Can I put breastmilk in my babys gunky eye?

Understanding the Use of Breast Milk for Eye Issues in Babies
Breast milk, often lauded for its numerous health benefits, has sparked interest among parents for various home remedies, including the treatment of eye issues in infants. Specifically, the practice of applying breast milk to a baby’s gunky eye has gained attention. However, this approach raises important questions about safety, efficacy, and medical advice.
The Nature of Gunky Eyes in Babies
A “gunky eye” in babies typically refers to a condition where discharge accumulates in the eye, often resulting in crustiness, redness, or irritation. Common causes include:
– Blocked Tear Ducts: This is one of the most frequent causes, particularly in newborns. It occurs when the tear duct is not fully open, leading to tears pooling and causing discharge.
– Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): This can be viral or bacterial and often manifests with redness, swelling, and discharge.
– Allergies or Irritants: Dust, pollen, or other environmental factors can lead to gunky eyes due to irritation.
The Role of Breast Milk
Proponents of using breast milk on gunky eyes cite its natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Breast milk contains antibodies, particularly immunoglobulin A (IgA), which can help fight infections. Many parents believe that applying breast milk could soothe irritation and reduce discharge.
Medical Perspectives
Despite the anecdotal support for using breast milk, medical professionals generally advise caution. Here are some key considerations:
– Lack of Scientific Evidence: While breast milk does have beneficial properties, there is limited scientific research specifically supporting its effectiveness for treating eye infections in infants.
– Risk of Contamination: Applying anything to the eye carries a risk. If the breast milk is not handled properly, it can lead to contamination and potential worsening of the condition.
– Underlying Conditions: It’s crucial to identify the underlying cause of the gunky eye. Conditions like bacterial conjunctivitis may require medical treatment with antibiotics, and delaying proper treatment could lead to complications.
Recommendations for Parents
If your baby has a gunky eye, here are some recommended steps:
1. Consult a Pediatrician: Always seek professional medical advice to determine the cause of the discharge and the appropriate treatment.
2. Maintain Hygiene: Keep the area around your baby’s eyes clean. Use a soft, damp cloth to gently wipe away any discharge.
3. Monitor Symptoms: Pay attention to additional symptoms such as redness, swelling, or excessive tearing, which may require immediate medical attention.
Conclusion
While the idea of using breast milk as a remedy for gunky eyes in babies is appealing to some parents, it is essential to prioritize safety and seek professional guidance. The benefits of breast milk are numerous, but when it comes to eye health, a pediatrician’s insight is invaluable in ensuring your child’s well-being.

What can I put on my baby’s gunky eye?

Wet a sterile cotton ball with saline solution. Gently wipe your baby’s eye from the inside corner to the outside corner. Use a new cotton ball for each wipe.

How do you clear a baby’s eye drain?

If the white part of your baby’s eye — the sclera — is clear and there is no redness, but there is discharge, it’s most likely a blocked tear duct. About 1 in 5 babies are born with tear ducts that haven’t fully developed. The blockage is usually in one eye but can be in both. It often clears up on its own.

Can I put breast milk in my baby’s eye?

Filled with antibodies, vitamins, and minerals breastmilk can work wonders on your young infant’s body. Try placing a drop or two of breast milk directly into the inner portion of your baby’s eyes while they are closed— once they open their eyes, the milk will fall into the eyes and work to clear up any infection.

How do you clean a baby’s sticky eye with breast milk?

There is also evidence to support using breastmilk to clean your baby’s eye. This will not cause any harm to your baby.

Can breastmilk help a clogged tear duct?

The antibodies in breastmilk can help fight off infections. Putting a few drops of breast milk can help clear your baby’s blocked tear duct, can help get rid of diaper rash, and even help with ear infections. It can even help adults too.

Can breast milk be used as eye drops for babies?

Conclusions: This study demonstrated that BM is no less effective than OS in infants with eye discharge aged ≤6 months. The results suggested that the use of breast milk as eye drops could be considered as a first-line treatment for infants aged ≤6 months with eye discharge.

How can I treat my baby’s eye infection at home?

Using cool or warm compresses on the eyes may make your child more comfortable. Clean the edges of the infected eye carefully with warm water and gauze or cotton balls. This can also remove the crusts of dried discharge that make the eyelids stick together in the morning.

How to unblock baby tear duct?

Place the tip of your index finger against the side of your child’s nose, in the corner of the eye with the blocked tear duct (Picture 2). Press firmly and move your index finger in short downward strokes 3 to 5 times. Repeat these steps 3 times each day – morning, noon, and night.

Can breast milk be used for conjunctivitis?

Can I use breast milk for pink eye? Breastmilk could be more harmful than helpful for pink eye. One of the few studies on whether breast milk can fight infections found that it didn’t cure the most common causes of pink eye — and worse, breastmilk can introduce new bacteria into the eye and cause serious infection.

Does breast milk help baby eye discharge?

However, it is important to note that breast milk is not a sufficient treatment for eye infections or other possible causes of eye discharge.