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Top 10 Home Remedies for Baby Eye Infection
The chances of a person having an eye infection are equal for adults and babies. Newborns may get an eye infection during delivery itself, due to the bacteria present in the birth canal. The eyes begin to swell, there will be itchiness, and your baby will be upset and irritated because of all these uncomfortable symptoms.
Symptoms of an Eye Infection
Newborns are equally susceptible to eye infections as adults. Typically, eye infections may be of bacterial or viral nature. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for.
1. Redness
Redness in the white part of the eye or inside the eyelids indicate your little one may be suffering from a viral eye infection.
2. Discharge
Any yellow discharge from the eye means the eye infection is bacterial. Make sure to the cleanse the area and wipe away any discharge.
3. Puffiness
Puffy eyelids indicate the baby most likely has a viral eye infection.
4. Matted Eyelids
If your baby has matted eyelids, or you notice the eyelids stuck together, the eye infection is bacterial in nature. Gently get rid of the buildup to ease discomfort.
5. Watery Eyes
Watery eyes indicate a viral infection in your little one. This can also lead to itchiness and dryness. Wash the eyes and keep the area clean.
Why Are Home Remedies Preferred for Eye Infections in Infants?
When infants suffer from an eye infection, their threshold to bear painful symptoms is quite low and can cause them to get extremely upset and start crying. Though there may be eye drops that you use for yourself, they may not necessarily be the right choice for your baby. You could take your baby to the doctor for an eye checkup and then get a recommendation, but until then, your baby will most likely be unable to bear the discomfort.
Home remedies are based on natural alternatives and rarely harmful to the baby. Even if they don’t end up treating the infection, they can provide some relief, which can calm the toddler and let you easily take him to the doctor for further examination.
Best 10 Home Remedies for Eye Infection in Babies
Here are some common remedies for eye infection in babies.
1. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile oil has many health benefits. There are various anti-inflammatory constituents inherent in the oil, making it a great option to treat eye infections. It’s best to take a couple of cups of water and boil it along with a few drops of the oil. Later, this can be strained and the solution can be used to dip cotton balls in it. These cotton balls, when placed over the eye of the baby, bring quite some relief and is potent in treating the infection.
2. Saltwater
Sea salt plays an important role in this regard. The salt, in itself, is a good cleansing agent and contains various constituents that make it a great antibiotic. Adding one spoon of salt to a couple of cups of water, and warming them together, forms a solution that is great to treat an eye infection. The baby’s eyes can be washed using this solution, since it will remove any discharge or solidified crusts in the eye. On the other hand, cotton swabs dipped in the water can be placed on the baby’s eye to reduce infection.
3. Breast Milk
This might sound unusual at first, but breast milk is, in fact, a good way to treat an eye infection. Mother’s milk already contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients, as well as tons of antibodies that help strengthen the baby’s immune system. Since these actively fight off infection, using a dropper to add a couple of drops of breast milk in the baby’s eye reduces any infection it might have. Breast milk is known to combat conjunctivitis as well.
4. Eyebright Plant
This plant genus is well-known in treating various infections, including an eye infection. The plant contains a lot of cleansing properties that reduce the itching in the eye. Combined with anti-allergic constituents, it actively helps in reducing swollen eyes, too. A little eyebright in 2 cups of water when boiled, is a solution that can be used to put cotton balls in. Make sure to squeeze out the water and then place the balls on the baby’s eyes.
5. Hot and Cold Water
The quickest way to bring relief from an eye infection is by making use of water. Washing the eyes with some cool water brings instant relief and can flush out any tiny particles that might be inside it. Combine that with cotton swabs soaked in warm water, and the temperature change can help combat the infection, as well as take care of any discharge. There is a substantial reduction in swelling and pain, due to this.
6. Tea Bag
Tea is known to have many anti-microbial and antioxidant properties that benefit the body when consumed. These can also be applicable for treating an eye infection. Dipping the tea bag in warm water, and then letting it cool activates the constituents of the tea. This tea bag can then be placed on each eye, alternately, soothing it from the pain of the infection.
7. Jasmine Flower
This is one of the most popular natural coolants that is a part of various natural beauty remedies as well. Jasmine water is known to soothe the skin, and can be used to soothe the eye as well. By letting the jasmine flowers sit in distilled water overnight, the water can then be put in the eye using a dropper. The soothing sensation brings quick relief from the inflammation due to the infection.
8. Antibiotics
Certain eye infections can be caused by strong bacteria and the usual home remedies may not be effective against them. In such cases, the best option is to make use of antibiotics to combat the infectious bacteria directly. Your doctor might recommend baby safe ointments or drops. Any yellow coloured secretion that might occur near the eye should be removed using cotton swabs soaked in salt water.
