When do babies start smiling? Social smiles around 6–8 weeks

The short answer

Babies may smile during sleep or by chance from birth. A social smile in response to your face or voice usually becomes clearer towards the end of the second month. It can be normal for a one-month-old not to smile back yet. Rather than testing repeatedly, talk and smile during calm, awake moments, then pause for your baby to respond. Corrected age can help when considering development after premature birth.

In this guide · 9 sections

Keep in mind

Early smiles during sleep and social smiles in response to a face or voice are different.
A social smile often appears towards the end of the second month; there is no single deadline for every baby.
Look at your baby’s interest in faces, response to voices and back-and-forth interaction together.

How is a reflex smile different from a social smile?

A newborn may briefly smile during sleep, while passing wind or without an obvious stimulus. These early facial movements do not have to be a social response.

For a social smile, a baby is usually awake and calm, and smiles in response to your face, smile or voice. Over time, these back-and-forth moments tend to become more frequent and easier to notice.

Around what age do social smiles appear?

The CDC includes smiling when spoken to or smiled at in its 2-month milestone list. This list is not a test; it is a guide to skills most babies show by that age and a way to start a conversation about development.

It can be normal not to see a social smile in the first month. It may become clearer near the end of the second month and more frequent in interaction during the third month. Babies do not all start on the same day.

Why might a baby smile and then look away?

Face-to-face interaction can be intense for a young baby. After looking for a while, turning their head, closing their eyes or losing interest is often a way to rest and manage stimulation.

Do not turn your baby’s face back towards you. Wait a little and give them a chance to look back when ready; this follows their pace more naturally.

How can you encourage back-and-forth smiles?

When your baby is fed, awake and calm, hold your face at a comfortable distance, speak gently, smile and then pause for a response. Short chats during a nappy change or after a feed are enough.

There is no need to tickle, make constant noises or tire your baby to capture a smile. The goal is not to produce a skill but to make room for enjoyable interaction.

What does a later smile alone not tell you?

A skill appearing a few days or weeks later on its own does not establish a developmental diagnosis. Do not interpret the absence of a social smile alone as proof of autism or another condition.

Laughter or a giggle usually becomes clearer later and appears on the 4-month milestone list. It is expected for a 2-month-old to smile before they laugh out loud.

What can you do today?

Choose a calm, awake moment, look at your baby’s face, say a short phrase and smile.

Pause for a few seconds to let your baby respond; if they look away, respect their need for a break.

Rather than keeping a weekly test list, notice how their responses to faces, voices and smiles change over time.

When to seek support

Some signs need emergency help; other concerns can be discussed with your child’s healthcare team.

As your baby approaches the end of the second month, they show very little interest in faces and voices as well as not yet smiling socially.
By the third month there is still no social smile, or your baby’s overall responses to looking, voices and interaction remain very limited.
Your baby loses a skill they previously had, such as smiling, looking or responding with sounds.

Sources used for this guide

English editorial review: 11 October 2026

The English text and regional guidance have been checked editorially. This is not an individual clinical assessment.

Luluna provides general parenting information. It does not diagnose conditions or replace your child’s healthcare professional.

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