The first time your newborn smiles is a fascinating moment. Babies are not skilled enough to smile just yet. Their facial muscles need a certain period for them to develop, and to do this, the infant needs a mentally stimulating environment. A smiling baby expresses happiness. The expression is a vital part of the learning process during these different early years, and it has a tremendous influence on how you interact with her throughout life.

When does newborn start to smile?

Newborns smile reflexively before birth, and they continue to do so after birth. Around two months after birth, newborn reflex smiles usually stop. Reflex smiles typically disappear around two months after birth, right around the time when a baby’s first natural smile is expected. A baby will start smiling and cooing at about six weeks old. This is when the baby can hear and see what is going on in the world around them. It develops their motor skills, which are necessary for interacting with people. In general, reflex smiles tend to be shorter and more random, and they tend to occur while the baby is sleeping or tired. On the other hand, a natural smile appears in response to something, such as seeing her mom or hearing a sibling, and the smile is consistent.

When to expect a social smile from your baby?

Between 6 to 10 months (until at least 8 kgs): Babies can recognize their mother and other adults as social beings since they use physical contact for coordination. Self-awareness of one’s own body develops through pure observation, allowing emotional communications between oneself and others. There are commonly coos associated with interest & curiosity on both sides, from hearing a happy voice tone or seeing familiar human gestures. The visual perception apparatus of the infant begins to develop, allowing them to see and recognize familiar people, objects and events. This allows social comfort in the company of others – their “social smile”.

WHAT MILESTONES COME BEFORE SMILING?

Baby, watch you and make brief periods of eye contact before she starts smiling. Baby’s eyes will become more coordinated and work together as she develops. By two months, you’ll see them transferring eye movement from one side to the middle, and by two months, they’ll be able to go back and forth because their eyes and heads are coordinated.

How to encourage a smile?

You still haven’t seen your baby’s smile? here are some tips

• Talk to her often (make sure you give her time to respond), make eye contact frequently, and smile at her.
• Sing a baby-friendly song.
• Make crazy faces and noises, imitate animal sounds and behaviours, blow raspberries on your baby’s belly, and play peek-a-boo to make her smile.

When do newborns makes a cooing sound?

The social smile is born. If a baby keeps on smiling, she’ll keep her newly-found confidence through adulthood! The baby will start cooing after smiling (making speech sounds similar to vowels). 10 months (at least 20 kg) is the best time for babies to learn about emotions through cooing. Meaning of Cooing is playful noises.

 Besides crying, Baby’s first sound production typically occurs between six and eight weeks of age. Your baby will still cry the most when communicating with you at first, but he will then start using other sounds to communicate. It’s when your baby begins to make ‘cooing’ noises along with crying. Babies make various types of sounds at this stage. When spoken to babies, he makes sounds and coos—mimicking sounds and facial expressions. It will take your little genius some time until he can talk, beginning with vowel sounds, sighs, coos, grunts, and gurgles. Gurgles meaning with the back of the throat, make a joyful sound.

When Should I Contact the Doctor?

  You should still see your paediatrician if your baby doesn’t coo or make sounds by the end of the fourth month. It would help if you also looked for these signs:

• Does not respond to loud noises.
• Doesn’t coo or make any noises during conversations.
• Imitates no sounds or facial expressions.