Is it safe to apply Kajal in a newborn baby’s eyes?

Using a kajal or Surma on your baby’s eyes is a traditional Indian culture, which is believed to ward off evil eyes (buri nazar). A lot of Indian parents use kajal to make the eyes of their babies look bigger and more beautiful.
The fondness for Surma remains unchanged through villages, towns and metropolitan cities in India as the elders in the family insist on putting it on the newborn baby.

Kajal is usually put in the lower waterline of the baby’s eyes and behind the earlobes.

What is kajal?

Surma is an ancient eye cosmetic which is essentially made by collecting soot (black ash which is the burnt residue of either oil or ghee). While a lot of traditional beliefs dictate that applying kajal is good for the eyesight of the baby, there is no scientific study that backs this claim.

Why do people apply kajal to their baby’s eyes?

In addition to believing that surma is good for the vision of the baby, people also apply it to make the eyes of their little one appear bigger and brighter. In fact, a lot of parents also believe that the application of kajal can protect the infant from the harsh glare of the sun and ward off evil eye.

Should you be applying kajal to your baby’s eyes?

A simple answer? No. Even though a lot of families across cultures believe that the application of surma is beneficial for the baby, doctors seem to disagree. For starters, kajal contains lead which can not only cause itching and irritation in eyes but may also lead to infections. Infact, most of the store-bought kajals are laden with lead, a metal which should not be used anywhere near your little one.

A lot of parents vouch for the safety of badam kajal or homemade kajal for the newborns but there is no scientific study which can validate the same. It is important to understand that even if a kajal is made at home, it still contains carbon.

Secondly, if your hands are not washed properly, it can transmit infections to little one’s eyes.

The bottom line

If you still wish to apply kajal (surma) to your baby, you can either apply it behind one of the ears, sole or the hairline of the forehead.

However, make sure to wipe the kajal properly with a damp cloth before bathing the baby, so that it does not get washed off during the bath and enters the baby's eyes or nose.