How to Make a Baby Smile

Toward the beginning or end of your baby’s 3 month birthday he/she will be smiling.  Some babies start a little earlier than that, but most are smiling at or around 3 months.  As a mother I adore seeing my little one smile when I touch his face, when I say h-e-l-l-o, or even when I’m changing his diaper.  It tickles him so much for me to be doing so little.  Sometimes, that little grind he gives me is enough to pass the day through or help me to start a great day.  Although, it is statistically said babies start to smile at or around 3 months, many babies start sooner than that.  Not sure what the reason for it would be, but it could be you just have a little goofy silly baby.

How to Play with Baby

Don't worry too much about stimulating your child to give her a "head start" on learning. Just because you and your partner are your baby's first teachers doesn't mean that you have to put pressure on yourselves to teach her anything. Your child learns from everything in her world: the things she sees, touches, hears, smells, and tastes. She doesn't need a set of fancy flashcards or other learning aids, at least not yet. As you keep in mind that play is supposed to be fun. Both you and your child will have more fun if you keep the pressure to learn to a minimum.
During these first few months especially, what your baby needs from you is your love, your attention, and your time. More than anything else (even food), she wants and needs you to:

• Hold her
• Sing to her
• Play with her
• Coo to her
• Praise even the smallest of successes
• Cuddle with her