A mom from Belfast, Northern Ireland, recently opened up on social media about a unique behavior her 8-month-old daughter exhibits and is curious to see if others have experienced something similar.
Lana Kearney took to social media to express her concerns that her baby girl doesn’t blink as often as other infants. She noted that they first noticed this peculiarity when her daughter was around 3 months old, with others commenting on her intense staring.
@lana.kearney
Kearney sought advice from her health visitor (midwife), who reassured her that it was not a cause for alarm. Interestingly, she mentioned that her daughter sometimes sleeps with her eyes slightly open, prompting Kearney to wave her hand in front of her face to check if she’s truly asleep.
In a TikTok video shared on June 13, which has since gathered over 93,000 views, Kearney engaged other parents to see if they had similar experiences. Responses varied, with one user mentioning their daughter can’t burp, while another stated that their kids often sleep with one eye open and even chat in their sleep.
Many chimed in about their own experiences; one shared that their infant also sleeps with eyes open and even laughs while sleeping, which they found a bit eerie.
Experts weighed in on the topic as well, explaining that blinking is a reflex primarily developed over time. Pediatric expert, Mann, noted that infants’ eyes don’t need as much moisture as adults, so their blinking reflex isn’t as pronounced. He highlighted that it’s common for babies to develop their own blinking patterns as they mature. However, as long as the baby doesn’t show any signs of eye discomfort or dryness, there’s likely no cause for concern.