baby béo smile .
When Do Babies Start Smiling?
You’re eagerly awaiting some positive feedback from your newborn. So when vì babies start phệ smile ? Believe it or not, babies actually start learning and practicing how mập smile in utero, around 33 weeks or even earlier, says Denise Scott, MD, an Oklahoma-based pediatrician and expert with JustAnswer. To that over, it’s not uncommon for parents Khủng see baby smile on day one, adds Debra Goldenring, MD, a pediatrician at Summit Medical Group in Livingston, New Jersey .
It turns out, those initial smiles are actually the newborn smile reflex at play rather than a response bự mạng xã hội stimulation. Reflex smiles occur randomly and are really just a biological way for baby mập start practicing different skills. The smiling reflex is similar phệ many others baby practices in the womb, including sucking, blinking and crying. “ It usually goes away around 2 months — about the same thời gian the mạng xã hội smile develops, ” adds Scott .
Why do babies smile in their sleep?
Sleep is actually one of the most common times phệ see baby smile during the newborn period, notes Scott. Similar lớn how we sometimes make expressions or talk in our sleep, babies make lots of funny faces while sleeping. Thes e smiles usually occur while baby is in active or REM sleep .
Baby may also smile when passing gas ; this could be because it helps them feel better, but no one really knows the exact reason, says Scott. More often than not — especially during the newborn stage — these baby smiles are reflex smiles rather than mạng xã hội ones, Goldenring explains. Of course, that truth doesn’t make those newborn smiles any less adorable !When Do Babies Smile Socially?
Baby’s first reactive smile usually occurs between tám and 12 weeks after a full-term birth. However, every baby develops at their own pace, and it’s not unusual for it phệ take up béo three months for baby lớn smile on purpose, Goldenring says. Regardless of baby’s age, it’s a key milestone in infant development, as it signals that their vision, hearing and nervous system are mature enough bự be able Khủng zero in on your face and eyes, and that they also identify a smile as a way of communicating with the world around them, says Scott .
As for who’s on the receiving kết thúc of that sweet gummy grin — it’s usually those whose faces and voices are most familiar, such as parents, siblings and other caregivers. “ As they get older, baby may also smile in response lớn an unfamiliar voice or face that’s interacting with them, ” Scott says. This friendly phase usually lasts until baby is tám or 9 months and begins bự develop stranger anxiety. At this point, they may start lớn, once again, save smiles for familiar faces and loved ones .
Newborn smile reflex vs. baby’s social smile
Initially, it can be hard béo spot the difference between the newborn smile reflex and baby’s mạng xã hội smile. But duration and engagement màn chơi tend Khủng be the main distinguishers for each type of baby smile. The newborn smile reflex can happen anytime, even when baby is asleep, while baby’s mạng xã hội smile happens when they’re alert and awake. Moreover, reflex smiles tend mập last only a few seconds and often happen when baby isn’t looking at anything in particular ; it can also look lượt thích a lopsided grimace. Keep in mind that not all babies exhibit reflex smiles, and they’re so sánh quick and fleeting, it can be hard mập identify them .
On the other hand, an intentional baby smile will usually last longer and may involve engaging eye liên hệ. In fact, Goldenring suggests looking into baby’s eyes during their smiles lớn discern baby’s engagement màn chơi. “ They want lớn kết nối and will hold it until they get feedback in the size of a smile or eye liên hệ from you, ” she says. Finally, it’s worth noting that a mạng xã hội baby smile will also likely be more symmetrical than a reflex smile .How To Make Baby Smile
Hoping Khủng get more bubbly behavior and sweet reactions from your little one ? Engagement and consistency are key bự encouraging baby’s smile and mạng xã hội development. Some tactics Khủng get baby smiling include :
Smile at baby—a lot: Goldenring suggests showing baby your widest grin whenever possible. “Babies are very good at mimicking. If they see you smile a lot, chances are they’ll try to emulate the expression,” she says. Also try clapping or talking to them, as well as making eye contact when they smile. The more you interact, the more you’ll be able to see unique differences in the types of smiles baby gives.
