This can be an unsettling look. Did your toddler wink at the camera? They blink on purpose. Are their eyes damaged?
You might wonder, Why is my child blinking so much?
Pediatrician Lisa Diard MD says that your child may blink excessively due to a variety of reasons.
Dr. Diard discusses why your child might blink a lot and what you can do to help.
How much blinking can you tolerate?
Blinking is an important part of our eye health.
Dr. Diard says that blinking is a reflex which refreshes the eyes and protects them. When you blink, your tears are spread around and help clean and lubricate the eyes. Blinking helps to protect your eyes against bright lights and foreign items.
How can you tell if your child blinks too much? Do not use your blinking standards as a standard. Dr. Diard claims that children blink more naturally than adults.
Timer can be used to obtain quantitative data. More than 15 blinks a minute is considered excessive for toddlers. (In case you’re wondering, watery, red and itchy.
- There is a connection between blinking, a change of season or an allergen in the home like cat dander.
If your child shows signs of allergies, you can give him an allergy medication. “Oral medication and eye drops work both well,” says Dr. Diard.
3. Dry Eyes
Allergies are not the only cause of dry eyes. Dry weather, pollutants and other environmental factors can also cause dry eyes and excessive blinking.
If your home’s air is too dry, a humidifier will help, especially when the weather gets cold. If your child is itching, you can encourage them to rest their eyes. But don’t rub them. Children can benefit from artificial tears.
4. Eye problems
You may want to have your child’s vision screened if they blink a lot.
Dr. Diard warns that children may blink more if they are trying to focus on their eyes.
Some other signs of a possible vision problem include:
- Headaches are common.
- Squinting.
- When they are trying to concentrate, they tilt their heads.
- Excessive eye rubbing.
- Sitting too close to a TV or holding a book close to your face.
5. Strabismus (crossed eyes)
Children with cross eyes blink more often than other children. By the time a child is 3 years old, crossed eyes are common. You may think that one eye is facing a different way than the other.
Newborns often appear to have crossed-eyes. Within a few weeks, the eyes of a newborn should be aligned and straight.
6. Eyelid tics
A tic can be a movement or a vocal sound that is uncontrollable. Motor tics include excessive blinking, as well as other simple movements like moving your jaw or shoulders, or turning your head.
Tics tend to be more common in boys, and those who are born male. They usually start around age 5.
You may worry about Tourette Syndrome if you believe that your child is blinking excessively. Childhood tics are common, and blinking tics are no exception. By adolescence, most of them go away by themselves.
Dr. Diard advises to ignore the habit unless it has a specific reason.
If we suspect that there is an anxiety behind the tic we will have you work with child behavior specialists to help your child find ways to cope.
7. Stress and anxiety
Children who are stressed or anxious may blink more. Anxiety may exacerbate eyelid tics. Stress and anxiety can also make you more sensitive and cause eye strain. This leads to excessive blinking.
When you should see a doctor if your toddler is blinking
Dr. Diard says that if you have ruled out allergies or debris in the eye, it is best to consult a doctor about excessive blinking. If your child has been experiencing anxiety or pain, or if excessive blinking persists for a long time.
In most cases, a call to your pediatrician will suffice. If your child has an eye injury, you should visit the emergency room or urgent care. You should seek immediate care if you notice:
- Eye redness.
- Pain or distress.
- Discolored or watery eye drainage.
How to treat excessive blinking among children
A pediatrician will check your toddler’s eyes and screen their vision in order to ensure that there is nothing urgent.
Your healthcare provider might also recommend that you see an ophthalmologist. “They have the tools necessary to examine the eye more closely,” says Diard.
You can rest assured that a blinking behavior is harmless and will be outgrown by your child.
