Smiling

[Kodit]

Hi,

Our ds is just over 8 weeks old and he doesn't smile yet. He seems to recognise my wife and me and he looks at us for prolonged periods but no matter what I do to try and stimulate him, he doesn't smile. I understand babies should be smiling at 2 months so I am starting to wonder if we just have a grumpy baby!

Sorry, no idea! He wasn't born a week or two early, was he?

I'm sure he'll be smiling soon.

Some babies smile at 5 weeks, others later. Do you smile a lot at him? He'll learn it from you.

I have a friend who swears her baby didn't smile til ovefr a yr old. He is now a happy smiley 2yr old.

He was a couple of weeks early and had quite severe jaundice in his first few weeks so maybe that has put him back a bit? Although he is very active at the moment and seems to be at a similar stage of development compared to other babies in our NCT group. I smile a lot at him, he just stares at me!

I'm sure he will start smiling soon!

If he was early then I wouldn't worry, he's just catching up. Have a chat with the HV if it is really bothering you though.

I am sure he will start smiling soon as well.

My DS did smile quite early but I saw it in his eyes first, rather than him moving his lips. However he took ages to laugh and I used to feel really jealous when people talked about their tiny babies giggling away - in fact I still get a bit of a twinge of it if someone mentions their favourite part of their >6 month old baby is their giggle - silly really But I know what you mean! Does he make eye contact with you yet?

Yes, he makes really good eye contact and will follow my eyes if i move my head above him. He seems to be really responsive and active, so I am not worried about that. It's just everwhere I look I read that by 8 weeks he should be smiling.

My ds3 rarely smiled but then he got to be about 6 months and never stopped - I dont think its any big deal perhaps your baby is just very contented?

He does seem pretty contented, but surely if he was contented he would be more likely to smile more wouldn't he?

well perhaps hes so contented he has no need to smile - he is in no rush to get you coo-ing over him lol he thinks this is as good as it gets ...iyswim?

Honestly, don't worry - all the books said they should be laughing by 12 weeks (one said some babies laugh at 6 weeks!!) and DS didn't laugh until 6 months. Throw away the books and remember that babies have their own timetables

My dd had a traumatic birth and spent time in NICU and didn't smile on timetable either - after a lot of worry she was well and truly smiling by 10 weeks and laughing a week later!!