Should baby smile always?

Question

Today was my son’s 3mo appointment and I ended up super sad because the pediatrician said that he isnt getting to the development milestones like he should (he still has troubles to lift his head on tummy time and to follow an object with his eyes and head for an specific amount of time). She basically told me that ‘I cant leave him on a bed all day’ and thats not what I do at all. I am making an effort to make the excercises everyday and it just hurted that she saw him that bad to say that. 
I even thought he was alright until she told me these things. On the other hand, she told me that my baby should be smiling all the time (he just smiles a couple of times a day), because if he isnt there must be something thats bothering him (about his body or something). I just wanted to hear opinions about this. 
(My son was born 36w5d, but the pediatrician seems eager to make him catch up with the babies of his age that were born at 40w)

Answer

Omg my first was such a cranky baby no matter what we did, we would put on an absolute show of dancing, silly noises, funny faces only to get a half smile SOMETIMES. He was just a cranky dude. Didn’t laugh until like 6 months and would laugh like once a month until he was a year. All babies are so different, get a new ped.

Answer

Every baby develops differently, and that was awful and unprofessional for the pediatrician to say! Find yourself a new one who will be supportive and helpful, not judgemental. You need to feel comfortable enough to talk about any worries or concerns you have.

Answer

No one smiles all the time. 
If you're concerned about what she said you can get a second opinion.

Answer

First off your pediatrician should not have made any comment assuming that you leave the baby “laying on a bed all day￼”. And secondly I can tell you every baby is completely different. My first who’s 2 now and my second who will be 4 months soon have been complete opposite babies. Some babies just need more time and like you said your baby was born about a month early that should be taken into consideration as well. My almost 4 month old hasn’t been a fan of tummy time this whole time but I still try each day even if it’s only for five minutes at a time. He seems to do better if I put the Boppy pillow under him and let him sort of like hangover it. He’s also gotten better head control just because of holding him￼￼￼￼￼￼￼￼￼ in different positions such as facing outward sometimes or the football hold. With smiling I think it just honestly depends on your babies personality. Right now if I smile my baby he usually does smile back but I don’t remember my first doing it all the time, he was a bit more serious. ￼
I would just keep doing what you’re doing! The fact that you’re reaching out on here and concerned means that you’re a great mom and you’re already trying everything you can￼￼. You’d be surprised how quickly things can change. One day maybe your baby won’t smile and the next day they’ll be smiling all day long. ￼￼

Answer

Get a new pediatrician!!

Answer

My first little guy had resting bitch face with some serious brows kicking all the time. I swear he didn't smile until he was much older. This one is so smiley and is already laughing out loud and he's not even 3 months yet. On the contrary though my first seemed to meet milestones early while this one takes his sweet time.

Answer

Babies develop differently at there own time plus he a prem my son struggling to lift his head but his head bigger so he trying as for smiling well clearly im not as funny as I thought lol he smiles or gives me a dirty looks lol

Answer

Every baby is different, my daughter was born at 35weeks and she was 4pound. So every time we go to her appointment the doctor try to make me feel some type of way about her weight and milestones, I would always remind her that she was a premi, then they would say ohh she’s right where she needs to be them for her gestational age.

Answer

My baby doesn’t smile “always” but she definitely smiles at certain things. Just about every time I wake her up from a nap and she sees my face, she smiles. But that’s about it. She’s a pretty serious baby and usually just stares at me.

Answer

Do YOU smile all the time? No? Of course not, cause that isn’t natural at all! There’s such a range of emotion that humans experience that it would be weird to be happy and smiley ALL day long. Babies have different faces for different emotions, and some are just naturally more stern looking. What a nutcase pediatrician! I’d switch personally.

Should baby smile always?

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