(Use this section as a quick reference guide)

The tears have nowhere to go, so they spill out onto the cheek, and the stagnant moisture breeds bacteria, causing that white, yellow, or green discharge.

Use a soft, warm, damp cloth to gently wipe away any crusting or discharge from the inner corner outward. 2. Locate the "Sweet Spot"

Most blocked ducts clear up by the baby's first birthday. If it persists beyond 12 months, your doctor might suggest a simple procedure to manually open the duct.

You are manually squeezing the trapped tears and fluid down the straw to try and blow the cap off.

Your pediatrician might call it "Crigler massage." You can call it "the boogie sweep." The goal is to use fluid pressure (the tears you push down) to pop open that little membrane.

If you’ve noticed your baby waking up with "sticky eyes" or constant tearing even when they aren't crying, they likely have a (nasolacrimal duct obstruction). It is incredibly common, affecting about 20% of newborns, and usually clears up on its own .