6 week old with gummy eyes - any ideas what it is?

[kekouan]

My 6 week old DS has one very wet eye - it's very gummy when we get up in the morning, and i have to clean it several times a day with cotton wool. Should i get him checked out, or will it clear up on its own?

Sounds like normal baby stuff - if it doesn't clear in a day or 2 I would get it checked out. Otherwise, make sure you use seperate piece cotton wool for each eye to avoid cross infection.

Could you nip to your baby clinic at the local surgery, we have 2 a week we can access, no appointments are usually needed, just for bit of reasurrance for yourself.

if you are breastfeeding, breastmilk dripped into the eye is a good healer for gunky eyes... or local pharmacy can give you drops

quite normal

if you're breast feeding put a couple of drops of breast milk in it, or soak cotton wool in BM and wipe .. always from inside of eye to outside (never go over with same piece of cotton wool) .. it is really the best thing for it

if not then the cooled boiled water and cotton wool will suffice (should) .. but again one sweep only with each piece and only from inside to outside of eye

my dd had one eye which kept getting gummy when she was about the same age. I remember thinking when it looked really bad that it MUST be an infection. It wasn't. Cooled boiled water and cotton wool did the trick. Probably did that about three times a day and it always cleared up in 2 or 3 days. If there is a drop in clinic and you're worrying, there's no harm in getting them to reassure you. Of course be prepared for the interrogation about every other aspect of your DS's life

Ah good, thanks for all the replies. Not BFing anymore, but might be able to squeeze out enough to wipe his eyes with

Baby clinic is on Monday, and I have my 6 week check next Wednesday, so I'll get him checked out then if it hasn't cleared up.

thanks again!