When do babies start smiling?

Babies typically begin smiling around 6 weeks of age. These early smiles are not conscious expressions but rather muscle practice and imitation of parents' facial expressions.

Are 6-week-old baby smiles real or just gas?

At 6 weeks, baby smiles are real muscle movements but not yet conscious communication attempts. Studies show babies are practicing facial expressions and imitating parents rather than expressing emotions intentionally.

What other milestones happen at 6 weeks?

At 6 weeks, babies can focus their eyes better, turn their heads to follow movement, and show increased interest in their hands. They may also experience peak colic symptoms during this time.

Why is my 6-week-old crying more than usual?

Crying typically peaks around 6 weeks due to colic, which affects many babies. This is normal and statistics show colic begins to gradually decline after the 6-week mark.

Should I keep talking to my baby even if they can't respond yet?

Yes, continue talking, smiling, and interacting with your baby. Every interaction provides valuable learning opportunities and helps them understand human communication and emotions.

Baby Names & First Smiles: 6-Week Development Guide 2026

He's smiling!

At six weeks, more or less, babies begin to smile. And in general, they start practicing diverse facial expressions.

Long-term studies have shown that these early smiles are not conscious expressions yet [1]. Your son is simply working on new muscles and imitating your facial expressions. As he develops he will use these skills to express emotion and communicate with you — usually around six months.

Even though his smiles may not be conscious attempts at communicating, it doesn’t mean you should stop smiling, winking and cooing at him. With every interaction with his parents, he is taking in information and learning more about what it means to be human.

At six weeks, he’s able to focus his eyes, turn his head to follow mama’s movements. He also has a new object of interest to study — his hands! He will hold them up to his face to get a better look, and put them in his mouth to evaluate the taste. This is an important stage in development and it can be calming too!

Your baby may also be crying — a lot. Perhaps even more than usual. Hold on! Statistics show colic reaches a peak at about six weeks and then starts a gradual decline [2].