Not smiling much - is this normal?

[DollyPopsOut]

I am a bit concerned that DD2 is 7 and half weeks old and doesn't smile much at me. I m mentioned this to a friend yesterday evening and she picked her up and got a smile straight away, but I have been grinning at her periodically over the last few days and barely get a raised lip.

Her big sister is just 2 and has taken the arrival of a sibling rather badly. As a result, DD2 can spend rather longer than I would like in her bouncy chair rather than interacting with me etc. Feeling a bit bad about it as DD1 got lots of attention as a baby and DD2 gets very little til the evening.

Should I be worried? What does not smiling mean? She follows me with her eyes etc so I think she can see, but I don't understand why she isn't more cheery with me.

Sorry if this sounds a bit paranoid - am feeling a bit sensitve today. Clearly overtired.

Thanks

[Rantum]

Poor you Dolly - I wouldn't worry about this my own ds didn't smile a whole lot at all until he was about 5-6 mths old and he is now a really smiley happy boy (about the same age as your eldest).

You are probably just feeling sensitive because you have so much on your plate with 2 differently demanding children to contend with.

It is true that 2nd children often don't get as much alone time with Mummy as no1 - probably inevitable, but as your baby grows (and your dd1 adjusts) your baby will never be without a playmate the way your dd1 has been for her early toddlerhood - it is all swings and roundabouts - you sound like a lovely caring family!

[foxcub]

Dolly - well at least she is smiling, as she smiled at your friend, so its not a developmental problem.

Have you tried singing silly songs to her, or burying your head in her tummy? That usually sets mine off.

I wouldn't feel guilty about not giving her enough attention, as its only really the first baby who has the luxury of getting loads of attention - the next ones have to just slot into the family routine.

Maybe she prefers studying your face intently, rather than smiling?

[TheBlonde]

dd is 7weeks
i get max one smile a day
do not worry tis early days still

[foxcub]

One smile a day - well she is smiling at you then?

[TheBlonde]

occasionally smiling at me, mostly at my mother!

[divastrop]

my dd2 didnt smile atall untill she was 8 weeks old.dd3 smiles at me occasionally but prefers to smile at daddy or her brother...im just the one with the food to her

dont worry about the attention thing.i used to feel really guilty as my dd1 got ignored most of the time while i delt with ds1 who was a very demanding toddler,but as she grew up they started to play together.i think the special relationship that siblings have more than makes up for not getting quite as much attention from mummy.

my ds2 was 2.5 when i had dd2,and he was really horrible to her at first.now the two of them are like a little double act and she thnks the world of him

[foxcub]

TBH I don't think my baby smileed until about two weeks ago - which was about seven and a half weeks old...

[DollyPopsOut]

Thanks girls - after some hard effort on my part have got a couple out of her! I think I need to chill a bit. I always find something to worry about though! Goes with the territory I suppose.

Thanks once again.

[carocaro]

I have a 3 month old and and a 5 year old, both boys and 6 weeks ago I could have written your post, DS1 was very cross about the attention levels and took his anger out on me, screaming and charging at me, he was delightful with his new brother! I also thought DS2 was not smiling and an unhappy baby, but ta daaaa! at three months he does nothing but smile, grin, gurgle and coo! DS1 has also settled, we've had some one on one time eg: just me and him having cakes and comics at the local cafe, trips to the shops etc and this seems to have worked. Also when DS2 started to cry sometimes during the day I left him and gave DS1 all the love and attention. He also likes jobs and he is the Chief Muslin Square Finder and no one else is allowed to get one for me! I don't know how old your elder daughter is, but a few big important tasks might help, he did however get a bit bored of being told what a 'great big brother' he was he said 'I know Mummy!' So I am sure it will all settle down and there will be harmony and smiles on all your faces! xxxx

[DollyPopsOut]

Thank you Carocaro. DD1 is just 2 and is a lovely girl, but finding it hard. We are doing at least 1 big thing together every day, like baking a cake, glitter pictures, sorting in the garden etc so that helps. THanks for replying, I am glad it is all good in your house now - I think we will get there too, albeit at a snail's pace !