My baby only smiles at me and DP!

[Itsallacademicanyway]

My DD is 8 months old and when with my DP or me is a happy smiley baby who giggles alot and enjoys playing.

However, she doesn't smile at other people...friends, strangers, GPs (who she sees quite often), anyone!

All the other babies I see smile so easily, but even when people talk to DD and put lots of effort into engaging with her and getting her to smile she just doesn't! I find myself desperately wishing that she'd just flash a smile! I feel a little sad that she is such a happy smiley baby with my DP and me but noone else sees that.

I attend a few baby classes with her and so she is used to being around other people. Although she is almost always looked after by either me or my DP.

I'm just wondering if this sounds familar to anyone and if anyone has any ideas for encouraging her to engage and making her feel more confident with other people.

Just give her time. My DD is a bit suspicious of new people and the smiles don't come out until she's ready before that she looks like a right grumples even though she laughs and giggles all the time with us.

I would say she gives out smiles much more readily now that she's one than she did whan she was 6-9 months when they were reserved only for family (or anyone with a camera - she's a poser).

DD1 was like this and I remember well how embarrassing it was and all the sarcastic remarks from people aggrieved that their friendly overtures did not result in smiles!! But...
by the time she got to nursery she was hugely friendly and confident, made tons of friends, was always the kid invited to play and has never ever been bullied or picked on nor has she done it to others. She is now 11 and much the same, but smiles sociably to anyone!
Perhaps your DD is the same. I look on it as a happy genetic accident which bestowed her with a unique sense of self and her own self worth (unlike her dear mum and 3 siblings who smile all the time and worry dreadfully about how everyone else thinks...)
Don't worry

Thank you for your replies. I was beginning to feel like it was just my DD who didn't smile at other people.
I do love the idea that she's could already got sense of her own self worth! I think I'll say that to the next person who calls her a "serious" baby!

Like the poster above, DD wasn't much of a social smiler and could be quite serious at home too (not to say she never smiled/laughed but she certainly never did 'on demand').

Now she is nearly 3 and is the friendliest, happiest little girl who is full of confidence and has developed her own off the wall sense of humour. She still has her serious moments but it's all part of her character.

I wouldn't worry! :)

Argh! The 'serious' baby comments used to grate on me too And looking back I used to be quite defensive about it - I used to come back with 'she saves her smiles for really special moments'.
soon put paid to those annoying comparisons with 'lady down the road's' granddaughter etc though!

Ds was like that. I think he was very discerning and sensible. Both dd's grinned inanely at anyone, fixing their gaze until their victim smiled back!

My almost 2 year old DS was (and to some extent, still is) like that. In fact, at 7 to 8 months I remember being quite worried, because if a stranger smiled and started talking to him, he'd actually start crying.

He's still a shy, reserved type, but is giggly and loving with people he knows very well. He has only in the past few months started to smile at strangers, although he's always been happy to study them intently!

My advice would be not to push it. Make sure your DD can see your face if other people talk to her (DS got more upset if he couldn't see me - for instance if I was pushing his buggy - as he wanted to check my face to get reassurance that the strange person wasn't going to hurt him!). If anyone comments that she looks serious, just say with a smile that she's going through a shy phase.

I think thats lovely. My dd was also labeled anti social as as a baby , but secretly i loved it that she only preferred me or dh thats my girl.

She's 4.2 and very sociable, however even now some people she just doesn't take to. I'm happy for her to be like that, so long as she's not rude,i'm all for following your instinct.

It sounds to me like you have a very switched-on little girl - she only gives smiles to those she really loves, everyone else can go jump!