New parents trying to deal with the responsibilities that come with having a baby will see an emotional reward when their babies start to smile at them. The first smiles from a baby can be quite heartwarming, but true smiles will not come until later. However, it will not be much time before your baby will use smiling and other body gestures as part of their regular communication. For the next few days parents will usually try to get their babies to smile again, especially if that means we can show our friends and family the baby’s new milestone. So when do babies start smiling rather than just making reflexive smiles?

When Do Babies Start Smiling?

Babies will often exhibit their first smile between 6-8 weeks of age. However it is not uncommon for your baby to smile before or after this time period either. Your baby is looking for ways to communicate with you from the moment they are born and they are capable of learning quickly. Babies will make their own facial expressions in the womb and will also continue to make facial expressions after they are born. Immediately following birth your baby will start trying to mimic your facial expressions. So if you note that your child is watching you closely, they may respond if you smile at them.

Some babies are not ready to smile until they start developing more coordination. They may not be interested in interacting with others, especially if they are fussy or tend to cry. If they are not feeling well or experiencing stomach aches, it is more important to keep them calm than worrying about their facial expressions. Even in these tense moments you may find times when your baby is examining your face, so try to smile during these moments. They may not mimic you at this point, but it will help them to relax and eventually they will respond with their own grins.

How Can You Differentiate Babies’ Reflex Smiles and Their First Real Smile?

1. Reflex Smiles

Babies will start reflex smiling as soon as they are born, even smiling in their sleep. According to experts this is a survival instinct such as sucking or rooting that is believed to make the child more appealing to you. This helps keep babies safer. There are many mothers that cannot tell if their child’s grins are genuine or just a reflex to all of the stimuli their bodies are experiencing. During the early weeks of your child’s life, do not read too much into their facial expressions as reflex smiles continue approximately through the first two months of life.

2. Real Smiles

Sometime around 6-8 weeks your child will start to develop a “learned” smile that is a reaction to outside stimuli. This smile will last a bit longer than the reflex smile and you will be able to see their reaction in their eyes. When you react to the baby’s facial expression, the baby will often smile more brightly hoping to get you to repeat your facial expression.

It can be difficult to determine if it is a reflex or a learned smile, but if it is genuine, your baby will use their whole face and eyes to communicate, especially if they are truly overjoyed. Do not worry if your baby is already eight weeks old and you have not seen them smile yet. All babies develop at different stages. Your baby may be perfectly happy even if they do not flash you a smile for another few weeks.

How Can You Make Your Babies Smile?

After knowing when do babies start smiling, the next step is to make your baby smile!

Activities	Descriptions
Peek-a-boo! I See you!	Hide yourself behind your hands or a piece of furniture and then pop out to surprise them. This will typically elicit a smile or two.
Blowing raspberries	Babies love to be touched, so gently blowing raspberries on their belly, feet or hands will often make them smile. After a while, your baby may even try to mimic the raspberry sound.
Pretending to eat those fingers and toes	Babies love when their parents pretend to nibble the neck, fingers and toes. Some children still appreciate this game as old as two.
Blowing bubbles	Babies are attracted to bubbles and will often become fixated on someone blowing them. Many will smile and try to reach out for the bubbles as they appear.
Bring in the family	Your baby may get bored with the same stimulation all day. If you bring in a sibling or other relative, this can bring out a whole new smile.
Silly and exaggerated movements	The more exaggerated you make your own facial expressions, the more likely it is that your babies will respond to them. This will make them feel as though they are the center of attention and make them smile.
Favorite characters	A cheerful companion such as a teddy bear or other brightly colored stuffed animal, especially those with a built-in song or talking mechanism is likely to bring a smile to your babies’ faces.
Songs and music	Babies love music, especially if it is incorporated into their regular routine. If you find that a child enjoys a particular song, make a point of repeating it.
Bring in the family pet	Similar to your babies’ favorite characters, babies often respond very positively to pets. Babies love to watch and attempt to interact with animals and this will usually make them smile.
Imitate animal noises	Babies will often giggle if you make animal noises. This is a common trick for parents trying to get their babies to smile at the camera.
Tickle time	Gentle tickling is the key to getting a smile from your babies. A gentle, playful tickle lets them know that their caregiver is near and reinforces the fact that they can count on you, which will help them relax and smile.

Please see this video and learn more about how you can make your babies smile: