Smiling is super but how does it support your baby’s development?

When you hear your baby's first giggle, it becomes your family’s collective mission to get as many smiles and laughs from them as you can. Smiling and laughter demonstrate an important step in your child’s social and emotional development and becomes part of their toolbox as a way of communicating with you. 

First smiles are super because:  

• They give your baby another way of sharing how they feel, and so can support emotional regulation. 

• Your baby will use their smile when interacting with you, and by doing this will learn more about communication and develop and strengthen connections in their brain.  
• Your baby’s smiles help them to build their relationship with you and other people. They will soon develop a social smile, so will smile when they are happy and as a way to bond with those around them.  

So, enjoy being silly with your baby as it helps to develop brain connections and their language, social and emotional skills, as well as building upon your relationship.