Question 1

when do babies start smiling back?

Accepted Answer

Social smile: babies typically develop what is known as a "social smile"  between 6-8 weeks of age.

Question 2

how come some babies giggle more than others? my baby is 6 months and is always smiling and babbling but giggling .. not so much.. is this normal?

Accepted Answer

She may just have: A  quiet temperament. She should be able to laugh out loud, blow "raspberries" (" bronx cheer"), fake a cough, & babble strings of consonant-vowel sounds. Look for reciprocal social communication (mimicking your sounds while you're looking at each other), raising her arms to be picked up, the ability to learn behaviors, & stranger anxiety.See the healthy child section at aap.Org. Or firstsigns.Org.

Question 3

for a baby born at 35weeks + 3days who is lifting head, smiling and seems to be reaching milestones on time, does "adjusted" age have to be used?

Accepted Answer

Not after a few...: Not after the first few months. That's because term babies reach their milestones at their own pace, different from one another, so a 35 1/2 week "mild preemie" will reach milestones around the same time that some of the term babies will reach those milestones. However, it's good to tell any new doctors that the baby was a 35 1/2 weeker (until the baby is walking and talking).

Question 4

baby fell off bed and hit back of head. about 28inch high he screamed and cried and then seemed better... he is walking and smiling will he be ok?

Accepted Answer

Yes: No loss of consciousness, no sustained irritability or progressive change such as lethargy are signs that he will be OK. If he becomes suddenly tired or lethargic- consult with your physician.

Question 5

i took a video of my baby, not realising the led light of my phone was on, room was dark and i was aprox 1 metre away from his face the video was 20 secs long. will his eyes be permanently damaged? he is fixing and following and smiling appropriately

Accepted Answer

Follow up: Your pediatrician will continue to test vision and acuity screening usually is possible at age 3. Some offices have digital imaging which is reviewed by Opthalmology.
The baby’s vision most likely will be fine, please discuss with pediatric physician.

Question 6

i have a 4 month old and he has visible scalp veins on both sides of his head they arent really noticeable unless he is crying is this normal or a concern also he is mixed race (black and white) he is smiling and giggling like a normal baby also?

Accepted Answer

: I consider this  normal variation. As the kid gets older the skin will thicken and the veins become less prominent. We actually use these head veins as IV access points whin infants with tiny veins need IVs inserted for treatment.

Question 7

i put baby in stroller and he was screaming so i shacked him aggressively, he stopped crying and fell asleep. whole night he slept and ate well, and this morning and day he was happy, smiling, "talking" etc. i'm scared that maybe hurt him like that?

Accepted Answer

: Babies cry. That is their primary form of communication. Shaking them can trigger internal bleeding in their brain leading to damage or death. You may have escaped it with this encounter, given the normal behavior baby shows, but don't do it again, ever.

Question 8

can you get dimples by smiling?

Accepted Answer

Not really: You can get smile or laugh lines but not dimples which are genetic loss of muscles.

Question 9

why is smiling good for your health?

Accepted Answer

Endorphins: If you are smiling, I hope you are happy. When you are ;your brain releases chemicals (good ones) that improve almost all aspects of health.Factoid: fewer muscles to smile than frown;keep smiling.

Question 10

can smiling too much be a bad thing?

Accepted Answer

Smile: Sometimes. There are insicere smiles, mocking smiles and sardonic smiles. Even tetanus produces a smile that is bad. Generally it is nice to smile though if it is sincere.

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Baby not smiling

A member asked:

When do babies start smiling back?

A member asked:

How come some babies giggle more than others? my baby is 6 months and is always smiling and babbling but giggling .. not so much.. is this normal?

A member asked:

For a baby born at 35weeks + 3days who is lifting head, smiling and seems to be reaching milestones on time, does "adjusted" age have to be used?

A member asked:

Baby fell off bed and hit back of head. about 28inch high he screamed and cried and then seemed better... he is walking and smiling will he be ok?

A member asked:

I took a video of my baby, not realising the led light of my phone was on, room was dark and i was aprox 1 metre away from his face the video was 20 secs long. will his eyes be permanently damaged? he is fixing and following and smiling appropriately

A member asked:

I have a 4 month old and he has visible scalp veins on both sides of his head they arent really noticeable unless he is crying is this normal or a concern also he is mixed race (black and white) he is smiling and giggling like a normal baby also?

A member asked:

I put baby in stroller and he was screaming so i shacked him aggressively, he stopped crying and fell asleep. whole night he slept and ate well, and this morning and day he was happy, smiling, "talking" etc. i'm scared that maybe hurt him like that?

A member asked:

Can you get dimples by smiling?

A member asked:

Why is smiling good for your health?

A member asked:

Can smiling too much be a bad thing?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?