Reasons Why Baby Sleeps With Eyes Cracked Open

The birth of a baby is one of the biggest joys of parenthood. Having a baby comes with different experiences and changes for different parents. These experiences and changes would have been anticipated during your pregnancy stage. You would want to experience each stage of your baby’s life which includes eating, sleeping, etc. A baby sleeps for 6-10 hours in the day and 7-8 hours in the night depending on the age range of your little one. While your little one is sleeping, you might not want to miss the chance of watching him/her sleep. While watching your little one sleep, you might get a bit concerned when you notice your little one sleeps with their eyes cracked open because you feel responsible to ensure your baby is comfortable and safe. You might begin to panic and wonder if you should allow them to sleep, call the doctor, etc. Here is all you should know about a baby sleeping with eyes cracked open.

Is it normal for baby to sleep with eyes cracked open?

Walking into your baby’s room, to watch your baby’s cute face sleeping, you might get a bit scared seeing that your little one is sleeping while you thought he/she is looking at you. Yes, it is odd but it is absolutely normal for your little one to sleep with their eyes cracked open. The medical name for a baby who sleeps with eyes cracked open is- nocturnal lagophthalmos. While the medical term might seem technical, there is no medical cause for a baby who sleeps with eyes cracked open but there are some reasons which you would find below.

Reasons why baby sleeps with eyes cracked open

Although research has not identified the exact reason why a baby would sleep with eyes cracked open, there are some speculated reasons which include:

1. Development of nervous system and rapid eye movement

After birth, your baby’s rapid eye movement sleep patterns combined with a still-developing nervous system might result in your little one sleeping with eyes cracked open. According to research, babies go through periods of REM sleep than adults, hence, why it is more common for you to notice your little one sleeping with eyes cracked open.

2. Heredity

Heredity is the process whereby some particular characteristics of parents can be transmitted to their offspring. Heredity can result in different changes and reactions in your little one. If you or your partner has a history of sleeping with your eyes cracked open, it is most likely that this same pattern would be seen in your little one.

3. Birth abnormalities

A congenital abnormality is a structural or functional anomaly that occurs during intrauterine life. For babies, sleeping with eyes cracked open happens in extremely rare cases. It is a condition where your little one may not be able to close their lids totally while sleeping. This could either be identified before birth or after your little one is born. In other rare situations, it might be because of thyroid problems or damaged facial nerves.

What to do when baby sleeps with eyes cracked open

Making your little one fall asleep can be a task but watching him/her sleep can be so cute. You might have encountered your little one sleeping with eyes cracked open and wondered what to do. Here is what you should know.

1. Occasionally close your baby’s eyelid

If you ever walk in on your little one sleeping with eyes cracked open during the day or even at night, gently close your baby’s eyes with your fingertips until they are closed. Also, ensure that your baby is in deep sleep while you close their eyes.

2. Strict feeding cycles

Your baby might be sleeping with eyes cracked if he/she is used to sleeping and eating at intervals. To change this, ensure you establish a strict feeding cycle with your baby. Hence, your baby would eat without a break and also sleep without interruption. Have a mealtime for your baby which should be followed regularly.

3. Use a humidifier

When your little one sleeps with their eyes open for a long time, it can make their eyes feel a bit dry. Hence the need for a humidifier to keep more moisture in the air. You can be sure of an immediate and effective humidified room for your little one. One good Humidifier you can use is the Pure Enrichment MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier found on Amazon.

4. Do not panic

Your first instinct as a parent, especially a first-time parent is to panic when you see your little one sleeping with their eyes cracked open. It is important that you stay as calm as possible. Often time, babies grow out sleeping with their eyes cracked open.

When should you call your doctor?

Usually, your little one should outgrow this phase of sleeping with their eyes cracked open. It is most likely not a cause for concern but you could also bring it up during your baby’s next hospital visit. If you have monitored your baby for a longer period and it seems that your baby’s eyes are more wide open then it is important that you check with your pediatrician to run a check on your baby. It is important this is done so your pediatrician can get your little one the treatment that is needed and prevent any further complications.

Babies are a cute addition to the family. An exciting part of parenting. You would want to experience your little one falling asleep in as much as it could be a task. Seeing your little one sleeping with their eye cracked open can be worrisome but ensure that you do not panic. Most pediatricians would tell you that your little one sleeping with eyes open is harmless, common, and should not be a cause for concern except your little one shows symptoms of other possible conditions. The highlighted tips on what to do when your baby sleeps with eyes cracked open would guide you while taking care of your little one. It is important that you run a check on your little one after monitoring for a long period to know if a treatment should be administered.