My baby sleeps with eyes open: is it normal?

• Genetics: If you have noticed your partner sleeping with their eyes open or have been told that you sleep with your eyes open, there is a big possibility that your child will experience sleeping with his or her eyes open.
• Normal development: Infancy involves extensive amounts of growth and development, both mentally and physically. As your baby grows, its nervous system is continually developing, as well as healthy sleep patterns of rapid eye movement sleep - the most active state of sleep. Babies spend significantly more of their sleep time in REM sleep than the average adult, meaning their little brain is more active during sleep than most.
• Medical conditions: Though uncommon, nocturnal lagophthalmos or sleeping with the eyes open can be the result of certain medical conditions including problems with the thyroid, facial nerves, or a congenital abnormality of the eye or eyelid.

It can seem alarming to parents when their baby sleeps with their eyes open. However, it is considered normal and should correct itself as the child grows. It's fairly common in both infants and adults.

Because babies spend more time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, their eyes and brain are more active as they sleep. This means they are more likely to experience sleeping with their eyes partially — or even completely open.

Though it is rarely the result of a serious medical condition, it is often caused by more active sleep patterns seen during infancy. A newborn and infant spend up to 15 hours per day sleeping and often experience longer periods of REM sleep than the average adult.

For most, treatment is unnecessary for babies that experience sleeping with their eyes open. If you’re uncomfortable with your child sleeping with his or her eyes open, experts recommend closing them with your fingers. When you do this, you should be gentle so as not to wake your sleeping baby.

If your baby is experiencing dry or uncomfortable eyes as a result of sleeping with them open, experts recommend adding a humidifier to allow cool, wet air to enter the room in an effort to keep your little one’s eyes moist as they rest.

Ensuring your child is in a safe sleep space with no pillows, loose bedding, blankets, or stuffed animals will help them get better sleep and keep you relaxed. At Polysleep, we understand the importance of safe sleep for the entire family, which is why we strive to provide excellent memory foam crib mattress options such as The Baby Mattress.

A baby sleeping with its eyes open should not cause much concern. It is understandable that parents might feel uncomfortable with the unknown cause of their child’s sleeping habits, especially if there is no family history of sleeping with the eyes open.

If you experience any concern regarding your child’s sleep habits, including nocturnal lagophthalmos, consult your pediatrician for a consultation to discuss your concerns.