8 ways to get that smile

Baby’s get bored and cranky fast, and if you don’t have a few tricks up your sleeve, you’ll never get through a rainy day with your sanity intact.

The following ideas will keep baby occupied in any circumstance and smiling too

1.Cookie toss. Try to engage her in games. A game of “pass the cookie” is one way to make a cranky kid into a giggly mood. Here’s how to do it: Put one end of a cookie or biscuit in your mouth and lean toward your child. She’ll take the other end in her mouth. Then lean in and take the biscuit back with your mouth. Pass it back and forth until baby gets the giggles.

2.Racing challenge. Turn on a musical toy and hide it somewhere nearby. Then, challenge baby to a race to find it. Not only does it keep kids occupied, it gives them the physical release they need.

3.Freebies to the rescue.Sometimes our schedule doesn’t permit so many stops. That’s when I get out the new “toys”: supermarket flyers, plastic spoons, giveaway toys etc. Never underestimate the power of novelty items, especially when they’re free!

4.Playgroung fun. The playground has saved the sanity of many a frustrated mother. Unfortunately, not all playgrounds are designed with kids under 3 in mind. Here’s how to spot one that’s baby- and toddler-friendly.

• Look for playgrounds that have separate areas for young children.
• Check out the equipment: Are there baby swings? Is there a low slide or a small hobby horse?
• Scope out the neighborhood: Is there a bathroom nearby?
• See who’s at the park: If you see lots of older children tearing around areas reserved for younger kids, this is not the park for you.

5.Just for laughs.Entertaining young children is about turning everyday moments into fun experiences like making faces or making up stories

6.Dancing game.Dancing to silly songs is great fun and great exercise. Usually you can download free tunes on internet eg soundtrack of sound of music or thriller by Michael Jackson

7.Make a Play area.Sometimes you are too tired to go out with your little ones or the weather’s bad. Make your boring old living room a fun indoor place space with tips from Louise Jones of Sydney’s Playground.

• Choose a cushioned, baby-proofed area with lots of crawling and walking space.
• Children are drawn to bright colors, so use your couch throw pillows, or cover pillows with colored cases to brighten up the area.
• Stack couch or chair cushions for baby to climb on.
• Mix things up by letting your child use an outdoor toy inside.
• Kids love playing with real things. Make the play space special by taking the batteries out of your phone or remote and letting your toddler play with them there.
• Unearth old toys your child may have forgotten about and place them in the space.

8.Bounce bounce: A baby especially around 4 – 6months can be entertained by bouncing him/her on your laps while singing his favourite tunes. It works all the time for my 5month old baby. I use this trick particularly when its feeding time and hes getting restless but the food is still quite hot and in the cooling phase. Immediately he forgets about the food and gives a very hearty laugh flashing his cute toothless mouth.

WHEN SHOULD A BABY START SMILING

I came across a dad some days back who told me his 1 month old son does not smile at all. But slightly frowns? Why and when will he start smiling he asked? Okay anxious daddy, hope you read this post to find out why

Your baby’s first real smile says a lot about his development. It’s a sign his vision has improved and he is able to recognize your face. His brain and nervous system have matured enough to eliminate reflex smiles, and he’s now aware that smiling is a way for him to connect with others. Your little one is also beginning to realize his feelings matter and have a direct effect on the people around him. He’ll smile to express pleasure, excitement, contentment, and happiness. Consider it his way of saying, “Hey, Mom, you’re doing a good job!” or “this milk rocks! Please give me more.”

Simply seeing the face of his two favourite people (you and your partner!) will be enough to make him crack a smile

When to Expect your cutie to begin Smiling

Your baby’s reflex smile will disappear by time she’s 2 months old, and her first real one will make an appearance somewhere between one and a half to 3 months (or 6 and 12 weeks) of life. You can tell the difference between a reflex and real smile by the timing and duration. Generally, reflex smiles tend to be shorter and occur randomly, when the baby is sleeping or tired. Real smiles, on the other hand, occur in response to something, like seeing her mama’s face or hearing a familiar voice, and they are consistent. Basically, when it’s the real deal, you will see the emotion expressed in your baby’s eyes.

If you’re still waiting to see your baby’s lips curl, there are some things you can do that may encourage her. Talk to her often (make sure you give her time to “respond”), make eye contact frequently, and smile at her throughout the day. Get silly, too. Making funny faces or noises, imitating animal sounds and behaviours, blowing raspberries on your baby’s belly, or playing a game of peek-a-boo may push her smiley button on. Just don’t overdo it. “Babies are developing the ability to regulate their emotions and may look away if they are getting too much stimulation,” says renowned child psychologists. Give your baby a little breather and try again later.

What Smiling Milestones Parents Should Expect

Once your baby does grin, she’ll do it again and again. Why shouldn’t she? When he graces you with a smile, your eyes brighten, you ooh and ahh, and you reciprocate with a beaming smile of your own. He digs that! At first, your little one’s happy face will be in response to a mix of vocal and visual stimulation. Therefore, he may light up from watching you sing a favourite lullaby or talk him through a particularly yucky diaper change. Later, when his vision improves, simply seeing the face of his two favourite people (you and your partner!) will be enough to make him crack a smile. You’ll be the recipient of most of your baby’s smiles, but he’ll also exchange grins with others (that is, until stranger anxiety kicks in at around 6 months). As your baby gets more smiling practice and enjoyment from seeing people’s reactions, he’ll start adding sound effects, It will start with cooing at first, and then lead to small giggles and waves of giggling. By 5 months, your babe may surprise you with full-out belly laughs and squeals of excitement.