worried baby not smiling

[colour23]

Hello all

My son is 16 weeks old and as yet has not started to social smile and doesn't have much facial expression or eye contact.

Does anyone have any experience, or know of any other bubs with this type of developmental delay and what the outcomes were? Good or bad.

Please help.

Worried Mum

[li'l mac]

Have you asked your CHN? THat's probably a good place to start since they are more objective than other parents who can only comment on their own child's milestones. When you say he hasn't started to social smile, do you mean he doesn't smile back at you/other people specifically or that he doesn't smile when engaging in fun type things? Don't be afraid to ask a health professional, I have always been told that where babies are concerned, you just need to know and shouldn't stay quite if you're worried. Good luck!

[colour23]

thanks for your reply.

he smiles in his sleep but does not smile in response to anyone or anything. i thought i saw him smile once but i think i just wanted it so bad i imagined it because it has never happened again.

i will take your advice though and go check things out with the professionals, i was just hoping for someone to tell me they had experienced the same thing.

[Miss Tazar]

I agree check with your Dr or CHN, just to rule anything out - is his hearing OK?
Otherwise, he might be saving his smiles for special times...
All babies develop differently, my little girl had teeth at 4 months, but isn't rolling, crawling or babbling much at 10 months old.
I refuse to worry about what everyone else's bubs are doing (mothers groups are great but they can get competitive!)
Trust your instincts, if he seems fine to you - then you would know, otherwise check with your Doc, Paed etc..

[Chickadee]

I'd also recommend talking to your CHN and possibly a paediatrician. I think there could be many reasons why your little guy isn't smiling yet, many of which are just of the "wait and he'll do it" variety. But there could be other medical reasons so it would be good to get those ruled out.

I don't know all the details but a mum in my mother's group had a little boy who had a problem with one of his facial muscles and so couldn't smile. He did however track people with his eyes and face and had some expressions just with his eyes. I believe there is surgery that can be done to correct it when they get older, and in the meantime she just needed to be aware of it as it would also affect his ability to pronounce words.

[SassyMummy]

Perhaps your baby has a more serious personality type. I'd assume that if he's smiling in his sleep, then he probably has decent facial muscles (unlike the bub in MarthaM's post)...but there COULD be a problem so check with a dr/CHN/paed.

I did read in one of my baby books though, that some babies just aren't the smiling type. Either they don't find things funny or they just don't feel the urge to crack a smile. Could be the case with your baby...who knows.

[vanillabean]

I am sure everything will be ok, but best to check vision/hearing with ECN or paediatrician.

[Miaow]

Perhaps your baby has a more serious personality type.......I did read in one of my baby books though, that some babies just aren't the smiling type.

EJs not really a 'smiley' baby she will sometimes at people but its rare if she doesnt know them. One friend said she seemed to analyse everything and everyone. When she's happy though she'll now smile alot more than she did when she was younger.