A newborn smiles...Someone, somewhere must utter the obligatory phrase: "It must be gas." I've got such a bone to pick about this old saying!
First, I've worked with hundreds and hundreds of babies. I've never seen one baby with gas smile. Have you?
Second, when a newborn screams or cries, who doubts the authenticity of that emotion? Most people trust that a baby is legitimately unhappy....So, why can't that same baby be genuinely happy?
I think the basis of this old myth is that a newborn baby just isn't developmentally capable of a full range of human emotion. I disagree.
There is a different quality to the 'Social Smile' that usually emerges around 6 weeks. This smile is more purposeful and used for interaction. Smiles seen in the first weeks seem to be more internal and not seeking a response.
While I'm waiting for Developmental Psychologists to back me up on this, I'll stand firm in my opinion that babies are whole people.
First, I've worked with hundreds and hundreds of babies. I've never seen one baby with gas smile. Have you?
Second, when a newborn screams or cries, who doubts the authenticity of that emotion? Most people trust that a baby is legitimately unhappy....So, why can't that same baby be genuinely happy?
I think the basis of this old myth is that a newborn baby just isn't developmentally capable of a full range of human emotion. I disagree.
There is a different quality to the 'Social Smile' that usually emerges around 6 weeks. This smile is more purposeful and used for interaction. Smiles seen in the first weeks seem to be more internal and not seeking a response.
While I'm waiting for Developmental Psychologists to back me up on this, I'll stand firm in my opinion that babies are whole people.