I'm Worried...

[radiogirlgr]

Hi girls. Please let me know what your experience has been with this topic-I'm worried about Spencer.

Spencer is 6 weeks today and I called the pediatrician to voice some concerns. Spencer has not really started smiling yet. I can 'sometimes' coax a little smile out of him but it is a lot of work. He isn't smiling spontaneously on his own yet... I've done some reading and searching on the web, and what I've found is that babies usually start smiling anywhere between 4 weeks and 4 months-and it's all considered 'normal'.

I'm also concerned about his eye contact with me. If I am walking him and talking to him, he will watch my face, but most of the time, I find that he's looking elsewhere-at lights, a toy, whatever. He doesn't make a lot of eye contact when nursing either, and that worries me too.

What he does do is seem to 'want me' most of the time. He doesn't like to be put down, which is really okay with me because I love to cuddle him.

Here's what the pediatrician said-that there's not much to worry about at this point. He said that he would do a good evaluation at his two month appointment. That the fact that he loves to be held and snuggled is a good sign.

Anyhow, sorry to ramble, I'm a worrywart by nature. I'm just hoping that you ladies can share your experience and timelines with eye contact and smiling with me. Can you put my mind at ease? I feel like DS1 was hitting these milestones early-in fact he hits most milestones early, so it's hard to have one that may possibly (hopefully) just be a late bloomer?

Thanks in advance,
Megan

[BirthFree]

Ahhh, I've had 2 late-bloomers so I hear you. DS1 didn't smile much anyways... but maybe he started to at 8w? It was certainly a while past 5w for sure. DS2 smiled at 6w, more often than our first.

None of my kids really like to look at me or whoever is holding them, until they are a few months old (I want to say 2m). They are interested in everything around them. At 5w (today) DS3 will look at me but almost instantly look to the side of my head (I'm thinking it's b/c my dark hair makes a cool contrast to the light walls and he's more interested in that than my eyes). I figure when he quiets to listen to my voice, or turns to hear his brothers better or whatever - that is engagement, even if it doesn't look like how I would wish (ie. him admiring my face and showering me with smiles ). He still isn't smiling either - but I know it will be soon.

I've had one very delayed little boy, one slightly delayed little boy - so I don't know the meaning of on-time-milestones no matter what the topic is (well, DS1 had the amazing ability of fine-motor SUPER fast). Still mine are delayed. But you know, they hit their milestones, just maybe near the end of 'normal' - to me, at this point anyways, that's okay.

I wish I had one that didn't cause me worry at all, but boys in particular are known for being a bit slower on the milestones and maybe my family is even more so.

BUT, if you are concerned, follow your heart - it is AMAZING the truth that can hold. My first son ended up having cerebral palsy (it's mild) and I knew from about 6m on that something was up, but I could never put my finger on it - and now I know that my heart was right. Now there can also be the worry just because it's different, but you have to figure out which is which.

Sorry I'm rambling today... I've had a few phone calls in the midst of writing this so it's disjointed.

[veganf]

Honestly, he sounds totally normal to me. I feel priviledged to have a smiler this time, but that hasn't always been the case. I don't remember any smiles in the first few months with my first, he was a very serious little guy. My second started smiling at 2+ months after his colic stopped. It really does vary.

My first wanted to be carried all the time too. #2 couldn't have cared less, until he was older. And this one is in between.

I'm glad your pediatrician sounds relaxed about it.

[snuffles]

My babe is not smiling yet either. He is a little over 3 weeks.

[2 in August]

My little guy is 7wks and he just started smiling. They are still random too. Although there have been 2 that seemed more purposeful, but it's probably me just wanting it. He tends to make eye contact only when he feels like it. It's like the pp said, it's more like he looks at the side of my face or at the light. Ds also far prefers me to anyone else. Which dh is kind of upset about. I think your little man sounds right on target. Just keep an eye on him, but I bet in a few weeks he'll be right where you want him to be now.

[~PurityLake~]

Sophia is nearly 5 weeks. Her first awake smiles were a little over a week ago. (Before that she did a lot of smiling in her sleep only). She sometimes looks at me while nursing, but usually just spaces out, or looks at lights, which is totally normal.

[Amila]

My DD is 9 weeks, and just started to really smile like 1.5 weeks ago. She also LOVES to stare at lights. I wouldn't worry!

[NewAtThis]

My 7 week dd has yet to smile at me or engage beyond a little eye contact, which is sporadic at best. I was worried too, so I'm glad to read the posts here. I just keep smiling at her and hoping every time that it will be this time when she smiles back!

[taradt]

My little guy smiles at the breast or his sister, this past week he has been smiling at me (he will be 8 weeks soon).
Kienan is also much more interested in looking at the world then me, he will if there is nothing cooler to look at

tara