Pink eye in babies: Causes, signs, and treatment

You lift your baby out of the crib in the morning, and you notice their one eye is red, watery and crusted shut. You know that the cases of pink eye in babies are on the rise. But you are not sure whether what your baby has is a pink eye, a blocked tear duct, or just irritation? 

In this guide, we will walk you through what causes pink eye in babies, how to recognize it, how to tell it from a blocked tear duct or allergies, and how to care for your baby at home. 

You’ll also hear from Kristen Cook, MD, pediatrician with Ascension Wisconsin, WI and Shruti Sinha, MBBS, pediatric ophthalmologist at Children’s Nebraska in Omaha.

What is pink eye in babies?

Pink eye is the everyday name for conjunctivitis, an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the thin, clear membrane that covers the white of the eye and lines the inner surface of the eyelids. 

When the tiny vessels in it become irritated, they become more visible and make the eye look pink or red, in one eye or both.

What are the symptoms of pink eye in babies

These are some symptoms parents usually notice:

• Redness in the white of the eye or the inner eyelid
• Watering or increased tearing
• Yellow, green or white discharge that crusts over after sleep
• Puffy eyelids
• Rubbing the eyes and extra fussiness, since your baby can’t tell you their eye feels gritty
• Squinting or turning away from bright light

Beginning stages of pink eye in babies

Early irritation and pink eye look alike. Dr. Sinha says irritation is more likely when redness or watering starts after dust, smoke, soap or dry air, and it fades once the irritant is gone, with little discharge. 

Pink eye tends to start mild and get more noticeable over a day or two. Thick, sticky discharge points toward bacteria, while watery discharge with a cold points toward a virus. 

Dr. Sinha is honest about the limits: There is no reliable way to distinguish every case based on appearance alone. A baby with significant redness or discharge, especially a newborn, should be seen.

What causes pink eye in babies?

Multiple factors, from bacteria and viruses to irritants, such as smoke or lotion, can potentially cause pink eye or conjunctivitis in babies. Allergies are rare in babies.

Knowing and understanding the causes of conjunctivitis can help you navigate this illness better. Here are some causes of pink eye in babies:

Bacterial conjunctivitis:

• Causes: Bacteria such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus can cause bacterial pink eye. Also, some insects like flies, poor hygiene like touching your baby’s face and eyes with unclean hands, can sometimes cause conjunctivitis.
• Symptoms: Red eyes, itching, light sensitivity, burning, and watery discharge along with a thick, pus-like discharge and eyelids stuck together in sleep, per StatPearls Publishing.
• Treatment: Usually an antibiotic, in the form of eye drops or ointment, is prescribed for bacterial pink eye. Antibiotics may help with a faster recovery, reduce complications, and prevent the spread. However, a mild bacterial pink eye may get better on its own without needing an antibiotic treatment and causing any complications.
• Tips: Never let the tip of the bottle or tube touch your baby’s eye, since it contaminates the medicine. However, Dr. Cook understands it is challenging for parents and adds that she has never met an infant who sat quietly and complied while a medication was being put directly into their eye.

Viral conjunctivitis:

• Causes:  It’s often caused by viruses associated with the common cold. Viral conjunctivitis can also develop if your baby is exposed to the coughs or sneezes of someone with an upper respiratory tract infection.
• Symptoms: Watery discharge (thinner compared to thick, sticky discharge from bacterial pink eye), red eyes, light sensitivity, itching, burning, and a sensation of grittiness in the eye, per StatPearls Publishing. It is highly contagious and can spread rapidly. According to Dr. Cook, infants with viral conjunctivitis often have concurrent cold symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and cough.
• Treatment:

She adds that drainage can be irritating, and it can be scary for a child to wake up and be unable to open their eye.

• Tips: “I usually advise the families in my medical practice to gently wipe away the drainage with a cotton ball moistened with warm water,” says Dr. Cook.

What about using a warm, wet washcloth to gently remove the drainage?

Because viral pink eye often arrives with a cold, our guides on helping a congested baby sleep better and gentle remedies for a newborn’s cold may help.

Allergic pink eye in babies:

• Allergens: Pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and other environmental allergens can trigger allergic conjunctivitis.
• Symptoms: Intense itching, redness, and watery discharge. Both eyes are usually affected, and it is not contagious.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology says it is rare in babies younger than 12 months.

Other causes of pink eye in newborns can be blocked tear ducts, a foreign object such as small particles in the eye, or herpes simplex virus (more on it below) that can cause irritation and inflammation.

