Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis is extremely contagious and very common in children and newborns. So I made a list of 4 things to do when your child has Pink Eye. Plus check out my trick to administer eye drops to young kids and a drug-free option for babies/newborns!
Pink Eye can be caused by allergies, bacteria or a viral infection! Symptoms include itching, redness, watery eyes, discharge and crusting around eyes. Basically super fun for kids!
My family recently moved across country and our boys started in a new school. They have contracted Pink Eye 3 times since school started. I’ve also had newborns that contracted Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis. So I’m sharing everything I have learned to help you stop the spread to siblings/family and help your child or baby survive the discomfort.
DO THEY HAVE PINK EYE?
If your child is complaining of itchy eyes, can’t stop rubbing them, have red/pink in the whites of their eye, and discharge from the eye that is green, there is a excellent chance your poor kiddo has pink eye.
01 CALL THE DOCTOR
You need to get your child seen so that a doctor can confirm Pink Eye and prescribe antibiotic eye drops. Pink Eye can go away on it’s own but it is contagious for days, whereas 24 hrs after starting antibiotic eye drops a patient is no longer considered contagious. That means less missed school and less time spent sanitizing your home.
Fill the prescription as soon as you can and start administering ASAP. Check out my trick for getting young kids to take eye drops at the end of this post!
02 BREAK OUT THE SANITIZER
You need to contain the spread, even between eyes. One eye can can have it and the other not. Keep your child home! It is so contagious!
My son came home from school with Pink Eye, unknown to us, and within 6 hours two of his brothers had it! Not fun!
First, you need to contain the child which I know is easier said then done. Honestly a specific spot on the couch in front of a show is probably your best option. Yes they are going to have a lot of TV but it is the only thing that would keep my young kids in one place.
Second, Wash their hands every time they eat, use the bathroom or rub their eyes. This is tedious, trust me I know, but you just have to do it. Using hand sanitizer helps, just stick a bottle right next to them or better yet tape it to their chest. Just kidding, sort of. Have them use a tissue to itch their eyes instead of their hands.
Third, you need to sanitize your home. Poor kids can’t help rubbing their itchy little eyes and then touching everything in sight! I prefer these safe wipes and this disinfectant spray. Now go to town!
Wipe:
- Door Knobs
- Light Switches
- Fridge Handle
- Chairs
- Sink Handles
- Computers/Gaming devices
- Counter’s edge
- Drawer Pulls
- Toilet Seats and Handles
- Toys
Spray:
- Beds
- Couches
- Rugs
- Stuffed Animals
You need to do this as soon as possible and then again after the 24 hour mark from when they started the antibiotic eye drops.
03 START THE LAUNDRY
Grab all the pillow cases, sheets and blankets you and your kids have rested your faces on. If your washer has a sanitize setting definitely use it. Put in any clothes they recently wore too.
You need to do this right away and then again in 24 hrs. I know that seems excessive but trust me I didn’t take it seriously the first time one of my boys got Pink Eye and lived to regret it. It went like a ferris wheel in our house. One kid would get better then the next would catch it and give it back to the first child! They can even give it back to themselves!
The next time I took it seriously and the effort saved us so much frustration in the long run!
04 KEEP YOUR CHILD COMFORTABLE
Itchy eyes can really upset kids! Along side the antibiotics grab an antihistamine or allergy medicine. This will help with the itch! I also grabbed a bottle of over the counter Pink Eye drops (not antibiotics but homeopathic). It helped to soothe the itch too.
If your little one is really itching that eye and its very red and irritated, Tylenol or Ibuprofen and a cold pack wrapped in paper towel are key for an over itched eye!
Distraction is the best medicine and maybe the only way to get them to stop itching! For my kids that’s a good movie or game. Do your best to Keep their minds occupied.
Make sure you talk them through it. Acknowledge their feelings and keep them calm. Say,
“I’m sorry you are sick. This must be really frustrating. Lots of kids get Pink Eye and this medicine is going to help. We will get you feeling better soon!”
Be positive and supportive.
TRICK TO GET YOUR KIDS TO TAKE EYE DROPS
Containing Pink Eye and comforting your child is only half the battle, the other half is convincing your kids to let you put eye drops in their eyes. Kids are funny like that.
So here is the super easy trick that works every time!
*Do NOT let the eye dropper touch eyes or eye lashes or you risk contaminating it!
01 Tell them exactly what your going to doing as you do it. No surprises!
02 Have them lay on their back
03 Tell them to close their eyes (Yep! You read right)
04 Put two drops in the inside corner of their closed eye, closest to their nose
05 Then tell them to blink while staying on their back (this moves the medicine into the eye)
And tadah! No crying or freaking out!
DRUG-FREE OPTION FOR BABY
Newborns, in particular, are susceptible to Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye as they adjust to the outside world. I had two newborn babies who got Pink Eye/Conjunctivitis and my doctor gave me this amazing tip that wiped it out like that, for both of them!
Breast Milk! Yep, you have antibodies in your breast milk! Amazing! Just drop a few drops into the corner of their eyes a few times a day right from the source. I did it right after every feeding. Within a day it was gone!
And there you have it! It sucks so bad when our littles are sick but your in the home stretch Momma! I hope your little one gets well soon and no one else gets it! Please share any tips you may have!
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