All parents love to dress up their little ones as lovely dolls. Applying Kajal for babies is a tradition that is used all over India even today. It is mainly used on babies to get rid of evil eyes. Most of them believe, applying Kajal to the baby’s eyes increases their size and gives a better vision. It is also speculated to prevent the baby from eye-related issues.
Many household women also apply Kajal on baby’s forehead as advised by elders at home. Yet there arise a lot of questions for many moms if they can go for homemade Kajal for babies or ayurvedic Kajal for babies.
Though the love for Kajal still prevails in many households, the question is, “is it safe to apply Kajal to baby’s eyes?” Let us see in detail.
Should You Apply Kajal (Surma) To Your Newborn Baby’s Eyes?
Doctors do not recommend using Kajal for baby’s eyes as it could lead to irritation or itchiness or even allergies in a few cases. The high levels of lead content — a metal content in commercial products pose high risks of using Kajal for babies.
Many moms have this doubt about using Kajal for babies. While science and doctors do not recommend Kajal for babies, yet many elders at home still prefer applying Kajal. So, what is Kajal/Surma/Kohl? And is it safe for your precious little?
The carbon residue that is left behind after burning oil or ghee is what Kajal is. Many households prefer making Kajal by burning oil/ghee or sandalwood. The collected residue is collected and is mixed with ghee and is applied as a liner on the baby’s eyes.
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Why Do Indian Families Use Kajal For Babies?
Using Kajal to make the baby’s eye appear bigger is one common practice that is followed across India. Indians believe that applying Kajal does not only make the eyes bigger and beautiful but sharper as well.
The practice of applying Kajal is pretty age-old and people have been following it blindly. However, no theories or proof are supporting the wellness of applying Kajal for babies.
Listed below are some of the common reasons which elders at home usually insist on and cite for using Kajal for babies.
1. Big bright eyes
One common reason believed across north and south India for applying Kajal for babies is to make those eyes look bigger and better! This point mostly insisted by the elders of the family remains a myth. Yes, the natural size of the eyes doesn’t change to bigger and brighter by using Kajal.
2. Kajal makes baby’s eyes appear beautiful
Bizarre it could sound while reading, but yes people do believe it. Indians still assume applying Kajal could make the eyes grow longer. According to their tradition and beliefs, using Kajal on baby’s eyes makes it bigger.
3. Many believe it is soothing for eyes- which is incorrect
There is a misconception that using Kajal on your baby’s eyes will soothe them. However, this is a wrong notion. Using Kajal for baby’s eyes does not give your child a soothing effect. It only causes itchiness and watery eyes and also affects the child’s vision in certain cases. This is one of the reasons why doctors do not recommend Kajal for babies.
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4. Kajal is believed to ward off evil eyes
This again remains as a matter of trust and belief and there is no evidence to prove it. If you ask the elders of the family, they will have no answer to it. You can see the Kajal spots on cheeks, behind ears, beside eyes forwarding away the evil eye. This is one of the major reasons that kajal is applied to baby as it is believed to ward off the evil eye or buri nazar.
5. Elders believe it makes a baby sleep better and longer
If using Kajal for babies could make the baby sleep for extra, I am sure all the mommies in the world would try this. The baby would sleep only until he or she wants to and nothing extra is going to make him or her lay in the bed for more time.
Safety Tips Of Using Kajal For Baby’s Eyes
Kajal is usually applied in the baby’s eye area — upper and lower lids. However, one must consider the type of Kajal used, as the purchased Kajal contains a high amount of lead — a metal substance that is not good for your baby.
A few parents who might not be interested to use Kajal in the baby’s eyes, use it on the forehead or sole of the baby food for traditional reasons. Commercial Kajal comes with a lot of toxic ingredients which are not good for the baby.
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If you still think it is safe to use Kajal for babies, the answer is NO. Anything that gets into your baby’s eyes could cause irritation and tears. However, you could make your Kajal or go for products that are made without lead.
There are a few alternatives like homemade or ayurvedic Kajal that you can consider choosing for your little one.
Risks of using Kajal for baby’s eyes
Baby’s eyes are tender and using Kajal for babies could easily cause them infections and irritations. Store-bought Kajal is not good for your baby and it is also not safe for them.
The main reason being the addition of lead — a metal content that makes it dangerous for use. Even though many products are marketed as lead-free and organic — the real safe Kajal for babies is the one you make at home.
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You know what is the best product to add and how hygienic you need to make it. If you want to apply Kajal for babies you can apply Kajal for baby’s forehead or sole or behind the ear.
Here are a few reasons why you should not use store-bought Kajal on your baby.
1. Using Kajal for babies can be dangerous due to high lead levels
The levels of lead content are pretty high in the store-bought Kajal even though there might be claims as lead-free. There is also no way to check if the product is free of lead. So, it is better not to take the risk.
2. Lead storage in the body
Too much lead content in your child’s body could lead them to be anemic. Lead is a dangerous metal that is better avoided. Imagine the lead levels getting accumulated to your baby through those small eyes.
3. Infections and eye irritations
The eyes of the babies are tender and are prone to infections easily. Applying carbon residue would even make it worse. Your baby’s eyes are sensitive and hence it’s better to avoid applying Kajal/Surma to the eyes.
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Simple Recipe For Homemade Kajal (Surma) For Babies
Beautifying eyes has become an everyday routine for most of us. But do kids/toddlers need that beautification despite knowing the risks of store-bought Kajal? Well, if your answer is still yes, it is better to go for homemade Kajal for babies.
In the past few years, doctors and medical researchers are against applying Kajal for baby’s eyes. Remember preparing homemade Kajal for babies is still not safe for the child as we may still not be able to follow the complete hygiene patterns. Also, any dirt in your finger could easily get into the child’s eye while applying.
So here we help you to make homemade Kajal for babies which is much better and much safer than the store-bought ones. However, we request you to try avoiding applying it to the baby’s eyes.
Ingredients required
- Muslin cloth
- Sandalwood paste
- Castor or almond oil
- Take a piece of muslin cloth and dip it in sandalwood paste. Let it dry in the sun for about two hours. Repeat this process four to five times
- After this, make a wick out of the dried cloth and place it on a mud lamp lit with castor or almond oil
- Place a brass vessel over the mud lamp with a small gap for oxygen supply
- Let the lamp keep burning overnight
- In the morning, collect the residue in a jar and mix it with ghee or clarified butter
- Whisk with a small spoon until it combines well
- Your homemade Kajal for babies is ready. Store it in an airtight container
This is still not safe to use for the baby’s eyes and we recommend you consult your pediatrician once for the same.
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FAQs
Deciding on whether to apply Kajal for babies or not, can be tough. While there are many old wife’s tales for using Kajal for babies, pediatricians strictly are against the usage of Kajal on baby’s eyes.
The best way is to apply Kajal on the cheeks, behind ear lobes, or on the baby’s feet. It is recommended you check the ingredients on the packet before use. The best way would be to avoid using it on the baby’s eyes and if you still have to use it, get the consent of the doctor.
Store-bought Kajal contains a lot of toxic substances and chemicals like lead which causes harm to the baby’s eyes. To follow tradition and avoid using toxic contents for the baby, it is always necessary to undertake research and go by what your pediatrician says.
In the olden days, Kajal was prepared at home which was safer than what we purchase now from the store. The store-bought Kajal can cause allergic reactions to your baby and the hygiene levels used for the preparation are always a question.