Welcome back to part two of our two-part series where we discuss some tips for new mothers to support theirs and their baby’s eye health. If you haven’t already, we recommend reading part one where we discussed some changes that may happen during pregnancy and some tips for promoting eye health in the immediate postpartum period. Today, we will continue the discussion for some ongoing mommy and me tips.
Get Adequate Rest
We bet you hear this all the time and we understand that as a new parent, rest may be difficult to come by. The reason you are reminded so frequently to get rest is it significantly impacts your overall health and wellbeing including your eye health and immune support. Getting adequate shuteye helps to rest your eyes and your brain, elevating your mood, and supporting good vision. Sleep when you can and support your baby in their sleep endeavors.
Reduce or Limit Screen Time
In a digital world, it may be difficult for you to reduce screen time, especially with a new baby and you being awake and sitting during hours you are used to being asleep or active. Reducing screen time is vital for your eye health and your sleep-wake cycles. Reducing screen time and your exposure to harmful blue light is especially important when you are not getting enough sleep because it can cause eye strain and fatigue quicker. For children, it is recommended not to have any screen time prior to two years of age and then no more than two hours accumulative per day. This includes all screen sources such as television, smartphone, gaming systems, computers, and tablets.
Wear Protective Eyewear
The whole family should wear protective eyewear as much as possible. Starting with sunglasses at a young age instills good eye health habits. Baby sunglasses are encouraged when you are out of doors and keeping your baby in the shade is always a good idea. You should wear sunglasses when driving, on water or snow, and when in the sunshine. If you have to squint in the sunlight, you and your kids (of all ages) should be wearing sunglasses or snow goggles. Keep in mind that sun rays can reflect off of sand, water, snow, and sidewalks, so simply looking down does little to protect your eyes.
Take an Eye Supplement
For children ages four and up, all the way through adulthood, it is a good idea to take eye health supplements. Viteyes® offers several different eye vitamins to fit your needs and Blue Light Defender™ vitamins in three different doses for ages 4 to 12, 12+, and adult. Our eye vitamins feature lutein and zeaxanthin, which are both powerful blue light filtering antioxidants.
As a new parent, you have a lot to worry about, and eye health shouldn’t be one of them. With the power of knowledge coupled with the support of eye supplements, you and your children can discover optimal eye health for years to come. For more information or to browse our entire product line, visit us online today.