Blocked tear duct or pink eye?

A blocked tear duct and pink eye can look similar, but there are a few clues that may help parents tell them apart.

Pink eye or conjunctivitis, by contrast, brings redness in the white of the eye, along with watering or discharge. 

Her rule of thumb: A watery, sticky eye without much redness suggests a blocked tear duct, and a red eye with discharge suggests conjunctivitis. They can overlap, though, and a blocked duct can become infected.

Most blocked tear ducts open on their own by around 12 months. The CDC says a gentle, warm massage between the eye and nose may help (ask your pediatrician to show you how), and a duct still blocked at age 1 may need surgery. 

Call promptly for significant redness, worsening eyelid swelling or a painful-looking lump near the inner corner of the eye.

Newborn conjunctivitis

Newborn babies can develop a more severe form of conjunctivitis called “Ophthalmia neonatorum,” usually within the first month of life. If untreated, it can lead to permanent eye damage.

Dr. Cook recommends: 

All newborns receive a dose of an antibiotic called erythromycin, applied to the eyes within several hours after birth, to prevent ophthalmia neonatorum.

• Cause: It happens when a baby is exposed to chlamydia or gonorrhea during birth.
• Risk: If not treated right away, it can cause permanent eye damage.
• Prevention: Administer antibiotic ointment on newborns’ eyes.

Cradlewise Note: Apart from detecting and treating this condition early, it is equally important that all pregnant women be tested and treated for sexually transmitted infections.

Pink eye swelling

A significant or worsening swelling can be a sign of orbital cellulitis, an infection of the tissues around the eye that can threaten vision. So keep a check and get your baby’s eye examined.

Recurring or chronic pink eye in babies

If pink eye seems to come back, it isn’t always a new infection. Dr. Sinha gives these reasons:

• Irritation: Dust or dry air can make the eyes look red again.
• A blocked tear duct: Recurring tears and crusting can look like a repeat pink eye.
• A new infection: Viruses and bacteria spread easily through hands, towels and toys. 
• A different cause: “Antibiotic eye drops will not help viral infections. If symptoms persist or keep returning, a doctor may need to reassess the diagnosis rather than simply prescribe another course of drops,” recommends Dr. Sinha.
• Herpes Simplex Virus or HSV: Herpes can cause eye infections in newborns that sometimes come back.  Hence, blisters on the skin near the eye, or an infection that clears and returns in just one eye, need urgent care.

How long does pink eye in babies last?

Pink eye (conjunctivitis) in babies lasts anywhere from 2 to 5 days up to 2 weeks, as per CDC, depending on the type and cause. 

• Bacterial Pink Eye: Lasts 2 to 5 days with treatment, or up to 2 weeks without treatment.
• Viral Pink Eye: Lasts 7 to 14 days and clears up on its own without antibiotics. In some cases, it may last for 2-3 weeks or more.
• Allergic Pink Eye: Clears up within hours to days once the allergen (pet dander or pollen) is removed.
• Chemical conjunctivitis: This mostly happens in newborns after the eye drops given at birth. No treatment is required, and irritation gets better in 24 to 36 hours.

Allergies vs pink eye in babies

Allergic pink eye is rare under 12 months. This comparison may help older babies:

Feature	Allergic pink eye	Viral pink eye	Bacterial pink eye
Itching	Intense itching is typical	Possible	Possible
Discharge	Watery	Watery	Thick, yellow or green, with crusting
Which eye	Usually both	One or both	One or both
Other clues	Sneezing, runny nose	Often comes with cold symptoms	May seal the eye shut after sleep
Contagious?	No	Yes	Yes, until 48 hours after antibiotics start
Care tips	A doctor may prescribe anti-allergy medicine or drops	No treatment; comfort care	Antibiotic drops or ointment

Is pink eye in babies contagious? 

Yes. Viral and bacterial pink eye are contagious.

They spread through direct contact with infected eye discharge, and through contaminated objects or surfaces. Your baby can also pass it to the other eye by rubbing, so wash your baby’s hands and yours often. However, allergic pink eye is not contagious.

If your baby has pink eye, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional for guidance on how to manage the condition and reduce the risk of spreading it to others.

Can pink eye affect your baby’s vision?

She adds: In rare cases, a more serious infection can involve the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, and can scar it. Also, some infections in newborns can become severe quickly. Because your baby’s vision is still developing, persistent, recurring, or severe eye problems should not go unexamined or untreated.

