Is It Normal for a Newborn to Blink While Sleeping?

Question

When a newborn blinks while sleeping, it’s that rapid blinking, 56 times per second. There are no other symptoms. Is this normal, doctor?

Answer

There are many reasons for a child to blink. First, pay attention to whether the baby’s eyes are normal and if there is any discomfort. Additionally, is the blinking continuous or intermittent? Does the baby have any reaction to the outside world while blinking? Are there other symptoms? In fact, children often blink continuously, not just due to eyelid and conjunctival inflammation, but also because of trichiasis. Besides being caused by eye fatigue, blinking normally occurs 15-20 times per minute to keep the tear film properly aligned on the surface of the eye, protecting the cornea and preventing dryness of the eye surface, as well as protecting against dust and other particles. However, frequent blinking is a pathological phenomenon. Common causes of frequent blinking in children include inflammation, congenital eyelid inversion and trichiasis, ADHD, eye fatigue-induced blinking, neurological blinking, and habitual blinking. In summary, there are many reasons for a child to frequently blink, and treatment varies; it requires an experienced doctor to diagnose and treat. Parents should seek medical attention early if they notice their child frequently blinking to prevent the disease from worsening. With timely detection and treatment, the general treatment outcomes are usually good. This is the recommendation for the question ‘Is it normal for a newborn to blink while sleeping?’ I hope this helps you; wish you health!