Newborn Eye-Rolling: What's Normal And What's Not

Newborns often exhibit strange behaviours and movements that can worry new parents. One of these behaviours is rolling eyes, which is usually normal and occurs when the baby is sleepy or about to fall asleep. However, frequent eye-rolling or other abnormal eye movements can be a symptom of a medical condition and should be evaluated by a doctor.

Newborns have very little control over their eye movements, and their vision continues to develop in the first few weeks of life. Their eyes may move in different directions, wander to the sides, or appear to cross, which is typically normal and self-corrects. By three months, as eye muscles strengthen, newborns can better track moving objects.

While occasional eye-rolling is normal, frequent eye-rolling or other abnormal eye movements can indicate a medical issue. Possible causes include seizures, head injuries, neurological disorders, hypoglycaemia, low blood sugar, or hypocalcaemia. If you notice your baby rolling their eyes often or displaying other concerning symptoms, consult your doctor.

Newborns' eyes may roll as they are falling asleep

It is common for newborns to roll their eyes as they are falling asleep. Their eye muscles and visual system are still developing, and their eyes are in the development phase. Newborns' vision ranges from 20/200 to 20/400, and their eyes may converge and lose focus. This is a normal developmental phenomenon and should not be a cause for concern.

Newborns may roll their eyes back when they are sleepy or about to fall asleep. This is often associated with yawning and stretching, indicating that the baby wants to sleep. It is also common for babies to spend much of their sleep in the active sleep stage, where they may groan, cry, or roll their eyes.

During the REM stage of deep sleep, newborns may also exhibit rapid eye movement (REM) under their closed eyelids. This is normal and occurs in all of us when we are asleep.

However, frequent eye-rolling or eyes moving in different directions in babies older than six months may be a cause for concern and could indicate strabismus or crossed eyes. It is important to monitor your baby's eye movements and consult a pediatrician if you notice any unusual patterns or behaviours.

It is normal for newborns' eyes to roll when they are about to fall asleep

It is common for newborns to roll their eyes when they are sleepy or about to fall asleep. This is because their eyes are still developing and they have weak eye muscle control. Newborns' eyes may also roll when they are waking up, and this is also considered normal.

Newborns make a lot of strange movements and exhibit unexpected behaviours during the first year of life. They can startle at nothing, suck at the air, cross their eyes, breathe funny, and more. New parents may be a little worried about what is and isn’t normal.

Normal Eye Movements in Babies

Newborns' eyes may move in different directions, wander to the sides, or appear to cross. This type of eye movement is normal for most babies and usually self-corrects. Their eyes may also converge and lose focus, but this is also perfectly normal.

When to Consult a Doctor

If your baby is rolling their eyes too often, you should get them checked as it could be linked to serious medical conditions such as seizures, head trauma, low blood sugar, and hypocalcaemia.

Other signs that may indicate a problem include:

• Stiffness in the limbs
• Constant crying
• Shaky body movements
• Irregular breathing
• Change in skin colour
• Jerky body movements
• Uncontrolled crying
• Excessive irritability

Newborns' eyes may roll as they are waking up

Newborns' eyes may move in different directions, wander to the sides, or appear to cross. This is because their eyes are not yet well-coordinated and are still maturing. It takes time for their eyes to fully mature and work together to focus, track, and recognise familiar objects and people.

By three months, as eye muscles strengthen and your baby gets better at focusing, they should be able to track objects as they move.

However, if your baby is rolling their eyes frequently and exhibiting other symptoms such as body stiffening, abnormal breathing, or convulsions, this may indicate a neurological issue and you should consult your doctor.

Newborns' eyes may roll as part of their development

Newborns make a lot of strange movements and exhibit unexpected behaviours during the first year of life. They can startle at nothing, suck at the air, cross their eyes, breathe funnily, and more. It is common for newborns to roll their eyes back when they are sleepy or about to fall asleep. This is because their eyes are still developing and they have little control over their eye movements. Their eyes may wander to the sides, or appear to cross, but this type of eye movement is normal and usually self-corrects.

Newborns' eyes may roll under heavy eyelids as they are waking up or falling asleep. This is a normal eye movement that is often accompanied by yawning and stretching, indicating that your baby wants to sleep. Babies spend much of their sleep in what is called active sleep, where they may groan, cry, or roll their eyes. When your baby is in the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of deep sleep, you might be able to see their eyes rolling under their eyelids. This is completely normal and something that all of us do when sleeping.

However, if your baby is rolling their eyes frequently while awake, or you notice other eye movements that worry you, it is important to seek medical advice. Rolling eyes can sometimes be a symptom of eye problems or a warning sign of seizures or other medical conditions.

Newborns' eyes may roll as a symptom of a medical condition

It is common for newborns to make strange movements and exhibit unexpected behaviours during the first year of life. One such behaviour is rolling their eyes, which can be particularly alarming for new parents. While this is usually a normal part of a baby's development, there are some cases where it can indicate a more serious medical issue.

Normal Eye Movements in Babies

Newborns have very little control over their eye movements, which is why they often appear to look at you cross-eyed. They are still learning how to control their eye movements and focus on things. It is not uncommon for a baby to roll their eyes when they are sleeping or when they are almost asleep, such as when they are going to sleep or trying to wake up. This is usually nothing to worry about.

When to Be Concerned

If a baby is rolling their eyes too frequently, this could be a sign of a medical condition. This is especially true if the eye-rolling is accompanied by other symptoms, such as:

• Body stiffening
• Abnormal breathing
• Convulsions
• Shivering
• Trembling
• Irregular breathing
• Change in skin colour
• Jerky body movements
• Uncontrolled crying
• Excessive irritability

If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Possible Medical Conditions

If a baby is rolling their eyes frequently and exhibiting other symptoms, it could be a sign of the following medical conditions:

• Neurological disorders
• Head injuries
• Hypoglycaemia
• Hypocalcaemia
• Seizures
• Nystagmus
• Strabismus
• Cerebral palsy
• Epilepsy
• Encephalopathy
• High fever or infection-induced seizures

What to Do

If you are concerned about your baby's eye-rolling, it is important to seek medical advice. Observe the pattern and frequency of the eye-rolling and make a note of any other symptoms that accompany it. It can also be helpful to record the eye-rolling on your phone, as this can be useful for diagnosis.

Frequently asked questions