Serious Baby

RosesRRed · December 2011

I cannot count how many people have commented about Kyle being such a serious baby. It really bothers me when I am shopping and someone comes up and tries to get Kyle to smile. He just stares at them like they are crazy and the person always ends up saying he is so serious.

He observes a lot and when he warms up to a new place or person can be a little goof. He does make you work at making him laugh that is for sure and I guess he does not fit the stereotype of a giggly, smiling baby but he is happy. I guess it just bothers me that I am starting to think people view a serious baby as a negative thing because my LO is perfect in my eyes.

Anyone else have a "serious baby"? Does it bother you when people make comments like that?

KelleyA · December 2011

My first was a more serious baby, much harder to please and to get to smile than my second. She has most definitely grown out of that as time has gone on. She was never shy, just inquisitive and observant. My second is crazy, giggly, cracks herself up and smiles for anyone. They're all different and stereotypes are dumb.

Jena503 · December 2011

My 4yo was a serious baby. She did smile, but rarely in public because she was always a little overwhelmed by everything going on around her. Especially if there was someone trying to get in her face.

People say all sorts of stupid things, don't worry about it.

Suzi-G- · December 2011

I wouldn't waste time or energy getting bent out of shape over people's observations. Some kids are more serious than others, some are more out going. Some are quiet and calm, some act like they had a 6 pack of Coca Cola for breakfast. Some are bigger and some are smaller than normal. Same goes for adults; people are different and people are going to notice and comment on differences.

I think this is one of those instances where you just have to change your reaction, instead of taking it as a negative, come up with a response that puts a positive spin on it. For instance you could say "Oh yes, he's very serious when we're out in new places, he's always observing everything going on, he never misses a thing!" Or, "yes, he's very serious around new people, he needs awhile to size you up and decide whether or not he likes you!"

Red_Dahlia · December 2011

I've told people that they have a serious baby - I guess I never thought of it as a negative thing. One of my BFF's has a baby that is just a few weeks older than DD. The last time we got together he was SO funny - he would furrow his brow and look at Helen like what in the world are you shrieking about? It cracked us up, and I honestly never thought it would be insulting. Quiet, serious, happy, calm, energetic, etc. babies are all different. And if anything - I think I subconsciously think that serious babies are smarter.

I wouldn't take people's comments to heart.

jlmarshall · December 2011

YES! And then a friend's mother said, "Oh, look at him thinking about making money already." And that little comment helped me change my mindset and became my go-to response!

alisa1228 · December 2011

jlmarshall:
YES! And then a friend's mother sa id, "Oh, look at him thinking about making money already." And that little comment helped me change my mindset and became my go-to response!

I was hoping you'd respond!

ayersfam20 · December 2011

Yes, Collin is a very serious baby! He is so happy and smiles all of the time, but rarely laughs - even at home. That's why it's such a nice thing to hear him giggle, it's rare. People at stores, etc. always try to get him to smile and he never will. He just stares at them trying to take it all in. I always say he is such a hard thinker, you can just see the wheels turning and tell that he's concentrating very hard.

DD was all giggles and smiles so it's funny to have another personality. I'm a lot more bubbly and outgoing than my husband so we just always say that DS is more serious like his Daddy. I wouldn't take it to heart.

SigmundsGirl · December 2011

This is Evan exactly. My MIL would always ask if he ever smiles and we try to get us to make him smile. She would ask if there was something wrong with him or say "he must be sleepy" even when he just woke up. I always wanted to say, "maybe he just doesn't like you" but I was able to hold my tongue.

He has a great personality, but he doesn't smile constantly. His daycare teachers used to comment on it some, but they realized how much he was taking in and would try teaching/showing him more things. At that point they started getting the visual responses they wanted. They just had to work for it. I stopped letting people's comments bother me because I realized they were actually trying to get Evan's approval. :-)

CareBear01 · December 2011

YES! DS was always very observant and didn't smile a lot. People would comment that he never smiled in pictures. :-/ It made me feel bad even though I know he was just a regular happy baby. I call him our "studier". He likes to evaulate the situation.

He's a little more relaxed now that he is older. It's still hard for him to get to smile in pics, so when I do get one, I usually post that one in our blog so people stop commenting on how "serious" he is! lol.

rayskit10 · December 2011

My 1st was super serious. It was cute. I think you're reading too much in to it because you, yourself, probably see serious as a negative.

RosesRRed · December 2011

Rayskit10, I am serious most of the time and I have found that most people do not view it as a positive attribute. I just think when children are very little everyone assumes they should be giggling and smiling all the time and Kyle does not fit stereotype.

TexasPaige · December 2011

I feel like strangers always think they have to say something about a baby...the hair bow, the red hair, the big cheeks, the crazy hair, the blue eyes, etc. With my first, it was either the cheeks or that he never missed a meal. His serious face is probably just the first thing that they notice, so they choose to comment on it. But I'm sure they also think he is stinking adorable. People just like to comment on babies. Try not to let it get to you!

SageBeginnings · December 2011

I call them introspective or 'old souls'.

We have an old soul in our family. They tend to be deep, observant, and intuitive. Take it as a good thing.

lauroura · December 2011

SigmundsGirl:

This is Evan exactly. My MIL would always ask if he ever smiles and we try to get us to make him smile. She would ask if there was something wrong with him or say "he must be sleepy" even when he just woke up. I always wanted to say, "maybe he just doesn't like you" but I was able to hold my tongue.

He has a great personality, but he doesn't smile constantly. His daycare teachers used to comment on it some, but they realized how much he was taking in and would try teaching/showing him more things. At that point they started getting the visual responses they wanted. They just had to work for it. I stopped letting people's comments bother me because I realized they were actually trying to get Evan's approval. :-)

ditto.

Mrs Blake Hicks · December 2011

My daughter has been a serious baby since I was pregnant with her. Seriously, I could poke my belly and she'd let me know that it wasn't cool and she wanted to be left alone! She'd even scoot towards my back and stay absolutely still if she heard someone she didn't recognize. Even now, she's a very happy child and will giggle and laugh all day if she's at home or around people she knows. But she will not do it in public. People always say that she's glaring at them... but like you said, she is just observant.

I like my serious baby. I do have to work for her laughs though!

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