What To Know About When Babies Start Smiling
- playing a game of peek-a-boo may push that smiley button on.
Be careful not to overdo it though. "Babies are developing the ability to regulate their emotions and may look away if they are getting too much stimulation," says David Elkind, PhD, child psychologist and author of Parenting on the Go: Birth to Six, A to Z. Give your kiddo a little breather and try again later.
Once your baby does grin, they'll do it again and again. Why shouldn't they? When they grace you with a smile, your eyes brighten, you ooh and ahh, and you reciprocate with a beaming smile of your own. They dig that!
What Comes After a Baby Smiles?
As your baby gets more smiling practice and enjoyment from seeing
people's reactions, they'll start adding sound effects, Dr. Gettleman says. "It will start with cooing at first, and then lead to small giggles and waves of giggling," he says. By 5 months, your baby may surprise you with full-out belly laughs and squeals of excitement. Those first laughs may happen sooner or later on too.5
What To Do if Your Baby Isn't Smiling Yet
Though you're likely anxious to see your little darling's smile, a lack of early grins doesn't necessarily mean your baby is unhappy or that something is wrong. Babies will hit this milestone at different times, and some may need a few extra weeks. But if your baby isn't smiling by 3 months, mention it to their health care provider.
