Those warm toddler eyes are not just a window to his soul, they are also essential to his cognitive growth. Hence, it is important to take good care of them. You can do this by following this guide to eye care for toddlers.

Clean With Care

The skin around your toddler’s eyes is very thin and delicate, so you have to be very careful when washing your toddler’s face. Softly scrub, never rub around your toddler’s eyes when giving him a bath. If you see dried-up remains on your little one’s eyelashes, again do not rub it. Instead, damp a soft washcloth in lukewarm water and then lightly remove the crust. In addition, use a no-tears shampoo when washing your toddler’s hair to avoid hurting his eyes.

Make Eye Exams A Part of Your Toddler’s Check-ups

See to it that eye exams are a part of your toddler’s routine medical care. Eye examinations are very important to make sure that your toddler’s vision is in excellent condition as well as to determine possible eye defects. It is good to catch visual problems early so as not to limit your toddler’s absorption of knowledge through vision.

Observe Your Toddler

Another way you can take care of your toddler’s eyes is to keep a close eye on your little one. Observe if your little one is having trouble with his eyes. Some signs you should watch for are – frequent squinting, difficulty seeing people and things from a distance and if your toddler’s eyes look crossed at times. If you notice these symptoms, your toddler might have a vision problem and a visit to a pediatric ophthalmologist is necessary for a more thorough assessment.

Childproof Your Home

Look around your home and check if there are any items that can hurt your toddler’s eyes. Cover the sharp corners of tables with a shield cushion or edge cushion pads. Make sure that there is nothing sticking out from the walls. Remove potential eye-pokers such as pencils, pens, sticks, toys and even household cleaners. Store them in a locked container and place it in a cabinet your little one cannot access.

Shade The Eyes

The sun’s harmful UV rays can cause damage to your toddler’s eyes as well. Whenever your toddler goes outside, see to it that he is wearing a hat or a cap and toddler sunglasses to shield his peepers. Choose toddler shades with UVA and UVB protection, is unbreakable and with scratch-proof lenses. If your toddler takes part in contact sports, have him wear protective eye wear with a band to keep the eyewear in place as he runs, jumps or skips.

Teach Basic Eye Care

It also very important to teach your little one basic eye care tips for toddlers. Make it clear that he should refrain from rubbing his eyes and to never read in the dark or when the vehicle is moving. Teach your toddler how to hold books properly (at about 14 inches distance).

Reduce Screen Time

Limit the time your toddler spends in front of the TV, computer and iPad. Too much screen time is never beneficial for toddlers, not only does it impede with their development but it can also cause eye fatigue. Allow him to face the screen no more than 2 hours a day. He should be in a well lighted room and at least 3.5 meters away from the screen.

Encourage A Healthy Diet

Feed your toddler foods that are rich in beta-carotene, vitamin A, lutein and omega-3 fatty acids which help protect eyes and vision. Carrots, broccoli, spinach, apricots, kiwis, oranges, salmon and sardines are loaded with these so make sure your toddler gets his daily servings.

The eyes are two of the most active body parts. So make sure you follow this guide to eye care for toddlers so your little one can continue looking and learning things with a 20/20 vision.