my premature baby isn't smiling yet

[helsbels2007]

my baby isn't smiling yet at 6 weeks corrected age (14 weeks since birth). I know I probably shouldn't be worrying but could just do with some reassurance that he is developing ok as we had such a traumatic start to his life!

Don't worry yet - my 35wk baby waited until 9/10 weeks corrected to smile. He is developmentally fine. I understand that full term babies are supposed to smile at 6-8 wks anyway. Has your baby had his 6 week check? Round our way they did it at corrected age - I remember my doctor very kindly pretending that DS was 'smiling with his eyes'!. She was not concerned at all.

oh thanks, that really helps. all the other posts i read had babies smiling at 5 week corrected or less. he was born at 31/32 weeks and was in hosp for 6 weeks, so can't help worrying about him. and also being despppperate for him to smile because it's such a great interaction! he's been for several checks and they don't seem worried, as you say

My ds didn't smile until 12 weeks corrected, was born at 34 wks. Was your ds born at the right size for gestation? My ds was born the size of a 30 wk old and we were told to correct from the size for development in our own heads.

We worried about the smiling too but it came eventually. He's been pretty late with everything tbh but I think some babies are more laid back. Now he's a real smiler, always laughing and so good natured.

My 32 weeker smiled at 13 weeks and my 27 weeker not until 21 weeks so 9 weeks corrected.

They were both a bit slow of the mark but are proper gigglers now. Your ds will be grinning at you before you know it x

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