Toddler Blinking Eyes

My daughter just turned 3 and she did the same thing at around the same time.I tend to think,loooking back in hindsight;that she was just discovering the overall sensation of blinking her eyes and being captivated by it.This is not to say that you shouldnt casually observe her and see the doctor if you notice anything else that may accompany the whole blinking thing,But if that is the only thing,I really think that she will probably get over it in a couple of months!Good Luck!!

D.

My son has a rare eye condition called Congenital Glaucoma-he was diagnosed at 3 months old-even though it should have been detected at birth. He blinks his eyes sometimes (more increasingly) when the pressure starts to rise in his eye.

You should ask your doctor and see if he/she can recommend a good PEDIATRIC Optometrist/Opthomalogist!!!
You, being a cautious mother is a good thing-better than some one who doesn't notice these things.

I've had to learn quite a bit about health care of the eyes since my son's diagnosis. Just take caution and always take them to the doctors. She's old enough now where she might say if she is bothered by something.

Best of luck!

she could have allergies and her eyes are dry, i'd take her to the dr just to rule that out. otherwise she may just be playing.

I would ask for a referral to a pediatric eye doctor. Since she's two she should be going in for a routine eye (and teeth) exam anyway. It's probably just a phase but I would want to be sure. Doesn't your doctor have a nurse or an advice line you can call? They're there to help us. I would rather be dismissed knowing nothing is wrong than find out later I might have been able to do something if something is wrong. Good Luck! I'm sure she's just being two ;-)

It is very common for a child that age to get a clogged tear duct. with some children the duct will become inflammed or infected, making it easy to spot. But for those that don't, it can cause the child to blink more frequently in attempt to keep her eyes from drying out. Another possibility is allergies, or lack of humidity in your house. (the heat being on continually during the winter, we all know, makes for very dry skin and eyes too!). If you don't want to take her to the doctor just yet, buy some artificial tears and place them in her eyes four times a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and bedtime is easiest). If you notice the blinking stops...you've found your culperate. If the area in the corner of her eyes starts to look red, or if you notice any discharge...you definitely want to take her to an ophthamologist to get it checked out.

Obviously I'm no doctor so I can't say anything for sure, but my daughter had a short phase of that. Then she moved on...now she purposely crosses her eyes! When she was doing the blinking thing, it was like she was just playing, testing out what she could do with her eyes. My opinion, I wouldnt worry unless she tells you or acts like they are bothering her. She doesnt rub them or anything like that? I would bet she just likes doing it!

I know an Eye doctor that sees babies and children in my area (SouthSide, off of St. Johns Bluff) if you want to go that route.

Here's the website to help.
http://www.doctorpowers.com/

My son started this at age 9-10. Then he started other things such as clearing his throat and twisting his neck. I took him to our doctor and he ruled out allergies. So he sent us to a ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist and he ruled our that there was anything wrong there. Then our doctor took a bunch of x-rays to make double sure that there wasn't something lodged in his espohagus. Nope, nothing. He finally referred us to a psychiatrist, which I have to admit freaked me out. But we went and talked to him and he said he thought it was a mild case of tics. I couldn't understand why he had this because he seemed happy but I had just remarried in the past year which meant me and my son had to relocate to a military base and him to a new school. He had adjusted quite well...made friends easiliy, him and my husband are like best friends, but I guess there was still a lot for him to get adjusted to. He gave him a low-dosage of medication to relax him enough to where he doesn't feel like he has to do them. And he's done great with it since then. The medicine didn't make him a zombie like I was afraid. I'm not saying this is what you're daughter has. She is pretty young. But it could be a possibility. And definitely rule out everything medical first. Now my son's almost 12 and he's doing great!

I had a similar situation with my daughter.I noticed she was blinking hard and asked if her eyes hurt. She always said she was fine. And whenever I'd ask her about it, it would stop. After a couple of months, she wasn't doing it anymore. So, I guess it was a phase.

K.

Hi D..I read your request about your daughter & her "purposeful blinking".I have a son that is 2 yrs and 4 months old.When his father and I started dating,I noticed he did alot of blinking.I first thought it was because he had lost his eyeglasses.After he bought a new pair,the blinking didn't stop.There were times when it was mild and then there were times(especially if he thought I wasn't looking at him)it was very severe.Well, to make a long story short...I finally asked him about and he told me that he has a mild case of tarettes syndrome.He also told me that when he was about 5,the blinking was way more severe and uncontrollable.I'm sorry if I'm making you worried.Just know that he is a wonderful,healthy,intelligent,hard worker and a great dad.Our son is as his dad.Maybe a trip to the doctor isn't such a bad idea.Better to have some peace of mind,it could always be nothing. Love,
M..

Hi D.,

My son went through this as well. Although every time I asked him if his eyes hurt or were itchy he would say NO! After visiting two eye specialists and using many different kinds of eye drops (through screaming fits, because he hated the drops) and seeing a New pediatrician, the New Doctor said he has a very mild form a Turrets Syndrome. I was horrified! All I could see was him growing up to be a screamer! Ughh! Anyway, she said he may out grow it and he has (he's 10 now and I can't honestly say how long it's been gone, but at least a year.) Turrets is any form of ticks, eye blinking is a very common one. He now has a thing with his hands and twisting his wrists! It looks funny when he does it, but at least I know what it is!

Neither his father nor I have anyone in our families with this condition, so we aren't sure where it came from. Anyway, I hope you find out soon so you can put it to rest in your mind! I know how distracting it can be! Good Luck!

C.

I can tell you that I noticed the same thing with my 4 year old when she was about 2. My story is nearly identical to yours! I was concerned because I had seen my husband doing the same thing in some of his home movies from when he was a kid (later they determined he was very nearsighted). I asked our babysitter who has been watching kids for like 20 or more years and she said Hannah was not the first and she would grow out of it. And surely enough, about 4-6 months later, she did it much less often. I think they just realize this new skill and do it alot. I wouldn't worry too much, but if she's still doing it when you go to her next well-baby visit, ask her pediatrician. Hope this helps you!