Mom’s Question:
My one-month-old son just woke up ready to eat; I got him out of his crib to feed him and noticed he had yellow mucus in his eye. Could he be sick? He doesn’t act sick, but I’m still a little concerned.
Amanda
Yellow Mucus In Newborn Baby’s Eyes
Many babies wake up with mucus in their eyes; it does not mean they are sick. It is sometimes dust or debris that is being washed out of their eyes while they are sleeping.
Other reasons for mucus in a baby’s eyes can be a cold that is on its way, an eye infection or a blocked tear duct. Neither are of any major concern unless the baby seems to be ill in other ways or in pain.
However, if your baby continues to have mucus, but you do not notice any redness in his eye or any symptoms like a runny nose, a clogged tear duct is the most likely option. Try cleaning his eye with a cotton ball dipped in saline solution, which you can buy at the drugstore, and gently wipe the eye from the inside corner out. Use a fresh cotton ball for every wipe. If it continues, also ask his Dr to check the eye and maybe prescribe drops or ointments for the tear duct or conjunctivitis if he finds that this is the problem. A clogged tear duct may also require gentle massage to the inner corner of the eye, but you should not start it before the doctor’s advice.
Since your son is so young, he is not “supposed” to be ill. If he starts running a fever or acts ill in any other way, also talk to his doctor.
Hope this helps,
Paula
(Answer approved by our Medical Reference Team)
Red Next About Babies With Eye Problems
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Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.
Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.
In the old days we used to use the baby’s wet diaper [pee] to wipe the baby’s eyes with when it had mucus in its eyes. Worked just fine. Baby pee also contains ammonia.