to worry that my dd3 hasn't smiled yet?

[Vilt]

She's just over 6 weeks old but she was born 2 and a half weeks early. She's not smiling yet and I've managed to get myself really worried about it. Is this just sleep deprived ridiculousness or should I be concerned?

You are sleep deprived. Babies don't run to a strict timetable and six weeks is an average.

You have nothing to worry about x

Thank you. I think I've gone slightly mad. Last night I managed to convince myself it's because she doesn't like me. Insert embarrassed face here.

But if she was two weeks early you are supposed to go by their amended age and go from when they were "supposed" to be born ie. she is actually only 3 and a half weeks old. My niece was 6 weeks prem and so didn't smile until she was almost 12 weeks (if that makes sense!).

Thanks pp, I wondered if that was the case. I shall try and get a grip in myself. You'd have thought I'd be a bit more chilled out by no 3!

On myself not in!

That made me proper laugh out loud! Can't do smiley faces in here. Or I would do one.

ON not IN

Can't type

I completely understand. Don't worry - my DD was 3 and a bit weeks prem and didn't smile till she was 9-10 weeks old...it was not a moment too soon for me

Waiting for that first smile, that first acknowledgement from your baby that you're doing ok, is a big thing. Waiting longer because you've got a slightly prem baby is enough to have you tearing your hair out but it will be worth it when that smile comes.

Congratulations btw.

Oh don't worry, she will in her own time :)

Bloody

Lots of reassurance here, just wanted to add mine! DS1 was recalled by the Health visitor at his 6wk check as he hadn't yet smiled. He was almost a month early, so they should have been taking his adjusted age into consideration. I just asked the HV if she had met his father...

It is now a story we like to tell, as he is a perfect, smily little boy! I seem to recall he started smiling about 8-9 weeks.