As a new parent, you see your baby cry, her little face is all scrunched up and you think to yourself, "Let's put her to sleep to stop her from crying and wipe her tears away." To your surprise, however, there is not one drop of tear on their cheek.
Relax, it's completely normal; babies do not usually start producing noticeable tears at birth. So when do babies get tears? Tear production develops gradually during the first weeks and months of life. A newborn has healthy, moist eyes while producing too few tears for them to spill over onto the cheeks.
In this guide, we will look at when babies typically start showing visible tears, why newborns cry without them, what a watery eye may mean, and which signs should be discussed with your pediatrician.
Quick Answer
Most newborns get teary-eyed when they cry, but you will not notice tears until a few weeks. As parents, you may begin to notice visible crying tears between about 1 and 3 months. Moreover, premature babies have reduced reflex and basal tear secretion, which may lead to later or lower tear production. If your newborn is crying hard with a completely dry face, I would not jump to conclusions and treat that alone as a problem. I would pay much more attention to the baby's overall condition, such as feeding, wet diapers, alertness, and the baby's eye appearance. Those clues speak more to why the baby is crying than to whether one tiny tear appears.
When Do Babies Get Tears? A Month-by-Month Timeline
Birth to 2 Weeks: Moist Eyes but Few Visible Tears
Before we get into the details of when babies get tears, you need to understand that a newborn's eyes are not simply "tearless." Healthy newborns produce tears, but the amount is lower than that of older children and adults.
Studies have found that tear secretion in full-term infants increased significantly by 2 and 4 weeks after birth. Reflex tear production also develops as the lacrimal system matures. That explains why your baby can cry loudly with moist-looking eyes, yet no tears run down the cheek.
2 Weeks to 1 Month: Tear Production Begins to Increase
Around the second week, tear production begins to increase noticeably at the physiological level in babies. Visible tears don't start rolling suddenly one day; this development happens gradually.
This does not mean every baby will suddenly produce visible tears on a particular day. Development happens gradually. You need to treat this stage as a gradual maturation, not as an on/off switch. Some babies show visible moisture earlier than others.
1 to 3 Months: Visible Tears Become More Common
Visible tears during crying become much more common when your baby is between 1 and 3 months. This aligns with research showing that neonatal tear production rises during early infancy. Pediatric guidance commonly places the appearance of noticeable crying tears in this general window. Visible tears are not a milestone to track, but if you are still worried, you can mention it at a routine 2-month pediatric visit.
After 3 Months: When Tearless Crying May Need Attention
By 3 months, your baby will make enough tears to see rolling down his cheeks when crying. If an older baby does not make any visible tears or if his/her tears suddenly seem to dry up, you should bring it to your pediatrician's attention. . A sudden decrease in tears may signal towards dehydration. Common signs include poor feeding, vomiting, diarrhea, less urine output or unusual sleepiness are causes of sudden decrease.
How Prematurity and Corrected Age Can Affect the Timeline
As we have already established, prematurity can change the timeline. Studies comparing preterm and full-term newborns have found lower tear secretion in premature infants, with tear production increasing as infants mature. Your pediatrician may consider gestational age and overall development for a baby born early. A calendar date alone is not enough to judge if your premature baby is "behind."
What's the Role of Tears in Baby's Development?
Physically
Tears are part of the eye's normal protective system. They lubricate the ocular surface and help maintain a healthy tear film. Research on newborns has shown that even very young babies have measurable tear production, although it is lower than later in infancy.
Visible tears are not the same thing as having no moisture. A baby can have a healthy tear film without tears streaming down the cheeks.
Emotionally
Tears are not a reliable test of how strongly a baby feels something. A newborn's crying is already meaningful communication, even when the cheeks stay dry. Babies cry to communicate needs such as hunger, discomfort, tiredness, illness, or the need for closeness. Visible tears do not tell you whether a cry is "real" or whether your baby is bonding normally.
Socially
Crying is one of the earliest ways babies communicate with caregivers. As parents, you respond to their cries, while babies gradually add other forms of communication such as eye contact, smiles, and sounds to their routine. To measure developmental progress, you need to consider the whole picture. A dry-cheeked cry is not necessarily a social or emotional delay.
Why Do Newborns Cry Without Tears?
