Pure Parents

Question:

I am a new mom and fairly confident, but our son is  10 weeks old now and is hardly smiling yet. Just occassionally. We spend every minute with him cooing, cuddling and reassuring him that all his needs are met. He was a colic baby for a month and then on medication 2 weeks, but has now beenoff the medication for 10 days and appears to be having no further colic attacks.  He is alert, responsive and attentive in every other way, but just seems disinterested in being affectionate to us or in smiling. Also he is not reaching out for things yet. No books address this "late smiling problem" and I wondered if others have had children who did not smile readily or on que and what the outcome was.Worried Mom.

Response:

I wouldn’t worry; Jessica didn’t truly smile until 4 months old and a friend’s baby is 3 months and not smiling. Mommy2J – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I am a new mom and fairly confident, but our son is  10 weeks old now and >is hardly smiling yet. Just occassionally. We spend every minute with him >cooing, cuddling and reassuring him that all his needs are met. He was a >colic baby for a month and then on medication 2 weeks, but has now beenoff >the medication for 10 days and appears to be having no further colic >attacks.  He is alert, responsive and attentive in every other way, but >just seems disinterested in being affectionate to us or in smiling. Also >he is not reaching out for things yet. No books address this "late smiling >problem" and I wondered if others have had children who did not smile >readily or on que and what the outcome was.Worried Mom.

Response:

Hi, children born of the same parents different development. I wouldn’t worry the fact that your baby is happy and responsive and making eye contact is the key. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Lynn: >Maybe he is just destined to be the quiet, wise, contemplative type, not >given to gaudy affectation?  (Think Abe Lincoln, not Bill Clinton).  :-) >Seriously, though, please remember that there is a *huge* range for all >normal developmental milestones.  If you start tormenting yourself this >early, you’ll wear yourself out for the long road ahead … >–Janet >Triplets  (10/21/96)

Response:

Lynn: Maybe he is just destined to be the quiet, wise, contemplative type, not given to gaudy affectation?  (Think Abe Lincoln, not Bill Clinton).  :-) Seriously, though, please remember that there is a *huge* range for all normal developmental milestones.  If you start tormenting yourself this early, you’ll wear yourself out for the long road ahead … –Janet Triplets  (10/21/96)

Response:

I would say don’t worry as long as she at least seems interested in you. Does she make eye contact, ect…..? My first two boys didn’t smile for the longest time, several months it seems. And I practically turned cartwheels for them trying to get them to smile, but no. They are both very serious people now, but otherwise normal. I didn’t smile until I was four months old, and my mother thought I must be retarded, but I"m fine—–but very serious person in general. Amanda

Response:

> I am a new mom and fairly confident, but our son is  10 weeks old now and > is hardly smiling yet. Just occassionally. We spend every minute with him > cooing, cuddling and reassuring him that all his needs are met. He was a > colic baby for a month and then on medication 2 weeks, but has now beenoff > the medication for 10 days and appears to be having no further colic > attacks.  He is alert, responsive and attentive in every other way, but > just seems disinterested in being affectionate to us or in smiling. Also > he is not reaching out for things yet. No books address this "late smiling > problem" and I wondered if others have had children who did not smile > readily or on que and what the outcome was.Worried Mom. >Hi Lynn. Sorry, can’t give you any personal advise, but I thought you

 might want to check out this great site. A licensed board certified psychiatrist(and mom)answers questions on parenting, children and family issues. Its really nice. Its at>http://welovekids.com/askaparentdoc.htm< Good luck with your new born. SJ.

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