Question
Today, my sister gave birth to a baby, but although the cry is loud, there is no tear. How long does it usually take for a baby to start producing tears?
Answer
Newborns’ lacrimal glands are not fully developed yet, and the amount of fluid they produce is minimal, only enough to keep the eyes moist. Therefore, it is a normal phenomenon for newborns to cry without tears. If the baby already has tears, it may be due to the narrow or blocked tear ducts. Generally, it takes several months for the tear ducts to fully open. Parents do not need to be overly concerned about this, as it is unrelated to the mother’s emotions. You can apply a small amount of eye drops to the baby and gently massage their bridge of the nose and corners of the eyes to promote tear duct unobstructed. It is recommended to use the ring finger or index finger and gently rub back and forth, and perform this before and after applying eye drops.