Baby interaction

[elleswarth]

Our LO is 5 weeks today. According to What to Expect and a few other sites, baby *should* be smiling and interacting (at least tracking with their eyes, making eye contact, turning towards sounds, etc) now. I know every baby develops at different rates, and I know 5 weeks is still really early, but our LO is doing none of that. She passed her hearing and vision, so I know that's not the issue. She will look you in the eyes for a second while feeding, but that's literally it. She would rather stare at random objects for a while than turn towards noises or look at faces. Am I being ridiculous? I just remember our first being more interactive at this point.

[grumpycat88]

Was she born before 40 weeks? Some books say to go by adjusted age for milestones so if she was work at 38 weeks, she'd only be 3 weeks in terms of milestones.

[elleswarth]

She was 39 weeks, so I guess that would put her at 4 weeks today if you do it that way. My husband thinks I'm being ridiculous, but I just want a squishy smile already!!!!

[Deleted]

My baby doesn't make tons of eye contact either. He's three weeks, but was born three weeks early.

I've contemplated not reading about milestones as I tend to get crazy about stuff like that.

[grumpycat88]

Feb 2, 2015 17:58:17 GMT -5 elleswarth said:

She was 39 weeks, so I guess that would put her at 4 weeks today if you do it that way. My husband thinks I'm being ridiculous, but I just want a squishy smile already!!!!

Mine is 4 weeks and change or 2 weeks and change adjusted, I can't wait for that smile either! Right now he smiles in his sleep and right before he spits up.

[4littlebears]

Feb 2, 2015 17:50:50 GMT -5 grumpycat88 said:

Was she born before 40 weeks? Some books say to go by adjusted age for milestones so if she was work at 38 weeks, she'd only be 3 weeks in terms of milestones.

I found this to be true with dd2. She was born at 37 weeks and was always a bit behind. She's very smart, but milestones take extra time. For example, she's 3.2 and still not potty trained. BUT she has the entire book "Llama Llama and the Bully Goat" memorized perfectly from start to finish.

[mwilker]

I'm glad you brought this up because when I checked my email today it was a weekly update on what Lillian should be doing at this point and I started stressing. She doesn't interact a lot and still sleeps a ton! I feel like she's still doing the eat, sleep, poop routine with a little awake moments here and there.

Thanks for bringing up the point about adjusted age, I didn't realize this. All 3 of my kids were born early but didn't know that their milestones may be a few weeks behind.

[hazelnut]

Hazel is 5 weeks tomorrow, and she does some of those things, but not quite smiling yet. She will look mildly amused so I feel like it's coming. She was born at 39 weeks. My niece was born at 41w1d and she seemed more alert earlier on than Hazel, so I definitely think there's some truth to their gestational age when they were born being a factor.

[hazelnut]

Also, where do you get these emails that say what baby should be doing? I'd like to sign up for something like that, but not sure where to go for it.

[emmyg65]

I thought average age to start smiling was 6 weeks? And remember, that's an average. Some babies will reach certain milestones early and others late. I don't think it's cause for concern yet. Keep talking to your baby and she'll probably come around.

[grumpycat88]

Feb 3, 2015 18:21:47 GMT -5 hazelnut said:

Also, where do you get these emails that say what baby should be doing? I'd like to sign up for something like that, but not sure where to go for it.

I would get one from the dump. But you probably can sign up for one through most baby sites.

[hazelnut]

grumpycat88 The dump can't come to terms with the fact that I've had my baby. It still keeps trying to tell me how big my baby is even though I updated it. Speaking of the dump, how do I delete my account?

[grumpycat88]

Feb 4, 2015 8:12:51 GMT -5 hazelnut said:

grumpycat88 The dump can't come to terms with the fact that I've had my baby. It still keeps trying to tell me how big my baby is even though I updated it. Speaking of the dump, how do I delete my account?

Post to the thread on the BumpHQ board (it's listed under specialty). Then you can't log in for 48 hours. Though I accidentally logged in and still got all my stuff deleted. I posted a thread about how they owned everyone's stuff and they took care of my request quickly.

[dashook]

Feb 3, 2015 18:21:47 GMT -5 hazelnut said:

Also, where do you get these emails that say what baby should be doing? I'd like to sign up for something like that, but not sure where to go for it.

hazelnut I get them from the Dump and also a site called Everyday Family.  My hospital also sends a weekly email/newsletter type thing, which is by far the most helpful one.

[littleb92]

So, I'm going to put my professional hat on right now. I'm a developmental psychologist, have my PhD in early childhood development, and while I am still learning a lot about being a parent, which is totally different than going to school for a degree, this is what I would say as a professional:

I wouldn't be too concerned about set dates for specific milestones. There are ranges for everything, and even if your LO is at the end of the range, it doesn't mean that he/she will be delayed, some kids just get to different milestones earlier than others, it doesn't mean much in terms of later development if they are within that range. If you are concerned, talk to your pediatrician, but also rest assured that babies grow and develop at different rates, and that is okay.

Also, the CDC came up with this amazing resource that I have been passing along to all my friends and will be using myself: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/index.html They stress the ranges for milestones, and talking to your ped about concerns. Early intervention is so important IF there are any real delays most of the time early interventions can get a child caught up with out any issues for later development.

Now putting my mom hat back on...who wants to talk about spit up?

[christeng87]

My little guy is 5 weeks 3 days and just within the last day or two started making eye contact. He doesn't smile (except for in his sleep), he just has a perpetual frowny face. So I am dying for some squishy baby smiles as well! Soon!