Gunky Eyes

Sounds like it could be allergies or pink eye. My daughter just had pink eye, but you couldn't see the pink unless you pulled her lids out and looked inside the eye (don't do that, it really honked her off!)

One "home remedy" for pink eye is to make a cup of black tea, then when it's cool, dip a cotton ball in it and wipe it across the eye. It seemed to help my daughter (when I remembered to do it!).

Also, breastmilk really helps pink eye. I've done this to myself, actually. I caught pink eye from one of the kids, and I was still nursing, so I expressed a little into a clean container, then used a dropper to put it in my eye. It actually felt better than the antibiotic drops the doc gave me!

You can also use saline/artificial tears to help clear out the gunk and make him more comfortable. Or even a warm, wet washcloth. Just don't use it more than once!

Now they're saying that most pink eye clears up on its own (my daughter's did!). There's no need to go to the doctor unless he's really uncomfortable. Keep him home until the gunk stops appearing in the morning/after nap, it's highly contagious.

Good luck!!

A. @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com

When my oldest daughter was 11 mths (her first christmas) she had a cold, then got gunk in her eyes and then it did develop into a fever. I turned out she had an ear infection. I just thought I would add our experience in there too. My son use to get a little gunk in his eyes as well when he was younger, but it never turned out to be anything. I would wipe his eyes with a warm rag. I did hear to do the breast milk thing too. However not everyone has access to that ;) I have also heard hear recently if you have any colloidal silver that you can drop a few drops on their eyes and it will clear up pink eye. I hope your son feels better very soon, it stinks to have sick kids during the holidays!

My son will do this sometimes. The first time we took him to the dr thinking he had pink eye (he woke up with his eyes matted shut)and he was just full of snot. There was no place else for it to go but out his eyes (yes, it was disgusting) and I felt bad because I thought I was keeping up with his allergy meds. But sometimes snot just happens. If his eyeballs aren't red, then it could be just allergies. Good luck!

Just keep wiping with a clean, warm cloth. If he'll let you hold it on there for a couple minutes even better. Use a new cloth each time and keep both your hands washed constantly. Try to keep his hands away from his nose and eyes if possible. Good luck!

Yup, sounds like conjunctivitis or pink eye -- especially if it came on suddenly or he's never had this before. The good thing is, it's easy to treat. You'll still want to have him checked out. Wash your hands since it is contagious.