Should I Be Worried About the Red Bags Under My Baby’s Eyes?

It is so hard not to be worried about our little ones when we notice something out of the ordinary about their behavior or their features. If there are red, slightly puffy, bags under your baby’s eyes, don’t panic. There are likely a few different causes.

3 Possible Causes of Red Under Baby’s Eyes

Red bags under your baby’s eyes may look alarming, but there are a number of reasons why this could be happening. Some of the reasons could be health related, but others are simply little changes around the baby’s home that might need done.

1. Allergies

Not all allergies are directly noticeable or affect sinuses. There are pathogens and things in the very air we breathe that could cause any one of our allergies to react. 

Because our immune systems have gradually built up a tolerance over the years of our lives, it isn’t as noticeable as it is with a baby. Possible allergens for babies might include:

• Dust Mites
• Pollen
• Animal Dander
• Outside influences
• Milk
• Inside influences (laundry detergent, fabric softener, household cleaners)

How to Alleviate Allergies

You should always seek a doctor’s professional opinion any time you think your baby may be ill. However, there are a few things you can do to alleviate the symptoms of allergies if you cannot get in to see the doctor right away.

Cool Compresses: Even if dust and/or pollen gets in baby’s eyes, it can cause red puffy bags under them. Soak a clean, lint-free towel in cool water and gently place it over the affected area. This will help bring the puffiness down.

Wash Baby’s Bedding: This should be done no less than once a week. Wash all sheets, blankets, bumper padding, and stuffed animals.

Dust mites, animal dander, pollen and much more like to hide between the fibers. Wash in hot water with hypoallergenic detergent. This may also include curtains and area rugs as well. Dust and pollen can reside everywhere!

Dust: It is recommended that you dust and vacuum your little one’s nursery at least once every other week. This will reduce the allergens in the air.

Air Purifier: Air purifiers will generally draw dust and allergens into its chamber, leaving the air nice and clean for baby.

Pets: Be sure to keep all pets out of baby’s room. While they may be gentle, they carry dander that can be the cause of the eye irritation.

Windows: Keep all windows closed. It’s sometimes hard to keep windows closed on those beautiful days. However, the spring and fall are the worst times of year to contract allergies.

Be sure to limit your baby’s outside exposure until you know what is the cause of the allergies.

Carpet: If there is carpet in your precious little one’s room and you’ve tried all of the above, the next step you might look into is carpet removal.

Dust particles, pet dander, pollen and many other irritants can be introduced to the carpet by just walking into the room. Once they are locked into the carpet, it is impossible to get the allergens out, no matter how many times you vacuum.

Air Filters. Make sure the air filters in your home are changed every thirty days. This will eliminate any extra allergens.

Believe it or not, breast milk is an excellent way to heal allergies and other minor ailments for baby. Breast milk has antioxidants and natural agents in it that can help heal or prevent colds and allergies. 

If there is an infection caused by a tiny scratch or something further, breast milk can help resolve the issue. Simply add just a drop into each affected eye. You’re introducing good antibodies to your baby that can use to fight off the nasty little irritation.

2. Eyelashes

Sometimes, the eye will have goopy discharges, and even though you clean the icky away, it can still be irritating to your baby’s sensitive eyes. As a result, eyelashes can become matted together and scratch baby’s eyes.

This can lead to swollen, puffy skin around the eyes. A simple fix to this is by placing a warm compress over the eyes and gently wipe from the inside corner to the outside corner of each eye. Inspect your baby’s lower lashes to make sure none are irritating the eyes.

3. Diet

Another factor that should be taken into consideration is the baby’s diet. Ask yourself: When did this start happening? Have I changed his/her diet in any way? 

Sometimes, baby’s can have an allergy to the formula they have been taking. OR, if the baby is breastfeeding what is going on in your diet that could be passed along during feeding times. 

If you are breastfeeding, you will want to keep a journal of everything you eat for a week and monitor the redness. If it’s formula based, ask your doctor about changing formulas.

Be careful about abruptly switching though because changing a baby’s diet suddenly can cause some gastrointestinal issues that can make baby very uncomfortable.

4. Laundry

Your baby might have an allergy to the laundry detergent or fabric softener you are using. A lot of times detergents have dyes, fragrances, and chemicals in them that can cause reactions.

There are a few baby-friendly detergents on the market that can be used. A good detergent that might be suitable for your baby is Dreft. It is hypoallergenic and designed specifically for babies.

When to Call The Doctor

If you’ve tried all of the methods listed above, and your precious little bundle is still having these issues, it’s time to seek out your doctor. 

Directly approach your doctor. Be direct and to the point. Request an allergy test. These tests come in handy if not for any other reason than to narrow down the possible suspects. 

To Wrap Up...

Thank you for stopping by. I hope I have answered all of your questions, or at the very least, offered a little bit of insight as to what may be going on with your baby and the red bags under his/her eyes! It is always best to get a professional physician’s opinion when it comes to your little one. You can never be too careful.

Have a question or comment? Please feel free to leave them below, and I will do the best I can to get you the most accurate, up-to-date information.

References

What Is Allergic Conjunctivitis? What Causes Allergic Conjunctivitis?". medicalnewstoday.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2018.

Zentani A, Burslem J (December 2009). "Towards evidence based emergency medicine: best BETs from the Manchester Royal Infirmary. BET 4: use of litmus paper in chemical eye injury". Emerg Med J. 26 (12): 887. doi:10.1136/emj.2009.086124. PMID 19934140.