If your child is suffering from puffy bags under her eyes, it may not be due to a serious medical condition. Bags under the eyes may be caused by allergies, a sinus infection or a lack of sleep, according to Better Medicine. By pinpointing the cause of your child's puffy eyes, you can help eliminate the problem. If your child's pediatrician approves, you can reduce your child's puffy eyes with over-the-counter and home remedies.
Get your child tested for allergies, says pediatrician Dr. William Sears in the article "Tracking Down Food Allergies" on AskDrSears.com. If your child is allergic to food or an environment, his eyes may be more puffy than usual--eliminating the allergen will reduce the puffiness.
Flush out the sinuses with saltwater if puffy eyes are due to congestion. You can purchase an over-the-counter saltwater rinse at the drugstore. Squeeze a small amount of saltwater up each nostril, then instruct your child to blow her nose. When mixing a saline solution with water, use sterile or distilled water, recommends the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Prop a few extra pillows under your child's head to increase drainage of fluid that may collect underneath the eyes. While your child sleeps, fluid may accumulate under the eyes, causing puffiness. If your child's head is at an angle, the fluid may drain out of the face.
Wet a washcloth with cool water and place it over the eyes for a few minutes to temporarily reduce puffiness under the eyes. The puffiness may return after several hours and does not address the cause of the bags under the eyes.
Put your child to bed earlier. If your child is not getting adequate sleep, she may develop bags under her eyes. To help her get more shut-eye, make her bedtime an hour earlier.
Tips
Give your child an antihistamine to temporarily reduce puffiness caused by allergies.
Warnings
Consult a doctor if your child's puffy eyes are accompanied by any other health symptoms.