Don’t Panic at the Goop: How to Treat a Blocked Tear Duct at Home
The tears have nowhere to go, so they spill out onto the cheek, and the stagnant moisture breeds bacteria, causing that white, yellow, or green discharge. Your pediatrician might call it "Crigler massage." You can call it "the boogie sweep." The goal is to use fluid pressure (the tears you push down) to pop open that little membrane. infant blocked tear duct massage
However, there is one simple, gentle technique that can help clear the blockage faster and keep your baby comfortable: What is actually happening? Tears normally drain from the eye down a tiny tube (the nasolacrimal duct) into the nose. In newborns, the bottom of that tube sometimes has a thin membrane that hasn't opened yet. Think of it like a tiny straw with a cap on the end. Don’t Panic at the Goop: How to Treat
Place your clean pinky finger (or thumb) in the corner of the eye, right against the side of the nose. Tears normally drain from the eye down a
While maintaining that gentle pressure, roll or sweep your finger straight down the side of the nose toward the nostril.