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12 weeks - eye contact?

librarianladylibrarianlady member
in Babies: 3 - 6 Months
I'm a bit worried about my LO - he's 12 weeks and we've been getting lots of smiles and sounds from him, but I feel like he's not really making eye contact, which seems to be one of the milestones he should be reaching. My husband says it's just because he's interested in other things around him, but I've noticed and other people have remarked that he seems to very often look away from the person holding/talking to him. If you're feeding him and staring right down at him he'll do it and he does it fleetingly when you hold him, but I feel that most of the time his head is actively turned elsewhere. Is my husband right, that he's just enjoying the world around him, or should I be worried? (I know, ask the doctor, and I will next week, but thought I'd see if anyone had experienced this, too.) I've got some lingering PPD, so I tend to think I'm doing everything wrong and the baby doesn't like me, so I'm not sure if I'm overreacting.
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Re: 12 weeks - eye contact?

  • redhead610redhead610 member
    Your baby likes you! There can be a few things to think about and talk with your doctor about. Take note of how your baby interacts with the world around him. Does he focus on toys? Is it just people he doesn't look at, or does he not look at lots of things? Usually by 4 months their vision becomes quite clear, but by now he should be able to see things close to him. Is he interested in looking at other people at all? My ds loves looking at other kids. Have you tried holding him in front of a large mirror? While he is sti young and these skills will likely develop normally over time, it is important to make your doctor aware of your concerns.
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  • =Lee=B=Lee=B member

    If you've noticed this and are worrying about it you are being a great parent.  You are not doing anything wrong.  I would lean to your husbands interpretation...he's is young and there is a lot to see in the world.  He doesn't know he that it's socially polite to make eye contact yet. 

    I have no idea when my daughter started to make eye contact but I know that at 9 months of age she still prefers to stare at my arm or my neck when breast feeding.  She's never lied there dreamy eyed staring into my eyes like they show in pictures.  I remember other moms on here worried because their baby didn't do this either and most moms responded that their baby didn't.  That's different than the eye contact you mean...but it's the only eye contact reference I have (baby fried brain here).

    At 9 months I think my daughter makes eye contact but she doesn't really sit and have staring contests, it's more the quick eye contact before moving on to better things to look at. 

    Make note of it at your next doc appointment.  Try some of the above suggestions.  You can keep tabs on it every now and then...but over all I don't think there is any concern.

    I'd be more worried if you said baby never makes eye contact and only stares down at the floor.  Your baby is actively engaging with the world around him by always checking everything out...that's a really good sign!!

     

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  • pantsarellapantsarella member
    My DD is almost 5 months now, but she really only had good eye contact for a few weeks. Somewhere between 3 and 4 months developmentally their vision improves and they start to focus on things farther away. My DD went from making solid eye contact to the person holding her to only looking at other people who weren't holding her. Or at the dishwasher, or at the dog, etc. 

    Don't worry about it- you said he'll make eye contact while you're feeding him and while you're holding him. Sounds normal to me, but bring it up to the doctor. 
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  • Mom38673Mom38673 member
    My LO will be 4 months on Christmas day.  He will look me in the face for a little bit if I'm talking to him.  A few minutes in my lap or on the changing table is all I get.  This bothered me too.  I have noticed that he is easily overstimulated by his surroundings (like family gatherings).  He may have super hearing abilities... :)  Even if someone walks up and talks to him, he will not look at them.  Occasionally, he will engage with someone (if he likes the sound of their voice).  Just keep tabs on it.  I'm sure these LO's are excited about the new world. 
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