Baby not smiling

[Foreverbaffled]

My DS is 8 weeks old today and not smiling. He’s got lots of other expressions and his eye contact is okay (he studies my face and hair line a lot rather than gazing right into my eyes for long periods) and tracks objects and light well.

How worried should I be about the smiling?

He was born at 37+5 which I know is considered full term so you can’t adjust dates but do early term babies sometimes do things a but later? My first DS smiled at 6 weeks but he was induced after 42 weeks so was inside me a lot longer!

His development otherwise seems on track (good head control etc) and he is starting to make some cooing noises.

Anxiety so high at the moment so trying not to over think this.

Dd was born at 35+1 and spent 3 weeks in an incubator. I started to worry and she wasnt smiling until 12 weeks. Helped by my mother saying my daughter 'looked blank' but she started smiling and never stopped. Shes 13months now, walked before her birthday and is steadier on her feet running than most 2 year olds. Im not worried about her at all. Itll come x

Mine, born at a similar time, didn’t start smiling until 10 weeks.

At the 8 week checkup the doctor said and he’s smiling? And I was like er no.. and the doctor didn’t seem remotely concerned.

He actually remained not a big smiler whilst a baby though. I don’t think anyone other than me and DH saw a smile until a year! He loved being a toddler though.

Smiling as a milestone is by 12 weeks. He's only little yet :)

Thank you for your kind replies, that really helps. I think I’m being hypervigilant now as I noticed he also has a single palm crease on one hand (used to be called a simian crease) which I know can be associated with chromosomal issues. The GP doesn’t seem concerned about that though given he has no other obvious anomalies and is thriving.

Being a new mum is exhausting!

Please don't worry!

I was the same with Dd who is my 3rd! She is 20 weeks now and didn't smile until 10/11 weeks.

She smiles all the time now and laughs (but she is actually quite a serious little thing and it takes some doing!)

I can't even remember when my older two smiled and laughed.

Smiling doesn't always look like smiling at that age too. DH kept insisting DD was smiling at him and I kept telling him he was making it up and she was just moving her face around until he stuck a pic on FB and everyone who already had children could clearly see it was a smile.

Mine didn’t smile until 9 weeks or so, also born a little early. She’s now smiling sociable 9-year-old.

As another pp pointed out, HCPs will only mark it as a concern after 12 weeks. Try not to worry OP and enjoy your baby!

Thank you all so much. It’s so hard not to compare isn’t it. He’s still so little, I need to give him time to get there.

Hi ,Im in the same boat. My 7 weeks old son has simian line on both hands and doesnt smile yet.
Can you please update us about your baby???

My lo is 8weeks old, still not smiling, she only stares at me, im really trying to make her to smile. she was born 37+5. any updates on your babies? did they smile already?