Teething is natural for all babies; it is a process through which their “baby teeth” come out through the gums, leading to discomfort and a desire to “chew or bite.” Teething can be different for different babies. Some babies can have a mild feeling, whereas some babies feel a lot of pain and will cry. Lower front teeth start appearing around six to nine months after birth, and the process continues up to 30-36 months.

During this time, babies face several physical problems such as irritability, drooling or skin rashes, gnawing and biting, ear pulling and cheek rubbing, coughing, diarrhea, and low-grade fever. Doctors have also found that babies have a tendency to rub their eyes during this time, and it can be one of the outcomes of these symptoms. However, let’s elaborate on these symptoms so that you can have a concrete idea regarding if baby rubbing eyes is a sign of teething.

A lot of this understanding comes from years of research and examining the habits of different age grows. Infants are particularly curious and continue to be the source of a lot of discussions in the field of humanities and social sciences.

Irritability

Irritability is caused because of the eruption of teeth through gums. As every organ is interconnected, they start rubbing their eyes to get rid of this irritation. However, cuddling can be the ultimate solution, and if you can spend some extra time with your baby, the irritation may go down.

Drooling and Skin Rashes

During this time, excessive saliva comes out from the mouth of babies, and it is out of their control. Saliva consists of bacteria, and so as they rub their face, it can lead to a rash around the cheeks, mouth, neck, chin, and even eyes. As a result, babies start rubbing their eyes. In order to get rid of this problem, you have to take care of your baby’s hygiene properly, and you have to keep their face as clean as possible (look for skin creams that will help to control skin rashes).

Coughing

Excessive saliva creates an occasional gag or cough reflect. Consequently, tears come out from their eyes, and they start rubbing their eyes. If this problem continues, consult with a doctor.

Biting and Gnawing

Doctors have observed that babies have a tendency to bite and gnaw things when teething. As gums and eyes are interconnected, they start feeling a soft irritation in their eyes, and as a result, they start rubbing their eyes.

Along with the eyes, they also rub their cheeks and ears. This happens because the pain caused by the eruption of the molar in the gums travels to the cheek, ears, and eyes. However, if they frequently rub their ears, it can be a sign of an ear infection. Contact the infant’s pediatrician in such a case.

Sometimes teething is not the only reason why your baby will rub their eyes. We have added some other probable reasons below.

Dry Eyes

When your baby feels dryness in their eyes, they rub it in order to get a clear vision, and it may not be a sign of teething.

When They Get Tired

It is probably one of the foremost reasons why your baby rubs their eyes. We stretch our muscles when we feel tired and sleepy. Similarly, babies rub their eyes to tell us that they are going to sleep.

Teething is an issue to discuss directly with your primary care physician. If you are looking to provide additional support to your child each day, consider using organic products from Healthy Origins, Dr. Mercola, and Nordic Naturals. These brands offer products formulated specifically for children and their individual needs.