Applying eye ointment to a baby is easier than it sounds, even when your little one won’t hold still. The key is positioning your baby correctly, keeping the tube clean, and placing a thin ribbon of ointment along the inside of the lower eyelid. With a bit of preparation and the right technique, you can get the medication in quickly and safely.
Before You Start
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. Check the tip of the ointment tube to make sure it’s clean, and avoid touching it with your fingers. If the tube tip has made contact with any surface, wipe it with a bit of rubbing alcohol before using it.
If your baby’s eye has any drainage or crusting, clean it first. Dampen a cotton ball with water and gently wipe from the inner corner of the eye outward. If you’re treating both eyes, use a fresh cotton ball for each one. This prevents spreading bacteria from one eye to the other and helps the ointment make proper contact with the eye’s surface.
Positioning Your Baby
Lay your baby flat on their back on a firm surface like a changing table or bed. Place a small rolled towel under their neck so their head tilts back slightly. This angle opens the eye and makes it much easier to see what you’re doing.
Babies will squirm. If your baby is very young, swaddling their arms snugly in a blanket keeps their hands from grabbing at the tube or rubbing their eyes mid-application. For older infants, you may need a second person to gently hold their hands down. Some parents find it helpful to sit on the floor with the baby’s head between their thighs, which frees both your hands for the ointment.
Applying the Ointment Step by Step
Rest the wrist of your ointment hand on your baby’s forehead. This anchors your hand so it moves with your baby if they shift suddenly, reducing the risk of poking or startling them.
With your other hand, use one finger to gently pull down the skin just below the eye, right above the cheekbone. This creates a small pocket between the lower eyelid and the eyeball. Bring the tube tip close to the eye, within about an inch, but do not let it touch the eye, eyelid, or eyelashes. Touching the tip to any surface can introduce bacteria into the tube and contaminate the remaining medication.
Squeeze a thin line of ointment along the length of that lower eyelid pocket. For newborns receiving standard prophylactic ointment, the standard ribbon is about 1 centimeter (roughly a third of an inch). Your pediatrician or pharmacist will tell you if a different amount is needed. When you reach the outer edge of the eye, give the tube a small twist to detach the ointment cleanly.
If the ointment needs to go in both eyes, aim the ribbon so it flows away from the nose, toward the outer corner. This keeps the medication from running across the bridge of the nose into the other eye.
Let your baby blink or close their eyes for a moment afterward. Blinking spreads the ointment across the entire surface of the eye. Resist the urge to wipe away excess right away. Give it 30 seconds or so to distribute.
What to Expect After Application
Eye ointment is greasy by design, and it will temporarily blur your baby’s vision. You may notice your baby blinking more than usual or seeming a bit fussy for a few minutes. This is normal and passes quickly. Babies won’t be able to tell you their vision is blurry, but you might see them rubbing at their eyes or being less visually engaged for a short time.
A small amount of ointment may collect in the corners of the eye or along the lashes. You can gently wipe this away with a clean, damp cotton ball once the medication has had a chance to spread.
Keeping the Ointment Safe to Use
Store the tube at room temperature unless the packaging says otherwise. Once opened, most eye ointments stay safe to use for 28 days. Some manufacturers specify a longer window, so check the label. After that period, discard the tube even if there’s ointment left, because bacteria can build up inside over time. Always replace the cap tightly after each use.
Wash your hands again after you’ve finished the application and recapped the tube.
Signs of a Reaction
Most babies tolerate eye ointment without any problems. However, watch for signs that your baby may be reacting to the medication: a skin rash around the eye, increased redness or swelling that wasn’t there before, hives anywhere on the body, or swelling of the face or lips. Mild irritation right after application is common, but worsening redness, puffiness, or any sign of swelling beyond the eye area warrants a call to your pediatrician.
Tips That Make It Easier
- Time it with sleep. Applying ointment while your baby is drowsy or just waking from a nap means less resistance. Some parents successfully apply it while their baby is fully asleep.
- Warm the tube slightly. Rolling the sealed tube between your palms for 30 seconds softens the ointment and makes it flow more smoothly.
- Practice the hold first. Before uncapping the tube, do a dry run of the positioning so you feel confident with the head tilt and eyelid pull.
- Stay calm. Babies pick up on tension. If you’re relaxed and move with quiet confidence, your baby is more likely to stay still long enough for a clean application.