Why do babies rub their nose and eyes while sleeping?

There are times when parents become perplexed with what their babies do. One of those times is when babies rub their faces in their sleep. This is because while some rubbing is soft and gentle, other times the rubbing is intense. So intense, in fact, that babies can cause abrasions to their faces as a result of their sharp, tiny nails coming into contact with their skin. And when this happens, parents want to know why babies rub their faces while sleeping.

Sleep is supposed to be one of the most peaceful times of the day. For infants, it is a time to let the body continue to develop and grow by getting the rest they so desperately need. It is when that rest is not so peaceful that parents can become concerned. Much like many do when they witness their babies rubbing their faces for what appears to be no reason at all.

Here is why babies rub their faces while sleeping.

Reasons Why Baby Rubs Her Face While Sleeping

via Pexels/Maierean Andrei

The reason that babies rub their faces many times has to do with something that they are trying to communicate with their parents. When this is done during waking hours, it can make more sense than it does initially when babies sleep. But if parents know what they are looking for, they can begin to determine why it is their little ones are rubbing their faces with frequency.

Some of the reasons that babies rub their faces while sleeping include:

• Skin irritation: According to Healthline, a baby's skin can become itchy and dry in the weeks after being delivered. This makes the little one want to itch to alleviate the irritation being experienced.
• Baby is uncomfortable: When babies are trying to put themselves to sleep, they may rub their faces, according to MedicalNewsToday. This is because rubbing the face is a self-soothing technique.
• Temperature is too warm: If the temperature in a baby's room is too warm, it can be uncomfortable. When babies are uncomfortable, according to Well Being Kid, they rub their faces, which could be an indication the room is too warm.
• Allergies: According to Parents, when babies have allergies, they may rub their eyes, nose, or cheeks. This happens while awake or asleep.
• Food allergies: If babies suffer from food allergies, there may not be any reaction to the skin visible. But, if babies are rubbing their faces while they sleep, according to Ready. Set. Food!, there may be a food allergy present.
• Teething: Because there is pain coming from the gums, even while sleeping, according to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, babies may rub their faces while they slumber.

If babies are rubbing their faces while they sleep, these ideas are a great place to start to determine the exact cause of the rubbing.

How To Stop Face Rubbing During Sleep

via Unsplash/Hu Chen

When babies rub their faces, there is the possibility that they will make them raw or even scratch them with their nails. Because parents do not want this to happen, they need ways to stop the rubbing before it gets too bad.

• Moisturize the face: According to Parenting FirstCry, for those babies suffering from dry skin, moisturizing the skin may be all that is needed to end the rubbing.
• Baby mitts: For those babies who just cannot seem to keep their hands off of their faces, according to The Baby Sleep Trainer, baby mitts will help. They may not stop the rubbing immediately, but they will keep the skin from getting further irritated or scratched.
• Swaddling: If babies are insistent about rubbing their faces when they sleep, if they are not too old, according to ScratchSleeves, swaddling them may prove to be beneficial.

If these remedies do not work, it may be worth contacting a healthcare professional to determine what the next best course of action may be.

What To Do If Baby Still Rubs Her Face

via Unsplash/Nyana Stoica

If babies continue to rub their faces even with at-home remedies, there is likely something else afoot. Because of this, doctors may recommend testing for skin or food allergies to make sure that there is not something that is being missed that is causing babies to be so uncomfortable as they slumber.

Source: Healthline, MedicalNewsToday, Well Being Kid, Parents, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Parenting FirstCry, The Baby Sleep Trainer, ScratchSleeves