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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Smiling

7 replies

diddygirl · 30/12/2011 15:33

Hi,
My DD is 5 weeks old and I took her to my GP today. He asked me if she has started smiling yet, to which I replied that she hasn't. (She smiles when she has wind, but it's not a social/receptive smile). He said he would be concerned if she doesn't smile by the time she is 8 weeks. What would it mean if she hasn't smiled by then? Is it a sign of something?
Thanks

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KellyKettle · 30/12/2011 15:42

No idea, I've not heard of that. I'm sure DD1 wasn't much of a smiler even at 8 weeks and shes fine.

DD2 is 11 weeks old and is more smiley but only in the last couple of weeks or so and really makes you work for them.

Will watch with interest. It's not a question I've been asked by HCPs so I'm not sure how much of a developmental marker it is really.

BlueberryPancake · 30/12/2011 15:42

I've never heard that one before. DS1 started smiling at three months, and DS2 started smiling in hospital a few hours after birth. I have never heard that it meant anything.

Bloodyhellthathurts · 30/12/2011 19:01

I think your doctor is being a bit alarmist. I posted on here LOADS about my dd because (in my mind) she smiled late and I convinced myself that she must be autistic. The lack of a social smile was previously thought to be an indicator of this, but I don't even know if that theory is trusted anymore. Anyway, I took her to my very lovely doctor at eight weeks who told me to relax, keep smiling at her, and if nothing had improved then we would talk again at 12 weeks. At ten weeks she started grinning away. Anything up to twelve weeks is average, but babies can develop a social smile much later than this and still be on the late side of 'normal', iyswim?

Original poster

diddygirl · 30/12/2011 19:08

Thanks for your replies. I'll see how it goes. Wish I'd have asked him at the time but not very good at thinking on the spot.

Thanks again!

OP posts:

candr · 31/12/2011 12:47

Our Dr said the same but I ignored her. DS started smiling at 10 weeks and now smiles a lot at 15 weeks. It is lovely when you know it is not wind! Don't stress about it.

BoysAreLikeDogs · 31/12/2011 13:16

In my non-scientific opinion, not smiling by 8 weeks can be an indicator of vision issues

happygilmore · 31/12/2011 16:40

I think 6 weeks is average, lots of babies not smiling til they're 10 weeks+.

DD was smiling at 3 weeks, but not regularly til a few weeks later. Think your GP is worrying you unnecessarily.

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