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Original poster

Smiling - or lack of..

7 replies

testy1997 · 02/09/2023 08:33

When did your baby start smiling? Mine is 7 weeks and miserable and also won't smile. I have autism in the family and getting worried.

OP posts:
BorrowedThyme · 02/09/2023 08:34

it normally starts 5-10 weeks - my friend's little boy was about 12 weeks when he started smiling last year. He is still a solemn little thing, but quite content.

RettyPriddle · 02/09/2023 08:40

I remember checking nervously for milestones. If you’re near a Sure Start Children’s Centre, go to one of their baby groups and they will be able to advise/reassure you. Also a great place to meet other new parents x

Original poster
testy1997 · 02/09/2023 09:08

I'm a second time mum and my ffrst smiled so early so am just worried!

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MsMoneyPennie · 02/09/2023 20:50

We didn't get anything resembling a smile until 8 weeks, but months later he was a happy little smiler, ready to flirt with anyone and everyone. I was quite stressed and sleep deprived and not smiling at him enough so I would say, make sure you smile lots at them

N8B · 04/07/2024 18:18

@testy1997 Wondered how you are and your LO are doing now? I am currently worrying myself sick being in a similar boat x

Superscientist · 04/07/2024 19:45

N8B · 04/07/2024 18:18

@testy1997 Wondered how you are and your LO are doing now? I am currently worrying myself sick being in a similar boat x

Edited

I am not the OP but my daughter didn't smile until 18-19 weeks. She had other delays too with turning to sounds and looking at you when you spoke.
At 16 weeks she was very behind but at 17 weeks she was diagnosed with severe silent reflux and cmpa and soya allergies. Within a week of high dose omperazole and me going dairy and soya free she started responding to sounds. By 20 weeks she was perfectly average!

We had regular assessments with the HV due to her being an unsettled baby and I had severe pnd and psychosis. It was only when she wasn't smiling and turning to sounds at 16 weeks that it went from "let's keep any eye on it, there's still time" to "let's do something". The HV arranged a hearing test and it prompted the GP and paediatrician to listen to me about potential allergies especially when I showed them a food diary and how much worse she was when I had soya.

There is quite a broad window of time for each milestone and any one milestone on its own that is a bit slow isn't usually a concern. We first raised it at 8 weeks but it was only when the overall picture was one of a baby not thriving that there was a small amount of concern. She's nearly 4 and due to start school in September with no concerns about her being one of the youngest

If you are concerned it might be worth a chat with your HV. It is a service that usually assumes no issue unless you contact them.

N8B · 05/07/2024 12:27

@Superscientist Thank you so much for sharing! This is my DC3, and one would have thought I’d have all the confidence in the world, but strangely feel out of depth as this one is very different from DC1&2. Born just before 38 weeks, emergency C section, short NICU stay, etc. Anxiety definitely getting in the way of clear thinking x

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