Press down. You aren't trying to poke the eye. You are trying to compress the tear sac against the bone. It should feel like pressing a button.
Maya’s heart did a small flip. Is it an infection? she worried. She gently wiped it with a warm washcloth, but by the afternoon, the sticky residue was back. infant blocked tear duct massage
While most blocked ducts are harmless, keep an eye out for signs of infection (dacryocystitis). Contact your pediatrician if you notice: Significant swelling or a hard purple/red lump by the nose Pus-like yellow or green discharge The white of the eye becomes red or bloodshot Your baby develops a fever Press down
Firmly slide your finger downward along the side of the nose. Think of it as a "milking" motion to help pop open the thin membrane at the bottom of the duct. It should feel like pressing a button
Place the tip of your clean index finger (or pinky) on the side of the nose, just below the inner corner of the eye.
Over the next week, the massage became part of their routine. Maya did it three times a day—once after his morning nap, once after a bath, and once before bed.
She was careful never to press on the eyeball, only on the tear sac and the duct pathway below. She watched the skin closely, making sure she wasn't rubbing it raw. If the discharge was heavy, she wiped it away with a clean cotton ball and sterile water before starting the massage.