Tear Ducts

[{sarah}]

Does anyone know when a baby's tear ducts open up?

[barbie-up]

<barb reaches for 'what to expect - the first year ...>

... It is not until the end of the first month of life that the fluid that bathes the eye (tears) begins to be produced in the lacrimal glands over the eyeballs. The fluid normally drains through tiny ducts located at the inner corner of each eye and into the nose which is why a lot of crying can make your nose run ...

something like that ? something on duct blockage ?

Barb.

[{sarah}]

Hmmm, Zander is almost 11 weeks old & he doesn't have any tears yet. Wonder if that's normal :-k

[barbie-up]

hi again - book also says tearless crying is common in newborns - how long are they a 'newborn' for ?

when do you see your health nurse next ?

11 weeks - that seems to have gone quickly !

barb.

[Astrolady]

Apparently a baby can cry tears from 6wks old, but most tear ducts will open on their own by the time a baby turns 1.

Love

[katanya]

Feklix has had one blocked infected tear duct since he was born, it has been a real pain, because we used to have to cleanse it daily (multiple times!) with saline and cotton buds..

It cleared magically one day and now at 1 year old it has gone completely!! The eye specialists wont do anything about blocked ducts till they are over 1 because it is really common for exactly that to happen!

Not sure about the tears, we used to get them from a very early age, just the blocked duct would build up and blob rather than tear..

[{sarah}]

I know it has gone quick hasn't it Barb?!

Thanks guys I wasn't sure & wanted to make sure everything is still ok. So no need to worry for a while yet then!

[christy]

I had Matilda's checked when she was 2 months because after all the crying & screaming I would have thought, but I saw tears for the first time around 5 months