When do babies smile?
A Pediatrician Weighs in on the Milestones Your Baby Should Reach Each Month
Six weeks after giving birth, I finally got a smile from my newborn baby girl. For over a month, I lived in an endless cycle of feedings, diaper changes, and power naps. The smile jolted me out of my stupor, and I finally felt like, hey, this parenting thing could be fun.
I'll also admit I felt a sense of relief. This "social smile" (as opposed to a reflexive milk-drunk smile) is an important milestone for newborns. Subconsciously, I had worried that she wouldn't meet the mark. Knowing that many more milestones lay on the horizon, I told myself that I needed to change my attitude. So long as my daughter's pediatrician said everything was on track, I shouldn't pay too much attention to how she progressed. Instead, I should look at lists of recommended milestone as something to look forward. Each month, I would check out a list to see what exciting new "trick" my daughter would learn. And I wouldn't worry too much if it took her a little longer.
"Most children are normal and will thrive in a loving, happy home."
Dr. Robin Jacobson, a pediatrician at NYU Langone Pediatric Associates, said that's a healthy approach. "The best source of developmental milestones is your pediatrician," she told me. Dr. Jacobson admitted that it can be scary for a parent when you see a child younger than yours speaking or walking better. But, she said, parents must remember all children are different. "Parents hear a lot about autism and developmental delay," she told me, "but most children are normal and will thrive in a loving, happy home."
Even if you have a laid-back attitude about your child's development, it's still nice to know when you can expect a new advancement. So Dr. Jacobson helped break down the most exciting milestones that happen in the first year of life. Read on for her insight.
