Baby Rubbing Face While Sleeping – Should You Be Worried?

Is your baby rubbing face while sleeping? If you're a new parent, you may often feel clueless when it comes to what your little one wants and needs. All the little things your baby does can look intimidating, especially if they seem troubling and you don't know what they mean. This can get very frustrating if you don't figure out what to do.

A common issue that parents face is when babies rub their face while sleeping. This can cause your baby to get restless and even wake up because of it. There can be many reasons why babies do this. These reasons can be simple and something more serious can be causing them.

To be able to deal with the problem, then you need to learn what is causing your baby to rub his/her face. Read on to learn all about this concern and whether you should be worried about it.

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Why Does Your Baby Rub His/Her Face While Sleeping?

Your Baby Rub HisHer Face While Sleeping

Before we go into the possible reasons why your baby is rubbing his/her face, it's important to keep one fact in mind. The fact is that scratching or rubbing is a natural reaction for babies. They do this when they are irritated, itchy or tired.

If you notice your baby rubbing face when sleeping, there is definitely a reason for it. This is especially true if you notice it happening frequently. Here are some possible reasons:

  • Your baby might be feeling uncomfortable. It can be a way for him/her to self-soothe. If it doesn't disturb your baby's sleeping, then you don't have to worry about it much.
  • Your baby might be feeling comfortable, but he/she may be trying to fight off sleep. This can be a reason why your baby is rubbing his/her face.
  • Another reason could be that your little one is teething. If the face rubbing comes with small bumps on the gums and a lot of drooling, this can be the cause.
  • If your baby is feeling too hot, then he/she will start rubbing on his/her face and hair. Since your baby cannot express how he/she is feeling, rubbing the face and hair is a cue you should look out for.
  • Your baby might be feeling itchy. The cause of itchiness can be different things. One cause could be that your little one is having an allergic reaction to something in his/her crib or bed. You may be using a laundry soap which is too strong for your little one.
  • Another cause for itchiness is the soap you are using to wash your baby. If this is the case, your little one's skin might be reacting to the soap.
  • Finally, the rubbing can be related to food. You may have fed your little one something which he/she may be allergic to right before bedtime. Either that or your baby is gassy and he/she is feeling pain or discomfort.

These are some of the most common reasons why babies rub their face while sleeping. When it comes to babies, you really have to look at different reasons. You do this before you can be sure what is causing a particular issue.

What Can You Do About It?

Now you know the most common causes for babies rubbing their faces while they're sleeping. So let's move into finding the solution. Depending on the cause, you can do certain steps to help alleviate this problem. Doing this will make your baby more comfortable.

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    If you want your baby to stop rubbing on his/her face, you can swaddle your baby. Be careful when doing this, though. Remember that babies can also get hot easily, so you have to keep on checking him/her while he/she is sleeping. If you think your baby is getting too hot, lessen the layers of clothing so you can keep him/her swaddled.
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    If you notice your little one rubbing his/her face, try gently rubbing it too. Use the tips of your fingers to gently rub the place your baby is rubbing. This can provide comfort so your baby will stop.

To prevent the rubbing to cause rashes on your baby's face, try putting mittens on his/her hands. This is a simple but helpful solution to this problem. If you can't find mittens for babies, clean socks can work too!

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    If your baby's face already has rashes or redness, you can try using scratch sleeves or scratch mitts. These are clothing items designed specifically to ease the effects of itchiness. With these, you won't have to worry about your baby rubbing his/her face until it gets wounded.
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    Finally, try changing your laundry soap or your baby's bath soap. There are laundry soaps made especially for babies. Adult laundry soaps can be too strong for your little one's skin so try switching. You baby's bath soap may also be to blame so try changing that too if the rubbing doesn't stop.

What If Your Baby Doesn't Stop?

If you've tried all the tips above and your baby is still rubbing his/her face while sleeping, then he/she may be suffering from allergic reactions. This can be because of food, drink or other factors in the environment.

In this case, you can try some lotions or creams which can help soothe your baby's skin. Make sure to use products which are safe for babies. The best thing to do is consult your pediatrician before using any kind of product on your baby. You can also ask your pediatrician if it's safe to use antihistamines on your baby. Do this if you think that he/she is suffering from an allergic reaction.

Help Your Little One Sleep Better

No matter what you are planning to do to help your baby with this issue, make sure to think about it first. Learn the cause behind your baby rubbing face while sleeping. Change your soap and your baby's soap too.

If that doesn't help, then try lessening the effects of the rubbing. If you think something more serious is going on, bring your baby to the doctor and consult. Remember that your baby's comfort and safety are very important when dealing with issues.

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Crystal
 

My name is Crystal Waston. I am a mother of three wonderful children. I started MakeYourBabyLaugh! to help parents who are struggling to raise their children. I hope that my experiences in child-rearing can inspire and help parents overcome their parenting struggles.

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