Why smiling is good for your childSmiles are the first building blocks of warm, loving and responsive relationships. Show
These relationships are crucial for your baby’s development. Through these relationships, babies and children learn how to think, understand, communicate and show emotions. In fact, giving and receiving smiles are the first steps your child takes in learning how to be social and have good relationships. Smiling at your baby is great for your early relationship with your baby. It fosters bonding and attachment, and it helps your baby feel secure and safe. Also, when your baby gets plenty of smiles, it tells your baby a lot about the world – that it’s a safe, secure place where people are happy, friendly and respond to your baby’s needs. You probably can’t help smiling at your baby. And, of course, seeing your baby smile at you makes you feel good too! Smiles are very important early positive experiences. Smiles teach your child a lot about themselves and their world, when they’re too young to understand words. The science of a smileSmiles and frowns are the first way your baby relates to you. When you and your child smile at each other, it releases chemicals in your bodies that make you both feel happy and safe. On the other hand, if a baby is feeling insecure or stressed, there’s an increase in the stress hormones in the baby’s body. Different chemicals interact with a baby’s nervous system in different ways, and even play a role in how the brain grows and develops. For example, high levels of stress hormones can interfere with a baby’s learning and affect their overall development and wellbeing. No smile is wastedIt’s worth remembering that a simple smile is one building block for your relationship with your baby. Your face is where your baby looks for reassuring, comforting responses and attention. Not every single response you give is vital, but the more often you smile at your baby, the better. Each smile your baby sees sends a great message that your baby is loved and cherished. When do babies smile? The good news: You shouldn’t have to wait too long. Find out when babies smile, plus what it means for their development. Though parents eagerly await all of baby’s important milestones, including finding out what color baby’s eyes will settle on, there’s nothing quite like that first smile. So, when do babies smile? It can be difficult to tell if that hint of a smirk is due to gas or from happiness. Read on to learn when do babies smile, plus:
How Early Can Baby Smile?So, when do babies smile? If you guessed in the womb, you’d be right! Some moms swear baby is flashing a smile in her ultrasound picture, and no, they’re not imagining it—experts say babies learn to smile while still in utero, at about 26 weeks.
When Do Babies Smile on Purpose?So do babies smile right from birth? Sort of. There’s a difference between a reflexive smile (an unconscious upturn of the mouth) and a social smile (knowingly engaging with someone). Some newborns appear to smile, particularly in their sleep or after passing gas. These fleeting grins are most often a reflex that can be attributed to a physical reaction or some other internal signal. Babies don’t actually learn how to smile as an intended response until they are about 2-3 months old. (source) Get free updates on baby’s first year! – Free Updates on First Year [In-article] Sign me up! Does Baby’s Smile Mean He/She Is Happy?Once baby starts smiling intentionally, you might wonder if he/she is trying to tell you something with that toothless grin. Research suggests that a baby’s smile has more to do with developing communication skills and less about expressing an emotional state. What does that mean exactly? Baby’s first smile doesn’t necessarily mean he/she is happy in that moment. Instead, baby is learning about positive interactions.
Another study supports that theory, showing that babies smile to make the person they interact with smile in return. In other words, baby is likely copying your facial expressions to get a reaction from you.
Researchers say these social smiles are important for long-term development because of a thing called mirror neurons, a type of brain cell that fires when two people perform the same action. During those first few months, an infant’s mirror neurons help them learn facial expressions; later they aid in
language development and acquiring other social habits. (source) What Does Baby’s Smile Mean?Sometimes baby gives you a big wide smile, other times all you get is a little smirk. Researchers think there is a reason for the difference: Once baby is about 6 months old, he starts to learn the feelings associated with smiling and the intensity of his smile communicates different emotions. Here, the four types of smiles babies display:
Simple smiles are similar to a smirk—baby might seem hesitant to smile. Duchenne smiles happen most often when baby is focused on an action or a person (like mom tickling her), and play and duplay smiles reflect varying degrees of enjoyment and playfulness. But Baby Still Has More to Learn…Smiling seems like such a simple thing, but those heartwarming first smiles are just the beginning for baby. Around 8 months, babies develop a skill called anticipatory smiling—baby is learning to communicate a positive feeling about an object to another person.
Why It’s So Important to Smile at BabyIt sounds silly, right? Of course you’re smiling at your baby! Once your baby starts to smile, chances are you’re going to do your best to get her to do it over and over again—and that’s exactly what you should be doing. When baby smiles, a parent’s positive reinforcement lets them know that her feelings are important and may ultimately influence self-esteem. Another study indicates smiling, along with eye contact, helps an infant develop empathy. It all makes sense, too. Young babies do not yet understand language, they rely solely on nonverbal cues to learn about the world around them. How to Make Babies SmileIf you want to get baby to smile, try this first:
Once that criteria has been met, play games and make silly faces—you may need to experiment to see what your baby responds to. Here are some fun ways to play with a newborn and, hopefully, make baby smile:
Don’t worry if baby isn’t smiling regularly or only smiles at mom or dad. It can take a while for baby to figure out how to respond to social cues or to warm up to others. Remember: Baby is still adjusting to this big, loud, and bright world. Why Does My Baby Smile in His Sleep?Sleep smiles are some of the most precious moments mom and dad can observe, but why is baby smiling while snoozing? Are they reacting to a good dream or thought?
Both babies and adults experience REM and make noises and facial expressions during sleep, but babies’ sleep cycles are shorter than adults’ cycles, lasting about 45 to 60 minutes. So you are likely to see facial expressions, including baby smiles, when your baby is re-entering this light, active sleep. (Source) When to Talk to Your PediatricianIs your baby elusive with his/her smiles? As parents we want to see those smiles all the time—they provide positive reinforcement that baby is happy and healthy. If your baby is 2 months old and you’re still asking yourself when do babies smile, you shouldn’t worry too much. Like adults, babies vary from person to person. Some babies are naturally more inclined to smile, while others may be more serious. Your pediatrician will ask you whether baby has started to smile socially at her 2 month well visit. But remember: Babies hit milestones at different times, and that’s okay. If baby hasn’t started to smile reactively by about 3 months, your pediatrician may need to rule out any underlying conditions like an eye problem. In rare cases, the lack of a social smile could be an early warning sign for a more serious condition like Autism. You know your baby best. Listen to your gut, and talk to your doctor if baby isn’t displaying signs of social smiles yet or if you have any concerns. How About You?When do babies smile in your household, mama? Share with us in the comments below!
At what age are children better able to recognize emotions?Children are able to recognize certain emotions very well when they are just 6 years old, but become better at recognizing other emotions as they grow older. At all ages, girls seem to have less difficulty than boys in recognizing emotions.
Which stage is the first manifestations of emotional attachment to a mother?The anticipatory period in which a mom fantasizes about the unborn baby, and the tender feelings that develop while caring for the newborn, is a state in which the protective actions, care, and physical and emotional availability of the primary caregivers all lead to the mutual dependence, bonding and attachment that ...
During which stage of cognitive development does a child demonstrate distress at separation from their primary caregiver?Attachment-Related Fears
Separation anxiety is the stage in which a child experiences anxiety, such as fretfulness and wariness, when separated from the primary caregiver. Separation anxiety typically appears when infants are forming attachments around eight months of age and peaks approximately 14-18 months of age.
Is the positive emotional bond that develops between a child and a particular individual?Attachment is the emotional bond between the child and the parent.
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