Why Does My Baby Rub Their Face Against My Chest?

Jan 2

When you bring a new baby home, every move they make grabs your attention. Are they comfortable? Tired? You want to be there for them when they need you, so you keep a close eye to learn each and every cue.

As you get to know your child’s unique cries and movements, it feels like you’re decoding a special kind of language. But every so often, they learn something new for you to translate. For example, if your baby has started rubbing their face against your chest, what does it mean?

5 Reasons Your Baby May Be Rubbing Their Face On You

There are actually multiple reasons why a baby might rub their face against a caregiver’s chest. Some happen instinctually, while others may be a sign of something that needs your attention. You can untangle the mystery of why it is happening by studying your child’s behavior.

Here are some reasons that could be behind their new habit.

1. They’re Hungry

Is it with an open mouth that your baby rubs their face against your chest? If so, it sounds like what you’re seeing is their rooting reflex in action! Experts in infant health and development at Western New England University have done an extensive study on this involuntary reflex. It found that when your baby rubs their face against you with an open mouth, it’s a clear indicator that they are hungry. This is one of your baby’s earliest and strongest reflexes. After all, being able to find its mother’s nipple is necessary for survival. The rooting reflex is the most easily discernable cue your baby will use to communicate with you.

Involuntary reflexes are present from birth. They are controlled by the brainstem and disappear by the time your child is about 4-6 months old. If your baby is beyond that age, you can rule out the rooting reflex.

2. They’re Seeking Comfort

That’s right, it could just be that your little angel is wanting to get extra close to you today. How sweet! After all, to your baby, you are their whole world. There is nothing that puts them more at ease than the smell of a parent, and they may just be snuggling in for a good whiff.

Babies are so attached to the smell of their parents, a common technique that caregivers use is wearing one of mom’s shirts. Being able to smell her relieves any distress they feel while away from her presence.

It may even be the actual rubbing of their face that is comforting your baby. Rubbing the face and eyes is also a form of self-soothing in small children. The muscles around the eye are directly connected to the heart, and when they are stimulated they slow the heart rate.

3. They’re Tired

Another likely option is that your baby may be ready for some shut-eye! Is it almost time for that afternoon nap? Consider where you are in the day and when your child last slept before honing in on this explanation. If they’re just waking up from a nap, it’s safe to say they’re probably not suffering from a lack of sleep. Instead, they may be rubbing sleep from their eyes, just as adults sometimes do.

Here are some other signs of tiredness to look out for. If you can pair the rubbing of their face and the timing with one of these, it’s even more likely that your baby is ready for a nap!

Being quieter or less active
Fussing or unable to get comfortable
Yawning or blinking slowly

Your baby may even rest their sweet head against your chest and have a little cuddle as they quiet down.

Why Do Babies Rub Their Faces Against Caregivers When Tired?

To answer this question, we can look at why adults rub their eyes when they are feeling drowsy. Babies are human too, and they experience a lot of the same things as adults do.

As we get tired, our eyes naturally try to stay open longer to keep us awake. This promotes a dry environment. According to Science Focus, we have a natural instinct to rub our eyes because we are stimulating the lacrimal glands that produce tears. These tears add moisture back to the eyes.

Young babies are unable to rub their eyes on their own, so they will often rub their faces against you for relief. At around 4 months old, babies develop the ability to rub their eyes with their own hands and you may see less of this behavior.

4. They’re Experiencing Eye Irritation

Does it seem like something more might be going on with your baby, beyond the standard tired or hungry cues?

One way to tell is the frequency at which they are rubbing their face against you. If it happens here and there, it’s likely nothing to worry about. However, if this becomes something that your child is doing over and over again, it may be that their eyes are feeling irritated.

Look out for any signs of redness or visible debris on the eye. It could be something as simple as an eyelash, or it could be exposure to allergens and dust.

5. They’re Coming Down With Something

This answer is last on the list because it should be the last thing you consider when you’re looking into why your baby rubs their face on your chest. Don’t jump to conclusions - this is usually just natural behavior.

When illnesses of the eye do appear, they are often accompanied by other recognizable symptoms like redness, drainage, or a build-up of crust around the eye. Should you be concerned if you see this particular combination of symptoms? Continue watching things closely and call your pediatrician if your baby continues to have crust around and in their eyes. It may warrant further treatment if there is any infection, like conjunctivitis. Still, it’s more likely that it’s just a blocked tear duct.

Infants have very narrow nasolacrimal ducts. It’s extremely common for these ducts to clog up at least once during your child’s infancy. Try keeping their eyes clear with a warm washcloth, and gently hold it over the eye to encourage the duct to open.

Have You Solved the Mystery?

Now that you’ve gotten an idea of some of the most common reasons your baby might rub their face on your chest, I hope you feel confident enough to observe their behavior and figure out the root of the habit. Remember, consider your baby’s current state when trying to figure out why they’re rubbing against your chest. Is your baby just fussing? Has it been a bit too long since their last feeding? These kinds of context clues will point you in the right direction.

Compile all of that important data in one place, using our helpful app! The Baby Connect app provides you with the tools to track your child’s feeding, sleeping, toileting schedule, and more. Let us help you take just a bit of the guesswork out of translating your child’s cues!

Try Baby Connect for free today.

Ash Simoneau

A kid at heart with a passion for supporting families through every season of life! Ash has spent the past decade working as a professional nanny in the shoreline towns of Connecticut. They've laughed a lot, loved a lot, and learned more than enough to share with new and expecting parents. Off the clock, Ash enjoys tabletop board games and spending time with friends and family. They currently live in Middletown with their wife and four cats.