Basal Tears, Reflex Tears, and Crying Tears
These are three separate functions of tearing; let's differentiate between all three:
-
Basal tears provide ongoing moisture for the eye.
-
Reflex tears increase when the eye is irritated.
-
A larger tear response can also accompany crying.
Newborns produce tears from birth, but tear secretion is lower early in life and increases as the baby matures. A baby can therefore have a moist, healthy eye without tears spilling over the eyelid.
Tear Glands Produce Tears, While Tear Ducts Drain Them
One common misunderstanding is that tear ducts make tears. They do not. The lacrimal glands produce tears. Small openings and drainage channels at the inner corners of the eyes carry tears toward the nose. Understanding this difference matters if your baby has a watery eye. A blocked drainage duct can cause tears to overflow even when tear production is normal.
Why a Baby's Eyes Can Look Moist Without Tears Rolling Down
A thin tear film coats the eye even when you cannot see a droplet. In newborns, because tear fluid is relatively small, it may remain on the eye rather than run down the face. In other words, "no tears on the cheeks" does not mean "no tears in the eyes."
Is Tearless Crying a Sign of Delayed Emotional Development?
Absolutely not. Tearless crying in the early newborn period is a physiological issue; it is never a measure of emotional maturity. If your baby is feeding, gaining weight, responding to you, and developing other expected skills at a normal pace, the absence of visible tears alone is not evidence of delayed emotional development.
What Does It Mean If Only One Eye Tears?
How a Blocked Tear Duct Looks
The lacrimal glands produce tears, which normally drain through tiny channels at the inner corner of the eye. In some babies, these drainage passages are not fully open yet, so tears collect in the eye instead of draining normally.
If you notice one of your baby's eyes keeps watering even when they are not crying, a blocked tear duct is one common possibility for a persistently watery eye in infants. Unlike tears produced during crying, this watering of the eye happens while your baby is calm.
Common Signs of a Blocked Tear Duct
Blocked tear ducts are common in infants and usually improve as the drainage system matures. If the eye is not red or swollen, the blockage is uncomplicated. Keep a lookout for these common signs of a blocked tear duct:
-
One eye that stays watery or teary
-
Tears collecting around the eyelid
-
A small amount of mucus or crusting
-
Symptoms that come and go but mainly affect the same eye
Note: A blockage can affect one eye or both, so having symptoms on only one side does not necessarily mean there is a more serious problem.
Redness, Swelling, and Discharge That Need Medical Attention
The appearance of the fluid in your baby's eyes is a clue as to what may be the cause. Clear, watery fluid is more consistent with normal tearing or a blocked drainage duct. Heavy yellow or green discharge, extensive crusting or eyelids that stick together can indicate an infection or other eye disease.
Redness and swelling are also important. If the tear duct is blocked in a simple way, the white part of the eye will not have a prominent redness and the eye will not swell significantly. If your baby's eye is red or swollen, if he or she develops a red lump near the inner corner, gets pus-like discharge, or if the eye appears cloudy, it's important to contact your pediatrician right away. The symptoms may be due to infection or some other condition that requires medical evaluation.
Also, if your baby has severe swelling, fever or looks very ill, especially if they are less than 12 weeks old, please seek immediate medical attention. It's important to examine the entire eye, not just if it's watery.
Tear Duct Massage and Home Care
How to Check and Clean a Watery or Sticky Eye
Wash your hands first. If tears or crusting collect on the eyelids, gently clean the area with clean water and a soft, clean cloth or cotton pad. Use a fresh portion for each wipe rather than rubbing back and forth.
While cleaning, if you notice pus or the eyelids are sticking together, call your pediatrician rather than assuming the discharge is simply a blocked duct.
How to Massage a Baby's Tear Duct Safely
Once your pediatrician confirms a blocked tear duct, he'll likely recommend massaging it. Guidance on massaging a tear duct may vary, but it's the technique that matters. You need to apply gentle pressure over the lacrimal sac near the inner corner of the eye, directed downward along the nose. According to Nationwide Children's professionals, these are the recommended steps:
-
Make sure you wash your hands with soap and warm water before and after the massage.
-
Gently place the tip of your index finger in the corner of the eye with the blocked tear duct, against the side of your baby's nose.
