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Why do newborns smile?

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“In fact, babies smile when they’re asleep from birth,” says Dr. Daniel Messinger. Baby smiles at 0-1 months Neonatal smiling occurs from birth to one month of age and shows no emotional content. read more

Often newborns will smile in their sleep. Sometimes a smile in the early weeks of life is simply a sign that your little bundle is passing gas. But starting between 6 and 8 weeks of life, babies develop a "social smile" -- an intentional gesture of warmth meant just for you. This is an important milestone. Your pediatrician will ask you whether you've seen your baby's grin at her two-month well child visit. So be on the lookout. read more

Daniel Messinger, a professor of psychology at the University of Miami, suspects that these first smiles teach infants the positive associations attached to a smile that we adults already feel. Learning to smile—and learning what's meant by a smile—is a process, much like learning how to walk. read more

When he graces you with a smile, your eyes brighten, you ooh and ahh, and you reciprocate with a beaming smile of your own. read more

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