Be dramatic: Newborns are nearsighted (they don’t have full visual capacity until around 3 months), so make sure they have plenty of opportunities to be up close and face-to-face with you—about a foot away is ideal. According to Scott, babies with more face-to-face interactions tend to smile more. While you’re at it, talk or sing to baby and exaggerate your expressions: Let your eyes get wide, smile broadly and show baby what a happy face looks like.
Try surprising baby: Games like peekaboo are also great. The element of surprise at being confronted with your familiar face can excite baby enough to elicit a baby smile. With that in mind, engage baby with unexpected delights. Introduce toys that squeak or make different noises, offer stuffed animals with various textures or read a book and change your voice for the different characters.
Engage in physical play: If you’re wondering how to make baby smile, start by engaging with them physically. Tickle their belly or give them raspberry kisses as you change their diaper. You can also sit on an exercise ball and gently bounce up and down with baby, or lie on your back on the floor and lift baby up into the air, bringing them down for a sweet kiss. “The more you engage with baby, the more they’ll want to engage with you,” Goldenring says. As baby learns that a smile elicits an even bigger grin from you, they’ll up the ante by adding laughter, coos and other cues that show you they’re your biggest fan.
Another key factor in getting baby bự smile ? Ensuring they’re well rested. Just lượt thích adults, baby won’t smile much if they’re hungry, tired or cranky, explains Scott. It’s also important Khủng remember that every baby is different. “ Some babies are more serious than others and may be more selective with their smiles, ” Goldenring adds. “ This says nothing about whether or not they love you — it’s just a sign of how they’re naturally wired. ” And don’t feel bad if another family thành viên ( or even a stranger at the supermarket ! ) gets that first coveted baby smile. It’s not a sign that your little one likes them better — it’s just their way of showing interest in someone or something .
When Should I Worry About My Baby Not Smiling?
“ Baby will likely be smiling at ba months. But if baby doesn’t smile often, that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with them. Just lượt thích adults, babies have different temperaments, ” says Goldenring. That said, if baby hasn’t smiled in the first few months of life and you’re concerned, try observing their màn chơi of engagement with the world .
Regardless of baby’s smile status, by the giây phút they’re tam months old, they should be “ communicating ” with you, other caregivers and even strangers with eye tương tác and vocal expressions ( for example, making protesting noises when they’re pulled away from the bottle or breast ). If baby isn’t showing these behaviors, talk bự your pediatrician. “ Often, a parent’s concern is that if baby doesn’t smile, it means they’re autistic. But autism isn’t something that’s diagnosed in infancy, ” says Goldenring. Autism and other spectrum disorders generally aren’t identified until a child is 18 months phệ 2 years old. Furthermore, baby might not be smiling because of a vision problem that needs mập be addressed or another unidentified issue, she adds. Whatever the reason, if baby isn’t smiling or engaging, it’ll be something your pediatrician wants bự hear about .
The bottom line ? When it comes lớn making baby smile, you don’t need mập have the comedy chops of a sitcom star. The more smiles you give lớn baby, the more you’ll be rewarded back. If it hasn’t happened yet, know that baby will “ cheese ” for you when they’re good and ready. In the meantime, sit tight and have your camera ready for the big moment .
Watch : 10 Signs Baby Likes YouAbout the experts:
Denise Scott, MD, is a pediatrician with JustAnswer and a pediatric endocrinologist based in Oklahoma with over 30 years of experience. Certified in culinary medicine, Scott also runs the blog Feed Future Health and is the author of Feed Your Child’s Future Health: Prevent Disease before it Starts. She received her medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed her residency at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, with a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health.
Debra Goldenring, MD, is a pediatrician at Summit Medical Group in Livingston, New Jersey, with over 20 years of experience. She received her medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and completed her residency at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Please note : The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended bự, and bởi not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances .
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