What to do if the baby is sleeping with open eyesPhoto: Getty
Why does a baby sleep with eyes open
Human sleep consists of two phases.These are the phases of deep and superficial (REM) sleep. During the deep phase, all human muscles are maximally relaxed, breathing is even, the brain is resting. Before this, there is a REM sleep phase, when the brain is not yet asleep, the muscles twitch, breathing corresponds to the waking mode. It is at this time that the child may have half-closed eyes. In childhood, these phases alternate very often. This is provided by nature: after all, the baby can only warn that he is hungry or wet by crying. And he can cry only during wakefulness or in the phase of superficial sleep. Thus, if a newborn baby sleeps with - this is a normal physiological phenomenon. In medical practice, this is called "lagophthalmos". It disappears at the age of about one and a half years. At an older age, it sometimes occurs, but quite rarely, only in cases when the baby is overexcited.
What to do if a child sleeps with eyes open
Is there anything you need to do if you see,that your baby's eyes are slightly open during sleep? Of course, this sight is a little scary, but there is no need to panic. First of all, you need to show the child to an ophthalmologist. He will examine the fundus and determine whether there are any organic lesions of the visual organs. If everything is in order, then you need to visit a neurologist. He will see if the baby has any neurological disorders. And if all the doctors say that the child is healthy, then there is nothing to worry about. You just need to follow a few simple rules. - Be sure to follow a strict daily routine: sleep should always be at the same time. - It is necessary to develop and adhere to a bedtime ritual, for example, bathing and telling a story. - If you see that the baby is very overexcited during the day, switch him to another type of activity. For example: a child crawls screaming after your cat and tries to tear off its tail. It is necessary to interrupt this fascinating activity and give the baby some cubes. - Do not wake the child if you see that his eyes are slightly open, stroke him soothingly - and that's it. The recommendations are very simple, but they will help solve the problem. Remember that if the child's eyes are very often slightly open in his sleep, then you should definitely visit a doctor. Only a doctor can establish the true cause of this phenomenon. Read more:
