A baby's first social smile usually appears by the end of theirsecond month. That's one reason why, as a pediatrician, seeing babies and their parents at the 2-month-old checkup is always a great pleasure.
The exhausting days when they were newly home from the hospital are behind them. The baby's fussy, crying-for-no-good-reason periods are becoming less frequent. The parents and baby have finally started to develop a rhythm to their days and nights. Now awake for longer periods, babies start to communicate in the best way they know how–through their smiles.
At this milestone checkup, I will ask parents, "Is she smiling yet?" and they often can't resist some show-and-tell. They may smile at the baby and gently croon or tickle her. The baby then obliges by smiling back with a happy wiggle. They may even coo, another social skill babies usually start working on this month. Sometimes I wonder how parents get anything done around the house with all this delightful back-and-forth going on.
"Oh, she's been smiling like that since Day 1."
Often, parents will remark that they've seen the baby smile at them practically since birth. I'm never going to disagree with a proud parent on that point. However, it's probably not exactly true. Yes, there are some adorable grimaces and grins that parents notice in baby's first month. Where do these come from? We don't quite know. It often seems like the baby is responding to some internal signal, like gas or hunger.
Those primitive, often random grins are indeed different from the social smile that we'll see weeks later. Whenever the parents of a 2-week-old infant say that their baby is already smiling, I simply tell them, "Just wait, it gets even better."
Why is the social smile different?
Babies spend more of their second month awake and paying attention to all they see and hear around them. They learn that their family cares for them when they are hungry or fussy or tired. They likely feel excited and loved when people smile at them, and one day their own smile breaks out in return. Then, the captivating "smile talk" begins.
I often borrow a tactic from pediatrician and author T. Berry Brazelton, who wrote about watching babies try to catch their parent's attention during office visits. The parent may be cradling the baby while talking to me. Meanwhile, the baby watches the parent's face intently, as if waiting for their chance to engage.The baby may vocalize or wriggle around in their parent's arms.
Then, when the parent pauses our adult conversation to look down, the baby will break out into a proud, wide smile. Her smile caught her parent's attention, and she got a warm smile back in return. In this way, the baby starts to feel good that she knows how to control her own little world in other ways besides crying and fussing.
What if it seems like my baby is smiling past me, like at the lamp or the curtain?
Some babies may not be ready at first to watch a parent's face for a long time. It may be just too overwhelming for them to look directly into their parent's eyes. By looking just past a parent's face, a baby still is learning about the parent's touch, gentle voice, and facial expressions. With more practice, they will be able to hold their gaze for longer periods.
What's so important about all this back-and-forth smiling?
In addition to all the warm fuzzies the social smile brings, it is also an important part of a baby's social and emotional development. When you reliably respond to your baby's cues about when they are ready for play and when they need a break, you let them know that their thoughts and feelings are important.
Because a baby's smile gets such a predictable response from a parent, they start to feel confident that they can exert some control over their world. The child's self-esteem starts to grow, even at this young age.
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FAQs
By about 6 to 12 weeks, your baby will begin to smile in response to you (social or "real" smiles). Until then, sweet-looking grins are automatic reflexive smiles in response to gas and other bodily functions. You can tell the difference between a reflex and real smile by the timing and duration.
Can babies smile at 4 weeks old? ›
It may be possible for your baby to smile at 4 weeks but usually only while he's sleeping. This is called a reflex smile. Your little one may not flash a true smile until about 6 weeks or a little older, and these true smiles happen when he's awake and alert.
What age do babies start smiling and laughing? ›
When can babies smile, giggle, and laugh? Babies tend to show their first real (not gas-related) smile around 6 to 8 weeks of age. After that, you may hear some giggling sounds that will eventually turn into laughter about a month after that first smile.
Can a baby smile at 5 weeks? ›
He says that by 4 to 5 weeks, babies will occasionally smile, but this will increase in frequency as you get close to the 6-week to 8-week mark. Of course, all babies develop at different rates, so if your baby shows no signs of smiling yet, don't worry. You will start seeing glimmers of that first smile in no time!
When can babies hold their head up? ›
Of course, some infants may start slightly turning and lifting their heads as early as one month of age. “Significant control and the ability to hold their head up without support typically develop \between] 3 to 5 months of age,” says Gary Reschak, MD, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group.
Why are you not supposed to tickle baby's feet? ›
The child will be uncomfortable. Moreover, the baby is helpless and will be unable to express whether he/she likes or dislikes it. Excessive tickling can also cause chest and stomach pain, which will require immediate medical attention.
Do one month olds recognize mom? ›
Some studies suggest babies may be able to recognize their parents' faces within days of birth, but others say it could take up to two months. Your baby's vision will continue to improve throughout her first year. By the time she's 8 months old, she'll be able to recognize you from across the room.
When can I kiss my newborn? ›
We need to understand that kissing on lips is not safe at any age, with risk associated it is better to avoid. If you are not suffering from any illness like cold cough, flu like symptoms then you are permitted to express your love by kissing on forehead or other body parts.
When can babies see clearly? ›
4 Months. Your baby's vision is clear, and now they can see farther away. They still prefer looking at you up closely. At this age, an infant uses both eyes (binocular vision) and is working on their depth perception.
When to start tummy time? ›
Most babies can start tummy time sessions a day or two after they are born. Babies benefit from having two or three short (3- to 5-minute) tummy time sessions each day. As your baby gets older, you can have longer, more regular sessions throughout the day.
The witching hour is a time when an otherwise content baby is extremely fussy. It typically occurs daily between 5:00 pm and 11:00 pm. It can last a few minutes to a couple of hours. For most babies, the witching hour starts to occur around 2-3 weeks and peaks at 6 weeks.
How long should a 1 month old sleep between feedings? ›
For the first two months of your baby's life, sleep will come in many short bursts between feedings. Your baby will sleep for about 30 minutes to three hours at a time.
How long can a 1 month old go without eating at night? ›
Newborns generally sleep for two to three hours before waking to eat, day and night. As they get older, babies are usually able to sleep for increasingly longer stretches of time at night without waking to eat. Between the age of 2 to 3 months old, healthy babies are often able to sleep for six hours without feeding.
When can a baby hold their own bottle? ›
The Bottom Line. If you're wondering when do babies hold their own bottle, it's helpful to know that many babies are able to hold a bottle and/or a cup at around 6 to 8 months old. If your little one has acquired this skill, or is working on it, be sure not leave your baby unattended with a bottle or cup.
At what age does a baby roll over? ›
Babies start rolling over as early as 4 months old. They will rock from side to side, a motion that is the foundation for rolling over. They may also roll over from tummy to back. At 6 months old, babies will typically roll over in both directions.
When can babies sit on their own? ›
Like all developmental milestones, sitting is a progressive skill. As your baby gets stronger and learns to balance their weight, they'll be able to sit for longer. Most babies can sit independently for several minutes by about 6 to 9 months of age and get into a sitting position by themselves by 9 months.
What can my baby do at 4 weeks old? ›
You might notice that baby at 4 weeks old can lift their head a bit and can now move their head from side to side when doing tummy time. You'll also likely see them doing more with their hands as they ball them up into fists or bring their hands to their mouth.
Can babies laugh at 4 weeks? ›
What is the earliest a baby will laugh? It's common for babies to start laughing around 3 to 4 months of age; however, each baby is unique and develops at their own rate, so some may laugh earlier or later than 3 to 4 months.
Can my 4 week old see me? ›
A 4-week-old baby can see approximately a foot in front of them, according to the AAP. Your baby's hearing and vision have also reached other important milestones that include: Being able to focus on things 8-12 inches from their face (the same distance of your own face holding your baby in your arms)
