My 4-month-old has been doing this since birth and it freaks me out a little. His eyes are just barely cracked open during naps, especially in the afternoon. I've read it's called 'sleeping with eyes open' but I'm worried there's something wrong. Should I be concerned or is this just a phase?
It's completely normal and very common in babies, especially newborns and infants under a year old - many parents notice this exact thing. What you're describing is often just incomplete eyelid closure during REM sleep, when babies' eyes naturally don't shut all the way, and it typically resolves on its own as they grow. The fact that it's been consistent since birth and happens mainly during naps is actually a good sign it's just a developmental thing rather than something concerning. That said, if you're noticing redness, discharge, or if one eye stays more open than the other consistently, mentioning it at his next checkup wouldn't hurt - but based on what you've described, you can probably relax about it.
Don't rush to a doctor just yet - this happens with tons of babies and usually sorts itself out by the time they're a few months older. The incomplete eyelid closure you're seeing is pretty benign in most cases, though it can be more noticeable when babies are in lighter sleep stages or really tired. One thing worth watching: if the eyes stay open *and* he seems to be actually waking up or distressed, or if one eye does this way more than the other, that's when you'd mention it at a checkup. But the scenario you're describing - just a little gap showing during afternoon naps since birth - is textbook normal stuff that fades on its own.
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