Vision / smiling / eye contact in seven week old

[MaidofMuswell]

Huge disclaimer: posted before and am in muddle mentally after tricky start and longer stay than ideal in hospital after birth following which we were told to watch baby closely which has driven me a bit mad. I’ve started ads and am waiting fo cbt so doing all I can to address what I think is 99% an anxiety issue not a baby health issue but keep having random weird panics and this is the latest so wondering if anyone has any insight. Baby is seven weeks three days and gorgeous and started smiling last week and has been staring at faces and all the other lovely things they’re meant to do for a while. The only thing I am currently focusing on is that she hasn’t smiled every day eg sunday was grinning several times and yesterday nothing and often when she smiles is looking away, and seems more
Comfortable smiling at faces across a distance than up close. I’ve not got any specific reason to think this is worrying but have it in mind that could be some sort of vision issue or maybe have imagined the direct smiles and she really can’t see? Will raise at 6 week check which is next week as our area does it at 8 weeks but does any of this sound at all familiar? She seems alert which is the buzzword they said to look for (she had a brain scan at birth which was ok but we were discharged with advice to keep close eye and on anything odd - total nightmare for me as am bloody anxious and all babies are odd!) and just wondering if when they start smiling they should smile every day and directly at you or whether am being crackers. Hoping for crackers thank you :) x

Sounds totally normal! I think my baby was around 11-12 weeks when smiles became daily, but they're all different. As long as starting to smile at all then sounds fine!

Thanks so much for replying that’s really reassuring! Is quite hard to tell sometimes when she’s smiling at us or just being smiley if that makes sense? Probably not! I remember it being far clearer with my son but was less mad then and not under instructions to micro manage, sorry keep an eye on behaviour... wish could just relax and enjoy it!

Oh no! How hard for you to be told to watch very carefully! I developed health anxiety regarding my son (born with quote a few health issues) so that advice would have sent me loopy, however important it is for you to do! What you describe sounds entirely normal to me.

Thanks so much - think that’s the name for it yes, health anxiety. Felt much better last night and this
Morning she’s woke up a bit grumpy and withdrawn and worried - but about what?! Christ knows! Think I just need to wait for the cbt and the drugs to kick in!

I know this sounds like the last thing you want to do but honestly when I was at my worst with health anxiety with my little boy the only thing that helped was distraction. I tried to watch some tv or read a book or make a fancy meal while.my son was either asleep or looked after by his dad. Doing something 'normal' and unrelated to his health seemed to help somehow.

Totally normal. I have 3 sons and with each one I remember being a bit anxious when they started smiling as they seemed to smile one day then nothing again for a few days. It takes a while before they're smiling consistently. I had a lot of anxiety after my 2nd son and was convinced there was something wrong with him which spoilt my enjoyment of him for a while. It's difficult when something gets into your head but it's good that you're getting treatment.

Thanks both this means so much - thank you. Had lots of smiles Sunday and Tuesday but nothing Monday or yesterday - husband thought she did but I’m not sure. I just seem to see all these photos and posts about super smiley babies at seven weeks and when my first born started smiling it was at least a few every day... was just walking round Morrison’s sobbing yesterday and feeling mad. I can’t even tell you what it is I fear she’s got bevahse I don’t have w clue just feels like “something” is wrong. Just praying that meds work and that GP can reassure me at 8 week check next week and that she gets more engaged. Am so scared I’ve somehow messed her up by doing something wrong when pregnant or since birth and not even worried about the fall anymore bevahse she’s definirely alert etc just unhappy. I’m so sorry you both had this but so happy you came through it!

My DS was 11 weeks before he smiled at all. I couldn't get him signed off at his 6 week check as he didn't social smile and his eyes were still crossed. By 11 weeks he was grinning all the time but we weren't even close at 7 weeks.
It turns out that he has no developmental issues at all - he does however has poor eye sight including astigmatism and long sight which he would have been born with so I'm told. He wears glasses now (since 18 months old) but it was the reason he didn't smile- he couldn't see very well with his degree of astigmatism.
It all sounds very normal to me- I had all these worries about my boys development and in the end it was just eyesight which is easily corrected by a cute pair of specs. Try not to get too anxious she sounds like she's doing great.

ps I'm not saying that your baby has poor Eyesight, she sounds like she is doing much more than my son was at the same age. I'm just saying if it's anything at all (unlikely) then it may well be something minor like this.

Thank you - really appreciate that. Tbh the weird thing is not smiling at all would be easier to understand ie something like eyesight it’s doing it then not doing it as seems so unlike my son. Like a light coming on and off almost. Anyway do know how daft this sounds.... please let drugs kick in quickly! X