9. Massage
Sometimes, the eye gets irritated when the tear duct does not have a clear passage or has some blockage in its way. In these cases, it is good to warm your fingers and softly massage the area between the eye and the nasal bridge. The warmth of the fingers helps dislodge anything stuck in the path, clearing up the tear duct.
10. Infection at Birth
Many times, doctors, themselves, administer eye drops to a child to protect them from any infection that they might be susceptible to right after birth. These drops can be quite sensitive to the newborn’s eyes and cause extreme irritation. In such cases, there is no action one can take or needs to take and the irritation goes away in its own time.
The eyes of a baby are extremely sensitive and an infection or irritation causes the baby to become upset right away. By aiming to soothe the pain and bring relief to the infant, you can then check what the cause of the infection is and make use of the right remedies or your doctor’s consultation, accordingly.
References and Resources: Healthline
Also Read: Eye Problems in Babies Read more
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Your 4 Week Old Baby - Development, Milestones & Care
By now, it is nearly a month since you have given birth to your loving child and taken care of him. The cycle of feeding, sleeping and playing might seem like its happening for the longest time. Similarly, you will also spot signs that your baby is growing up really quick and he is slowly becoming the child he will become after a few years.
4 Week Old Baby Development
In about a month, the development of a baby goes through multiple phases and you will barely remember the time he was newly born. At an age of 4 week old baby growth spurt usually happens in a variety of ways. He will start discovering his limbs and try to figure out what they are and how to use them. His response to sounds will be even stronger than before and spatial placement will have improved. Although eyes are getting stronger, they might end up looking cross-eyed at times, as they struggle to focus. Their neck will be stronger which will result in them trying to move their head even more than before.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Development]
Four Week Old Baby Milestones
The age of a month is when your baby will start discovering gradually that they have a body of their own, too. Around this point, their weight would be substantial as well. A 4 week old baby weight should be increased by around 150 to 200 g every week.
As they start observing the environment around them, the inbuilt reflexes of the body might make them encounter their own hands and feet. They will start looking at their palms, their fingers, but fail to make a connection that these are their own and can be operated by themselves.
This discovery of their own limbs and other things surrounding them will manifest in the form of various sounds and grunts. This is primarily also when a baby starts to making cooing sounds. Now, in order to get your attention, he may realize to coo louder than usual and not cry right away. With this cooing, you can have long conversations that last through an entire afternoon.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Milestones]
Feeding
A 4 week old baby feeding is extremely essential in helping him gain the weight that is necessary. During this time, as your baby tends to put out his tongue more often, you might spot small spots of milk in their mouth or around after the feeding. This is normal and not a reason to worry since it primarily occurs due to their stomach still coming to terms with the milk amount. The valve of the food pipe is comparatively relaxed as compared to adults, and can sometimes allow a little milk to flow back into the mouth. It is best to keep wiping this off occasionally.
Due to the increase in feeding, you may notice that your own breastmilk amount tends to go down, especially towards the evening times. This can be fixed by taking a nap in the afternoon or playing with your child while lying down. It is also important that your own meal schedule stays on point and you do not end up delaying any meals just to be able to feed your child. Both food and rest are highly necessary to keep a consistent milk supply going.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Feeding]
Sleeping
All the novelty and discoveries that a baby undergoes at this stage tend to keep him awake for longer than usual. Once a feeding has completed, your child may lie down quietly and play with his hands or have conversations with you before drifting off to sleep. Around this age, you might start understanding if your child is naturally calm or more of the energetic sorts or even the attention-demanding kind.
Since a 4 week old sleep schedule is still a bit erratic, you should hold your child closer to you for longer and might need to cuddle them and rock them to bring them to sleep. The need to feel safe and secure is important at this stage since your baby starts realizing you might not always be around him or close to him.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Sleeping Basics]
Behaviour
Through the conversations of the previous weeks, your baby will further realize the different uses of his mouth. Cooing will be more frequent as well as other sounds of grunting and gargling. The social engagement need at this stage is quite high, and babies tend to demand constant attention and communication of all sorts.
Although they may not be able to convey their emotions through facial expressions, their face might bear glimpses of irritation, vague smiles, or even pain. These will help you pre-emptively understand what your child might require. The slow closing of his eyes is a cue that he is about to fall asleep and by laying him down and gently rocking him, you can lull him into one.
Upper body strength continues to develop speedily and more supervised time on the tummy is absolutely essential to get this going. Being able to hold their head and hold themselves up should be a constant effort throughout this age.
4 Week Old Baby Care Tips
Increased feeding sets in due to a growth spurt and babies require more food than usual. Make sure you get enough rest in the first place so that your breastmilk production stays on point and enough to feed your baby.
