Symptoms and Signs to identify Crossed Eyes in a baby

Crossed eyes are also called Strabismus, a condition in which both eyes do not line up properly. The individual having this condition will have each eye focusing on different objects and in different directions. The disorder is common in children, affecting children below 6 years. Causes of this condition is not known, but it tends to generally run in families.

Crossed eyes can also occur for adults, mostly due to factors like brain tumor, retina damage, diabetes, or a stroke. Crossed eyes can usually be corrected with eyeglasses and / or surgery.

Types of Crossed Eyes

Two types of crossed eyes are commonly seen in children. One appears in infancy and the other develops as a child grows older.

Crossed eyes that appears in babies during their first year of life is known as Infantile Esotropia. One eye may cross more often than the other. It typically runs in families and usually requires surgery to correct.

Acquired Esotropia occurs in children between the ages of 2 and 5 and can usually be corrected with eyeglasses.

Causes of Crossed Eyes

Main causes for crossed eyes to develop is when the numerous muscles around the eyes do not work in conjunction because some are weaker than others. When the brain receives a different visual message from each eye, it ignores the one coming from the weaker eye. If the condition of the weaker eye is not corrected, you may lose site with time.

Crossed eyes can also occur later in life and is also triggered by physical disorders such as a brain tumor or an eye injury. If you have a lazy eye or are farsighted, it is also possible to develop crossed eyes as an adult because your eyes must strain in order to focus on objects. People with brain or nervous system disorders such as cerebral palsy are more likely to have strabismus.

Symptoms and Signs of Crossed Eyes

Crossed eyes condition is common for newborn babies, but if it persists beyond 3 months of age, it is best to see a doctor

Symptoms may be constant or appear only when you are tired or not feeling well. Your eyes might point inward or outward or focus in different directions. Other symptoms noticed are impaired vision, losing depth perception and having double vision.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Crossed eyes

If you observe symptoms of crossed eyes, consult the doctor and follow recommendations.

Early diagnosis of crossed eyes is important for preventing vision loss. In young children, it is best to have an eye examination before 3 years. If other physical symptoms appear along with crossed eyes, your doctor may examine your brain and nervous system for the presence of other conditions, such as cerebral palsy or Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Treatment for Crossed eyes depends on its severity and cause. If you have developed a lazy eye, you might need to wear a patch over your stronger eye to force the muscles of your weaker eye to work harder. Other common treatments include eye glasses, surgery, eye exercises and eye drops.

A big relief for parents is that crossed eye can be treated quickly if identified in childhood. Be alert with your babies and make corrections on time.

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Best 8 Weaning Foods for your Baby

It is generally observed that mothers are eager and enthusiastic to start giving their babies foods other than breast milk. When the time approaches to make the change, she keeps guessing as to “what food will be ideal for my baby”?.

Listed below are the best 8 weaning foods for your baby. These foods will be easy for your baby’s little tummy and is the best weaning option.

Important Weaning Foods for your Baby

Juices:

Preferably start with fresh and clear fruit juices, ensure filtering. Select fruits that is available all through the year. Apple is the best choice. Peel an apple, cut it into small pieces and  boil it in a pan. When cooked mash the apple with a flat spoon or your hand and use a strainer for filtering. Collect the juice in a container. Feed spoonfuls of the clear apple juice to your baby in the beginning.

Also read: Tender Coconut water is better than Baby’s Formula Milk

Remembering the popular saying,”An Apple a day keeps the doctor away”

Dal pani:

You can soak mung dhal/ split Green gram in water for 3 hrs. Drain the water, wash and cook in double the quantity of water. When the dal has cooked and turns soft, drain the cooked dhal thru’ a strainer and when lukewarm offer few spoonfuls at a time.

You can start with these liquids till the baby is six months old. Offer the below foods when the baby is over six months.

Fruits:

If your baby enjoys having fruit juice shift to apple puree. Peel the apple, cut into small pieces and cook in a shallow pan. Mash it with a flat ladle when hot. When it cools serve your hungry baby. You can try the same recipe with a pear also.

An over ripe banana can be mashed and fed without any lumps. Feed your baby and he is definitely gonna enjoy. You can serve orange juice too after filtering.

Gradually alternate with papaya, mango and chickoo (sapota). Always remember to introduce one fruit at a time to avoid indigestion.

Related reading: Feeding Ripe Mango will Protect your Baby from Summer heat

Vegetables:

Vegetables like carrot, potato, tomatoes are a good start. Make sure the veggies are washed properly, peeled and then cooked. Carrots and potatoes can be hand mashed and fed with a little salt, Tomato should be peeled and filtered. Spinach can be started after about 2 weeks. Wash the leaves in running water. Chop the leaves, cook along with other vegetables. Mix with ghee, salt and serve. Bottle gourd, Pumpkin, Yellow cucumber can be slowly included in the menu.

Also read: Recipes for Baby food

Soups:

Boil the vegetables in a pressure cooker. Mash them and strain the contents to remove larger pieces and avoid choking. Add a pinch of salt. Introduce clear vegetable soups when the baby is 8 months old. Include carrots, beetroots, tomatoes, beans gradually.

Also read: Wheat flour porridge

Cooked foods:

You can start a wholesome meal with cooked rice and split green gram / moong dhal. Take equal amounts of rice and mung dhal. Heat the mung dhal and keep aside. Wash rice and dhal and cook in pressure cooker with a little turmeric and salt. Season with jeera in desi ghee. You can add vegetables and spinach leaves pressure cook along with rice and dhal and serve the baby.

Related reading: Your Baby’s First Taste of Solids

The above mentioned weaning foods will ensure your baby is getting the required nutrition and baby is healthy in all seasons.

Also read: What to feed when my child has watery motions – Diarrhea

Take care of your little one. Best wishes!!