Babies: 6 - 9 Months

Smiling at strangers

DS seems very choosy with who he smiles at. If we're out in public and someone stops to talk to him, he just stares at them - not blankly but more of a "hmmm why are you talking to me" kind of stare. I wish he would smile at them instead. He's even done this with family members. Sometimes if I even try and make funny faces he'll just watch and stare instead of smiling back. Is this normal? He does smile lots at home.

I was reading milestones & it said a red flag was "doesn't respond to smiles"

Re: Smiling at strangers

  • Yes. normal. DD mad dogs people constantly. once in awhile she'll get it in her little brain that she wants to make someone smile at her, and she'll ham it up but usually she just stares at them. sometimes she'll cry if there's too many people staring at her but usually she just stares at them, then looks away and sighs.
    BabyFetus Ticker Little Riley-our first little girl coming March 1st, 2013 (or sometime around there;)
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  • My LO will do the same thing, she is very cautious of new unfamiliar faces. It takes her a long time to warm up to people.  Every baby is different, but mine is hitting that stranger anxiety phase - Even with family which makes it tough!
  • FTM here too but it's totally normal. My DD does the same. She rarely smiles at people, she just stares and studies them then once she knows them she'll smile. Remember that everything is knew to them so they're just learning and taking it all in which can be overwhelming to some kids.
  • DS1 almost never smiled at strangers, and still doesn't. He's just a very introverted kid unless he really knows you, and he also loves to observe new people more than interact with them. DS2 on the other hand smiles at everyone and everything. It's sort of hilarious how completely different they are. Anyway, totally normal!
  • Same here! My daughter does the same thing. She is even known to do this to her babysitter sometimes and she sees her everyday.
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