[superfastreader]

My daughter's left eye has been crusty since birth (just 12 days ago). She gets goop in one corner which we clean out by massaging towards her nose, but it keeps coming back. Normal or problem? Thanks--

 

[Graceoc]

Ellis had that for the first 2-3 weeks and then it just went away on its own : )

 

[lirpasirhc]

before birth, babies have a membrane separating the tear duct from the sinuses. if the membrane doesn't break before birth, then babies get crusty eyes. if usually pops on its own sometime before 18 months. you can firmly massage the tear duct area with your finger (make sure your nails are short and smooth) to encourage it to pop. you will know that it has popped b/c the crusty discharge will go away.

 

[veganone]

The ducts can also clog (dh has this problem even as an adult)... DD's plugs seem to come and go - one will be crusty for a while then clear up and then the other one will. Her pediatrition said not to worry about it.

 

[Lady Lilya]

I had pinkeye beginning a week before birth and lasting until 3 weeks after. When DS got a goopy eye at about a week old, I thought he caught it.<br><br>
This is what I did:<br>
Brew a cup of plain black tea. Let it get lukewarm. Put some on a soft, thin cloth. Wipe around the eye (lids, lashes, corners). Then, express some breast milk into a container. Lay the baby on his/her back. Drip a few drops off of your fingertips into the eye. Let him/her stay like that a few minutes because the milk will run out of the eye. Don't waste the cup of tea! Add some ice cubes, or some fresh boiled water, to get a more pleasant temp.<br><br>
You may want to do this just to be extra careful. It is so non-invasive. It doesn't feel like anything. I did it to myself before trying on DS. When I had time to do it for myself (I am lucky to wash my hair once a week), my pinkeye got a little better each time. DS was so cute looking up at me through an eye full of milk as if there was nothing there! Too bad I didn't have a camera at the time.