When to call the doctor

Most pink eye is mild, but some signs mean your baby needs to be seen immediately. With the inputs from Dr. Shruti Sinha, we’ve put together a checklist you can save or screenshot. 

• Your baby’s eye is very red, swollen or painful, especially if the eyelids are swollen shut
• Your baby cannot or will not open the eye, or seems unusually bothered by light
• The front of the eye (the normally clear cornea) looks cloudy or whitish
• The pupil looks white in photos or in normal lighting
• The eyes keep pointing in different directions, especially if one suddenly turns in or out
• Your baby is not tracking faces or objects, or seems not to see well with one or both eyes.
• There is a new bulging or unusually large-looking eye
• There has been an eye injury, especially from a sharp object or chemical
• There is significant discharge, swelling or redness in a newborn’s eye, especially in the first weeks of life
• Blisters on the skin around the eye
• If the pink eye hasn’t gone away after two to three weeks

Cradlewise Note: When you scroll through photos or videos of your baby, glance at both pupils. A white-looking pupil needs an eye exam even if your baby seems comfortable.

How to treat pink eye in babies?

Treatment depends on the cause, so it’s advisable to get it diagnosed by a doctor first.

Bacterial pink eye: Doctors usually prescribe antibiotic drops or ointment. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, newborn chlamydial infections often need oral antibiotics, and serious newborn infections may need antibiotics by vein or injection.

Viral pink eye: No medicine clears it, and antibiotic drops won’t help. Herpes-related eye infections are the exception and need a doctor’s treatment right away.

Allergic or irritant pink eye: Remove the trigger, such as smoke, and ask your doctor about anti-allergy medicine for an older baby. 

Cradlewise Note: Drops are hard with a wriggly baby. Put them in the inner corner of the closed eye so they flow in when your baby blinks. Finish any prescribed medicine, even if your baby’s eyes look better.

Home remedies for pink eye in babies

• Clean gently: Use a fresh cotton ball with warm water, and wipe gently from the inner corner outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye and throw it away after one wipe. Dr. Cook prefers cotton balls to a washcloth, because a washcloth holds germs after the first use.
• Try a compress: A cool or warm compress may ease swelling and irritation, per the CDC.
• Wash your hands: Wash your hands before and after touching your baby’s eyes. 
• Change towels and bedding. Change pillowcases and sheets every day, wash them in hot water and don’t share them.
• Do not put breast milk in the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology says it is not a substitute for antibiotics and contains other bacteria that can be harmful.

Cradlewise Tip: Set out cotton balls and a cup of warm water before you start, so you aren’t hunting for supplies while holding a squirmy baby.

How to prevent pink eye in babies

Good hygiene takes care of most infections. Wash hands often, don’t share towels or bedding, and sanitize toys and crib rails. Babies will still touch their faces, and Dr. Cook says that’s okay:

For newborns, the main protection is the antibiotic eye ointment given within hours of birth, along with prenatal screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Conclusion

Pink eye in babies can look dramatic in the morning, but it is often mild and treatable, and clean hands and cotton-ball cleaning can get most babies through. 

However, if you see your baby with a red eye, or with a white-looking pupil, marked swelling, pain or fever, take them for a prompt exam. If red eyes keep coming back, ask your pediatrician to look at the cause.

You may also like:

• Croup in babies: Why the barking cough starts at night.
• Summer allergies in babies and toddlers: Is it allergies, a cold, or something else?
• What roseola rash really looks like on baby skin (and why it’s often misdiagnosed).

Sources:

1. Conjunctivitis. American Optometric Association. Conjunctivitis (pink eye).
2. Only about 2% of babies develop pink eye in their first month. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2023. How Serious is Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) In Babies? 
3. Blocked tear duct. CDC. 2024. Pink Eye in Newborns. 
4. Ophthalmia neonatorum. StatPearls. 2025. Ophthalmia Neonatorum (Neonatal Conjunctivitis).
5. Herpes. Antiviral Res. 2021. Prevention and Treatment of Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infection. 
6. How long does pink eye in babies last. CDC. 2024. How to treat pink eye.
7. Treatment of bacterial pink eye. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2026. Neonatal Conjunctivitis.
8. Warm compress. CDC. 2024. Pink Eye in Newborns. 
9. Breast milk to cure pink eye in babies. American Academy of Ophthalmology. 2023. Pink Eye: Quick Home Remedies.