The increased curiosity can result in your baby staying awake for more time. They could constantly demand attention or not fall asleep by themselves as they used to before. It is important to hold your child in your arms and rock them or cuddle them so that they get their daily quota of sleep.
Keep your baby’s movements restricted when he sleeps so that his exploration of hands and feet does not end up with him hurting them.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Care]
Tests and Vaccinations
Usually, around the end of the first month of the baby and before completion of the second month, doctors recommend administering a secondary round of vaccination for Hepatitis B. This is primarily to prevent diseases from infecting the liver.
Games and Activities
As your child’s listening skills develop, you can go ahead and develop his auditory experience by playing games around sounds and so. By closing your palms around your mouth and making different sounds, watch him try to figure out what is happening or even gargle in excitement. You can even get close to his ear and whisper gently and talk to him. All these different techniques can get him excited to learn more. This can even cause them to coo at different volumes, and be in sync with how you communicate with them. Snap in the direction of the ear. This will make them realise they can hear sounds from two directions, leading them to understand the presence of two ears.
The only smell that babies are usually aware at this age is the smell of their mother’s breastmilk. This is also one of the important ways that your baby identifies you from anybody else. So, it is great if you can make him smell a bunch of other items that safe for him. Hold him in your arms, nicely cuddled in a blanket so that he is safely secured. Then take a small cloth and dab it in his powder. Don’t take a lot. Bring it closer to his nose and let him understand the fragrance. Same could be done with the sanitizer too. With each fragrance, let him look at your face and communicate a reaction to him. The connection between smell and facial reactions will help them understand what’s good and what’s not and communicate with you accordingly.
[Also Read: 1 Month Old Baby Games and Activities]
Consult a Doctor If
Around a month or so, your baby should already be giving enough signs that show a good and healthy development throughout. Therefore, it is important to note the presence or absence of certain conditions and understand if they need medical intervention.
If a 4 week old baby constipated issue are seen, with bowel movement not occurring for more than a day or so, this could create complications later on and should be brought to the doctor’s notice immediately.
It takes nearly a month for a baby to start perceiving the surroundings and various sounds in a proper manner. But even after that, if your baby does not seem to respond to claps or calls in any manner, doesn’t blink eyes at loud sounds, fails to focus on things or notice your face even when you are in his field of view, has a faded colour in his pupils, these might be signs of a disorder and must be informed to the doctor soon.
Babies tend to make a lot of sounds at this age. They will move around their arms and legs and try to understand various parts of the body. Curiosity and interest are at an all-time high. Many babies are calm and composed too, but still do react to multiple triggers occasionally. Compared to those, if your baby is unnaturally quiet, does not move a lot, shows no interest in his arms or legs, or cries quite different from others, it might be necessary to bring this to the doctor’s attention.
With your baby being a month old already, he would be well on his way to discovering that he, too, is an individual by himself. By keeping a good family time and regular interaction with other family members, you can start developing a good feeling of security and home within your child.
Previous Week: 3 Weeks Old Baby
Next Week: 5 Weeks Old Baby Read more
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Picking the Perfect Curtain Length For Your Home
When shopping for curtains, you need to consider their length. How long floor-length curtains should be and what to choose for what room can be the deciding factor that defines your home. Find out what you need to know to make the right choice.
Curtains not only keep glare and excess sunlight out, but they also give a home identity. There are many designs and colours as well as fabrics to pick from. Yet what matters most is accurate length. Curtains skimming the floor look awesome in some rooms and for others, shorter lengths are better.
What is the Standard Curtain Length?
There’s no strict rule to what length curtains should be. As long as they look good and don’t drive you crazy, that’s all that matters! However, there are some tips you can follow to have curtains that look fabulous.
1. Go for Long Curtains for the Bedroom, Living and Dining Rooms
In some rooms like the dining room, you can experiment with floor-length curtains. You can even romanticise your living room with them. For the master bedroom, darker colours with embroidery are perfect while light tones are ideal for kids' rooms. As for how long floor-length curtains should be, that’s up to you!
2. Floor-Grazing or Curtains that Puddle
Curtains grazing the floor look really beautiful but they require more maintenance. If you still want to have them, opt for ones that hang a few inches above the floor. Do keep a note of curtain dimensions like length by width. Curtains that are long should be sufficiently wide as well so that they create beautiful folds. You can even have curtains that puddle a little.
3. Keep the House Clean
Whether long or short, you must make sure the room the curtains are in is kept clean. Otherwise, the edges will soil. Alternatively, you could adjust the length of the curtains by adding frills to shorter curtains and longer curtains can be cut and re-stitched.
