Does my baby have a (very) minor squint?

[Notgotaclue563]

Please see pic and let me know. My brother a had squint and it was corrected through surgery and a patch and also I wore glasses from a very young age - all family members on both sides wear glasses and from a young age.

It seems to come and go a little in of I see it or not. NHS advice is if over 3 months and see it even intermittently then get checked but I don't know if I'm seeing things and baby is fine?

I think they do. I’m not sure I’d see it unless you’d pointed it out. I don’t have any children and I’ve never dealt with a squint. So no advice in that regard although I think I’ve heard that squints are worth correcting for eye functionality purposes even though your baby is not very cosmetically affected. So definitely see a professional asap.

Mention it to GP and they can refer for tests.

I noticed my baby may have a squint so mentioned to HV at 1 year rv. Baby didn’t but did have differed shaped eyeballs which accounted for the asymmetry and was referred for eye sight testing - all fine she is just short sighted like her Mum and Dad. But has check ups for squint as being short sighted is a risk factor.

In your first photo, the eye on right of photo does seem slightly nearer at the corner of the eye nearest the nose.

Patching is more effective at a younger age and if delayed too long, there is more chance of a squint and lazy eye. Having said that, I think it's usually done around 3+ and up to 5 is fine. Beyond that age the eyes can respond less well to the patching. It would be worth seeing an optician sooner rather than later.

how old is your little one, I think a squint is common in most young babies while their eye muscles develop? My son looked a bit like that when he was born, and his vision is great now - can spot a chocolate chip on the floor at a 100 paces away

Although I never mentioned it to my daughter I though my granddaughter had a squint when she was a baby which worried me however she is now 9 and no sign of a squint, I can't even remember when I stopped noticing it

We have a similar family history of squints and patching. My DD1, as a baby, had a very minor squint like the photos you have shared. We saw an ophthalmologist who confirmed that it’s normal for babies to have a squint up until the age of 1. After that it’s worth getting it checked out. DD1 is now 6 with no squint.
When DD2 also developed a squint which remained after the age of 1, she was referred to ophthalmology and has regular check ups. She is now age 4, squint has worsened (she has no control over her eyes in long distance) but vision is fine, so no need for patching. She is awaiting surgery over the next year or so to fix it.
We have just noticed DD3 (13 months) has also developed a squint, so awaiting another referral for her!
I wouldn’t worry at this stage but I would get yours followed up if you still notice it beyond the 12 month age mark

Looks like she does, yes you need to be referred. Given your history, she'll possibly just need some glasses.

@Spooky1408 any inwards squint after three months or outwards one needs investigating as occasionally they can be caused by eye disease.