The first 12 months of your baby’s life are filled with rapid developments and surprises. There are so many milestones taking place during this period as your baby continues to grow and one of them being his smile. Yes, the one thing every parent looks forward to – to start and end the day right. Do you know that even a baby’s smile goes through different stages of development?
On Reflex!
Between the ages of 0–6 weeks old, you may catch a glimpse of your newborn’s first smile in his sleep. It could be a wide, content grin, or an elusive half smirk that leaves you wondering if he really did smile. At this point of your baby’s life, their smiles are probably just a physical reaction as your baby’s body goes through physiological changes during REM sleep, and that stimulates certain reflexes, such as a smile. That reflexive smile may not necessarily be an emotional sign just yet.
We Are Getting A Response!
At 6–8 weeks old, you will notice that your baby now starts to smile responsively at things she enjoys, such as when you talk to her or when she is being cuddled. While it feels awesome to see your baby responding to you, it is good to note that her smile at this time is a reaction to sensory experiences instead of a social response, which she may not be capable of just yet. However, do continue to bond with your baby through talking, playing, and cuddling to learn the response that you will get from her.
Let’s Socialise
Now the much-awaited big smilestone is upon us! At 2–3 months old, your little man’s personality will start to shine through, he is now ready to connect and be part of the fun! As his smile trial runs come to an end, you will start seeing more of his social smiles. He smiles whenever you both lock eyes or when you make silly sounds; he will respond with a sweet smile when he recognises someone special like his mummy or daddy in the room! If crying is a baby’s instinctive way to communicate, he will now learn that he can also get your attention by smiling.
Smiles Galore
6 months old is the best month because at this time, they are generally friendly to everyone and are never stingy with their smiles!
Saving For The Best
At 9 months old, your baby will start to experience anxiety around unfamiliar faces. They may be more selective with whom their smile goes to now and may cling on to only mummy! While this may sound like a bummer, be assured that this is an important milestone your baby has achieved and it is totally a healthy development!
Humour Me, Mummy!
Now that your baby enters into a whole new chapter of being a 12 month old, you will soon learn that your little darling is your biggest fan in your comedic endeavor and your dramatised actions or sounds will get your baby laughing hysterically! Tip: acting surprised will make you a star comedian in your baby’s eyes!
Keep Smiling, Baby
Smiles speak volumes of a baby’s overall health, continue to actively communicate with your little one, this will stimulate his growth and development by leaps and bounds. Establish a daily routine and engage your child in calming activities. JOHNSON’S® has recently launched an all-new CottonTouch™ Range for newborns and Active Kids™ Strong & Healthy Shampoo for kids, which will make your bonding session even more special!
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Bath Time Peek-A-Boo
Peek-a-boo is almost always a first fun game parents play to engage with their baby. This activity helps to reinforce a child’s sense of security knowing that mummy will “reappear” at the end of every “boo!”. Bath time makes a great time to play peek-a-boo with the use of a wrung-dry wash cloth. Gently cover your baby’s head with the washcloth and pull it down and off his face. Warning: this game results in a very excited and squealy baby! Be sure to use a hypoallergenic and gentle formula such as JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™ Top-To-Toe Bath! Blended with 100% natural cotton, the bath formula is designed for newborn’s sensitive* skin, it has no added parabens, phthalates, or dyes, this means it rinses easily – leaving skin soft and clean.
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Shampoo Sing-A-Long
Some babies may feel insecure having their hair washed, so it is important to have her feel assured and safe. Singing or humming your child’s favourite tune may just be the trick to ease her anxiety greatly. JOHNSON’S® Active Kids™ Strong & Healthy Shampoo is 100% gentle for children’s delicate hair and the added Vitamin E is great for healthy hair and scalp. The NO MORE TEARS® formula is sure to make shampoo time a great, fun time!
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Tickly-Wiggly Whole-Body Massage
Touch is a great way to tell your baby “I love you!”. After a nice, warm bath, what better way to round up the bath routine with a ticklish massage to get your baby giggling away? Your baby will love JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™ Face & Body Lotion for its ultra-light and gentle formula – perfect for baby’s delicate, sensitive* skin! This water-based lotion is blended with natural cotton, it is lightweight and leaves no greasy residue. You will be happy to know that it is clinically proven to be safe for newborns, too! For a more moisturising result, go for the all-time favourite: JOHNSON’S® Baby Oil. Made with pure mineral oil, the baby oil is pH balanced and locks up to 10x more moisture on dry skin!
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Set The LOL Bone Off
With a baby around, there are bound to be messy times. Why not make cleaning up a funny occasion with JOHNSON’S® Baby Messy Times Wipes instead of a dreaded one? Every wipe calls for a funny face or sound effect, a sure-fire way to hold your baby’s attention and keep him entertained while you clean! The JOHNSON’S® Baby Messy Times Wipes contains gentle water-based cleanser – specially designed to clean your baby’s delicate skin, even to use around the baby’s eyes!
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Hugga Lot Cos’ I Love You So
Don’t you just love a baby’s smell? There is something about it that sets our mother instinct off like no other! At the same time, a newborn may not see clearly just yet, so their sense of smell helps them to search out their comfort: mummy! To help your baby’s skin stay fresh, comfortable, smooth, and oh-so-snuggable, a dash of JOHNSON’S® Summer Swing Baby Cologne or JOHNSON’S® Blossoms Baby Powder will do just the trick!
JOHNSON’S® – A Mother’s Choice
As a trusted brand for over 127 years, JOHNSON’S® has been working tirelessly with global health authorities and leaders in researching and developing safe and effective baby care products to meet the needs of parents and children. With JOHNSON’S® range of quality products, your babies are assured of nothing but the best!
Smile, Snap & Win!
Think you can dig out the best smiling photo of your little ones? Share with us here and stand a chance to WIN total prizes worth up to RM26,000 in just 3 simple steps! The contest period is from today till 15 August 2020 – so, join now! Meanwhile, find out how you can create more special bonding moments with your child at JOHNSON’S® official website or follow JOHNSON’S® Malaysia Facebook & Instagram pages today!
The new JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™ Range for newborns and Active Kids™ Strong & Healthy Shampoo for kids are now available at all major retail outlets and online stores, too. Grab yours now!
*when compares to adult’s skin