Crying without tears

[tonyhawks23]

Hey all I am just wondering if anyone has any experience of little ones who cry without having any tears. My dd came to us a few months ago and is 20 months old and seems pretty settled. She is grizzly when not having our one to one attention but this seems quite toddler expected, but when upset she has never cried with tears, although her eyes are completely fine. I have messaged the health visitor about it ahead of her next visit as am just worried about her. I dont know if its development related or emotional related or something so wonder if anyone here has any experience of this? Its a strange one and I just hope she's coping ok and not holding it all in.

has someone seen her eyes to say they are completely fine?
DM often used to tell me how I couldn’t cry tears until a paediatrician squeezed my tear ducts to unblock them, It was fixed at an earlier age though.

Oh thanks so much for your reply, that gives me hope thats in a simple medical thing and not an emotional problem! Il hope the health visitor can refer me for something like that, sounds good.

How is she when she physically hurt?

Shes upset when she hurts herself but no tears. I think it must be blocked tear ducts now!

My elderly aunt (not a child, not adopted, so apologies if it's irrelevant!) has never been able to cry tears. I don't know if it was ever fully investigated, but she is certain it's a physical issue and she's ok with it.

Sorry if this is a useless comment, just to say try not to worry about it being emotional until her eyes have been checked. X

Thanks so much no thats really helpful, I was overworrying & now feel much better & will get it checked out, its good to know its a thing!

Hi, did you get any help with this? Our son is 14 months old and doesn’t cry tears and we are concerned.

I remember the only time daughter cried she was 10 years old .I think she had suffered so much trauma she just became immune to pain etc. On that one something she had sad some unforgivable things based on another child's devastating experience and I was so angry at her something she not experienced .

Hey Kezka yes we are being referred to get it checked out - our health visitor helped with this as they didnt know and the GP didnt know so they helped request referral so we will see what happens. They think most likely is developmental due to the alcohol exposure in utero so perhaps her tear ducts havent developed as they normally would. We shall see how we go. Id first off speak to your health visitor and get a GP appointment and aim to get it checked out? Thats interesting to hear yours little one has the same thing.

I have an adopted child with extremely complex needs and he couldnt cry with tears until he was about 5 . So it makes sense to me that it is a developmental thing.

flapjack please email me. Sorry chaps no help about crying.