-
Press firmly but lightly and move your index finger in short downward strokes. Repeat this 3-5 times.
-
You need to repeat these steps in the morning, afternoon, and at night, 3 times a day.
Additionally, your pediatrician may prescribe eye drops to support recovery. He will instruct you accordingly on what, how, and when to use them.
Caution: Stop if the area becomes painful or irritated, and do not press directly on the eyeball.
When You Should Not Massage the Tear Duct
Do not use massage as a substitute for medical evaluation when the eye is red, swollen, very painful, producing significant pus, or the baby has fever or appears unwell. Those signs can point to infection or another eye problem that needs assessment.
Dehydration vs Delayed Tear Production
Generally, newborns crying without visible tears is often a normal part of tear-system development. Not seeing tears does not automatically mean your baby is dehydrated. What matters more is whether other changes, such as poor feeding, fewer wet diapers, or unusual sleepiness, accompany the lack of tears.
When Crying Without Tears Is a Normal Developmental Stage
Newborns can produce tears from birth, but the amount is relatively small and increases as the lacrimal system matures. This is why you may see your baby's eyes become slightly moist when they cry, without an actual tear rolling down their cheek.
There is also no single age when every baby starts producing obvious tears. Some babies show visible tears earlier, while others take longer. Premature babies may also have lower tear production initially because their tear glands and drainage system are still maturing.
So, if your young baby is feeding well, having regular wet diapers, staying alert when awake, and otherwise seems healthy, crying without visible tears is usually not a reason to assume something is wrong.
Signs That Missing Tears May Be Caused by Dehydration
Missing tears can be one sign of dehydration, but it should never be used on its own to judge whether a baby is getting enough fluid. Other signs of dehydration include:
Mild to Moderate Dehydration
-
Fewer wet diapers than usual (for infants, less than six wet diapers per day)
-
A dry mouth or tongue
-
Plays less than usual
-
A sunken soft spot on the head
-
Fewer tears when crying
-
Poor feeding or difficulty keeping feeds down
-
Unusual sleepiness or difficulty waking
-
Vomiting or diarrhea
Severe Dehydration
In addition to the symptoms already listed above, if you notice these signs below, it signals severe dehydration:
-
Wrinkled skin
-
Extremely sleepy
-
Very fussy
-
Sunken eyes
-
Little to no urine
-
Cool, discoloured hands and feet
When to Call Your Pediatrician
If your baby has several of these symptoms together, or you notice a sudden change from their usual pattern, contact your pediatrician. For babies younger than 12 weeks, a fever requires prompt medical evaluation.
Eye symptoms also matter. A severely swollen or cloudy eye, significant redness in a newborn, or an eye producing pus should be assessed promptly rather than being attributed to delayed tear production.
The key takeaway is simple: a newborn crying without tears can be normal; crying without tears plus signs of dehydration is a reason to seek medical advice.
Conclusion
In the first few weeks after birth, most babies don't make enough tears to spill down their cheeks. The production of tears happens in early infancy and noticeable tears begin to appear between 1 and 3 months.
If a young newborn baby is crying but not producing any tears, he or she may be perfectly healthy. If a baby has a constantly runny eye, it could be due to a blocked tear duct. If a baby has no tears and is also dehydrated, he or she must be seen by a medical professional. You can explore a range of baby-care essentials and parenting solutions for other everyday baby-care needs.
As a parent, you have to consider the whole picture: feeding, wet diapers, alertness and eye condition. Don't wait for a checklist to get "just right", if your gut says otherwise, call your pediatrician.
Medical Disclaimer
This article is for general educational information and is not a substitute for diagnosis or personalized medical advice. Contact your child's pediatrician for concerns about your baby's eyes, hydration, development, or overall health.
References
PubMed. Tear Production During the Neonatal Period. PubMed source.
JAMA Ophthalmology. Development of Tearing in Preterm and Term Neonates. JAMA source.
PubMed. Communication and Crying in Newborns. PubMed source.
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Unsettled or Crying Babies. Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne source.
Children's Hospital Colorado. Blocked Tear Duct. Children's Hospital Colorado source.
Nationwide Children's Hospital. Eye: Tear Duct Massage. Nationwide Children's Hospital source.