How To Massage Infant: Tear Duct

This sticky, teary phase is temporary. One morning, you’ll wipe away a crusty eye and realize—the goop didn’t come back. You’ll notice a clear, bright eye looking back at you, tear-free. And you’ll know that your gentle, consistent touch helped open the door.

Massage is the key. Gentle, precise pressure can pop that membrane open like a tiny bubble, allowing tears to flow freely. The specific technique used for this is called the Crigler maneuver . It sounds clinical, but it is simply a gentle, guided squeeze. Here is how to do it safely and effectively. how to massage infant tear duct

Place your index finger (or your pinky for better precision) at the inner corner of your baby’s eye, right next to the bridge of their nose. You are looking for the medial canthus —the small bump where the upper and lower eyelids meet. This sticky, teary phase is temporary

In many newborns, the very bottom of that “drainpipe” is still sealed by a thin, residual membrane that didn’t fully open before birth. The tears have nowhere to go, so they back up, pool in the eye, and eventually turn into the goopy discharge you are wiping away. And you’ll know that your gentle, consistent touch