodes of sleeping with eyes open, then chances are that your baby got it from either of you. Check your family’s history to see if your partner or any family member sleeps with their eyes open. Your baby inherited some of your sleeping patterns!
- Medical Conditions
If your family has had no history of sleeping with their eyes open, then it may just be a sleeping condition called nocturnal lagophthalmos. This condition is not dangerous for a baby and is completely harmless, lasting for about a year and a half.
While the causes of this condition happening haven’t been fully explained, some experts say that it’s because of the very active mind of babies. Since your baby’s mind continues to grow, the brain is still active even while sleeping.
But some harmful medical conditions can be a facial nerve damage, signs of tumors, or even a problem with the thyroid. If ever your baby continuously sleeps with his eyes open after two years and shows signs of discomfort or abnormally, then it’s time to take him to the doctor. But fortunately, it would be rare for your child to have any of these conditions.
How Can I Make My Baby Sleep With His Eyes Closed?
Now that you know sleeping with eyes open is an entirely normal condition, is there any way you can stop it?
There’s no medicine to have your baby sleep with his eyes closed, nor should you worry about it. He will start sleeping with his eyes closed after 18 months, so you can just wait it out.
But if you want to get him out of the habit, then you can just gently stroke his eyelids until they fully close. Just make sure that your baby is fully asleep when you do this! Your baby may sleep better with his eyes closed as the light from the room or sun won’t wake him up quickly.
As long as your baby sleeps well, then do not stress over his eyes.
Tips on Helping My Baby Sleep Properly
Your baby sleeping with his eyes open is no worry, but if your baby wakes up every hour, then you can follow these tips:
- It’s best for your baby to sleep on his back. This helps encourage air flow and keep your baby safe from suffocation while keeping him comfortable.
- Make sure that there are no blankets, stuffed toys, or pillows near him to avoid blocking his air flow.
- If he has trouble sleeping, then create a relaxing routine after dinner, such as giving him a warm bath or softly telling him stories until he nods off.
In Conclusion
Just like adults, your baby sleeps in various positions and adapts similar sleeping patterns as he grows up. But the one thing you might worry about would be how his eyes remain open despite him sleeping soundly! So is it something to worry about? Not really. As long as your baby is comfortable with how he sleeps and safely bundled up, then he’ll grow to start closing his eyes and sleep properly.
I hope that this article fully informs you about a baby sleeping with eyes open. If you have any questions or would like to share your experiences about this topic, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.
Guest Contribution from Sarah Palmer
Hi! My name is Sarah, founder of SarahsLovelyFamily. I love sharing tips and tricks I learned about raising my own family, helping parents like me raise their children healthily while enjoying. You can follow me on Twitter at @SarahsLovelyFam.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.