Babies and Smiling: When Do Infants Begin Smiling?

Whenever my wife and I tell a veteran parent how difficult it can be to care for an infant, they usually say something like, "Yeah, I remember how hard it was...but just wait until the baby starts to smile...it will all be worth it!"

Our daughter just had her 2 month "birthday" and we're still asking when will we see her first smile? We have of course seen her smile, but I think it was just gas or something. She definitely fixes her eyes on us more when we talk to her now, but I don't think she's given us a first real smile yet.

My wife says she saw the baby smile yesterday after her morning nap. But I'm not so sure...it could have been gas. Although I wonder...how would we know? I'm guessing if she smiles consistently when we interact with her, that'll be the real smile.

Experts say that an infant will typically start smiling at 6 to 8 weeks of age. Interestingly, boys apparently tend to smile less than girls. Well, since we have a girl I'm expecting to see that little gummy smile any day now. They also say that interacting with your baby will increase the likelihood of getting that first smile. So lately whenever I come home from work I've been talking to our baby. The funny thing is she looks like she wants to talk or something because she makes her little lips into an "OWWWW" shape. That makes me wonder...when will she start talking? Hmm...do I want her to start talking?

Well, first things first. Let's see if her little smile really does make us feel like it's all worth it!

(The section above was written one day before the section below)

Wow...so the day after my post entitled "When will our baby smile for the first time?" our baby girl smiled! And yes, it was amazing. Ok, so I'm not so sure that it made me forget all the sleepless nights taking care of an infant...but it was still incredible.

I was changing her on her changing mat, which for some reason she really likes, and I was talking to her as usual when she flashed her little gummy smile! It was really cute. I know what you might be thinking...it could have just been gas. That thought did cross my mind for a second. But there was just something about this smile that was different. It was as if she was smiling in response to me, rather than just spontaneously, like if she has gas. Plus, she did it a couple of times as I talked to her.

So now I look forward to seeing her little smile when I get home from work. It's funny how our baby's smile can be so fun and exciting to me. Fun and excitement for my wife and me used to be things like going to Hawaii and scuba diving. I guess our daughter isn't the only one changing and growing...perhaps I am too!

It's crazy to think that just 2 months ago, I was driving home with a newborn baby thinking, "I don't know how to be a father." There have been so many questions...and I'm sure there will be many more. But now seeing her smile...I can't help thinking, "I guess we're doing something right!"

Any comments about when your child first smiled? Please share them.