Yes, babies' tears do eventually become salty, but not immediately after birth.
Babies don't produce visible, salty tears right away. Initially, their crying might be tearless or produce only a small amount of moisture. The tear ducts need time to fully develop.
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Early Crying (Newborns): Newborns' cries are often dry or only result in minimal tears because their tear ducts are still developing. The focus at this stage is more on vocal communication than on producing noticeable tears.
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Tear Duct Development: Typically, between 1 and 3 months of age, babies begin to produce more noticeable and salty tears when they cry. This is when the tear ducts have matured enough to create a sufficient volume of fluid with the appropriate salt content.
The salt in tears comes from electrolytes, which are present in the body's fluids and help regulate various bodily functions. As the tear ducts mature, the composition of the tears becomes more similar to that of older children and adults, including the presence of electrolytes that give tears their characteristic salty taste.