4. Short Equals Practical
For utility-based rooms like the kitchen and bathroom, the standard curtain length for the windows should be short, ideally around the length of the sill. It will keep them from getting dirty quickly and coming in your way. Install short curtains in home offices too. Of course, you can always get long-length curtains, but if you spend a lot of time in your office or entertain clients a lot, it’ll be tougher to keep them clean.
5. Fabric Job
Material acts as a deciding factor when deciding how to measure curtain length. Fabrics that are light and flowing like crepe, chiffon and satin should ideally be used for floor-length curtains. They fall beautifully. On the other hand, curtains in linen and cotton look best when they’re short as they’re stiffer. However, try to use sheers under curtains to give rooms an airier feel and to increase privacy.
Curtains are simple window treatments that pack a punch! They reflect your personal taste. Printed or solid, and long or short, choose and measure them with care. You’ll be amazed at the style they bring to any room. Read more
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Lock down with the big babies seems next to possible!
While working in the kitchen simultaneously handling the child has always been a tedious task for women and this lockdown, covid everywhere, has only put the worst icing to the cake!Well, to be honest my four year old kid has made me thin again, courtesy no school and his crazy activites. The kids these days come as an updated version, they need changes in their daily lives, they want more and more new things. And it gets really difficult for a woman to handle a child with no cook at home and herself in the kitchen. The first half of the day when you are in the kitchen making breakfast, your child gets up and you have to attend him! You take him to the bathroom, help him brush his teeth because he is still a child who is learning how to clean his parts. But suddenly, you remember there is a pan full of vegetables that still is getting cooked. You run towards your kitchen when your child shouts from behind, ,Mum , I need to poop. You take a deep breathe and return back. This is not just my story but every household where there is no cook and maid. You fix his routine on your own, tries
to keep him busy all the time so that he would not split milk on your free
time! We have been watching a lot many activities for the child to keep them
intact and sit at one place, but what I have experienced is any activity you
choose, you need to give them your time. Be it his school work or any colouring
activities. At least my child needs someone
to check upon him all the time. But at least I still am trying to
give him more activities and more books to scribble, write, colour unnecessary objects.
He watches videos on television because I restrict him to use any phone. I make
him watch Blippi shows, educational videos especially related to animaks and
museums. For cartoons, he watches Peppa Pig in English and yes of course, Chota
Bheem and Mighty Raju are his favourites. I give him shapes to draw and he
loves colouring 3D shapes such as Sphere, Cylinder, Rectangular Prisms and Cone.
The struggle is real for sure! Read more
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
14 hours ago
Q. Iam 9month pregnant and having very painful condition due to constipation and gastric issues
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
13 hours ago
A. during pregnancy better not to take medicines for constipation take lot of water green leafy vegetables seasonal fruits you can try suppository if the problem is more o k o k
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
11 hours ago
Q. hi Doc,
eating raw mango, chapathi or any heat producing foods cause miscarriage during first trimester?
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. no relation ok c. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
Dr Vandan H Kumar has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due in 7 months
11 hours ago
Q. Hi Doc,
I'm getting cramps on my right side of lower stomach. is this normal or do I have to visit doc?
Dr Vandan H Kumar
Paediatrician
11 hours ago
A. without examination it is difficult to tell proper treatment as well as advice so you should visit the doctor5 for health assessment as well as examination.
whether any investigations is required or not will be told by the doctor5
Dr Priyanka Kalra has added a new answer
Expecting Mom due this month
8 hours ago
Q. i am 39 week of pregnant and having AFI level of 8 is this normal?and is delivery possible for me?
Dr Priyanka Kalra
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
53 mins ago
A. yes. better to show to specialist always as they get the correct diagnosis. try to avoid self and extra medication that will only complicate this and create more damage to the childdo ultrasound n necessary tests after consulting a specialist. without proper check up we can't advise or help you.. Avoid shirt cuts when it comes to health if mother n baby. ok.
Vandana Sharma has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
2 hours ago
Q. please tale me how much dengerous for may 7 days old baby and she was 2.9 kg.
Vandana Sharma
Nutritionist
46 mins ago
A. Hello mom the blood sugar level of baby is quite low , could say hypoglycemia as well .
Dr Ghouse has added a new answer
Guardian of 0 children
51 mins ago
Q. hlw hospital bag main baby nd mom ke liye kiya kiya le jana chahiye???
Dr Ghouse
Paediatrician
19 mins ago
A. hospital bag mein baby ke essentials Deni hogi aap YouTube per dekh sakte hain. if there is no relief it is better you see your doctor for proper examination particularly physical examination if there is need for doing investigations to find out the problem and treatment ok
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