Son Doesn't Make Eye Contact.. Should I Be Worried?

Updated on January 21, 2012
M.M. asks from Lake Charles, LA
9 answers

Part of me doesn't want to ask because I don't want to worry more but curiosity has gotten the best of me. I have a 6 week old little boy and he's amazing, he's super strong (he's already rolled over, he did that at 19 days) and he's pretty much held his head up on his own since day 1, he likes to sit up when I'm holding him but I've noticed he doesn't really make eye contact that much :( with me he will look at my face and make eye contact every now and then but 90% of the time he's looking up (like above my head) or just all around.. Is this a sign of anything? I thought I remembered hearing that babies looking at faces and making eye contact is sort of a milestone ( I just don't remember for what age).. I'm probably worrying for nothing but any advice might make me feel better :) My hubby had been off for a week and he just went back to work so this is my day to worry about all kinds of senseless things! TIA!

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

The baby is only six weeks old. It's not easy for them to make eye contact at this age, so it's perfectly normal if he's not. He sounds developmentally on target.

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J.S.

answers from Columbia on

Relax. We were just there (11mo) and it's ok. He's 6 weeks, give it time.

Kids are all different. Don't get caught up in the comparisons - (at 6wks MY son spoke fluent French and could solve a Rubik's cube) that some people make. You'll drive yourself crazy. Relax - he eats, poos and sleeps, right? That's all you gotta worry about for the next few months.

Somewhere in there, the "lights" will come on and you'll see that he looks at stuff and tracks your voice. Right now his eyesight is probably pretty fuzzy still. :)

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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

At this point, I wouldn't worry about this. Babies appear to be looking at your forehead because they are actually drawn to the contrast created by the face and the hairline. Relax and enjoy your baby. If he still doesn't make eye contact and/or smile or respond to your in normal ways by 3 months, talk to your pediatrician. Congrats on your new baby. The days seem long, but the years are short. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3

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G.H.

answers from Chicago on

Babies do this when they are overstimulated. Turn down the lights, make your voice softer and don't put your face in his line of vision. When he is looking away he is giving his brain a rest. So let him regroup and he will look at you.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

He's too young to worry about it just yet. Some babies can't even focus their eyes at this age. If your son is still not making eye-contact by 6 months, make sure you mention it to the pediatrician.

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D.S.

answers from Kansas City on

I worried forever about my son not making eye contact! After all, where was that special feeding time bonding we were supposed to share when he flat out didn't look at me? This went on for months. He was the same as yours - holding his head up well practically since birth and as he got older he never stopped moving. There are just so many other interesting things to focus on! And now at 4, well, he's still not a fan of it but I realized, I tend to look at people's mouths when they speak and not their eyes so maybe he's just like me. I also think he's more likely to look someone in the eye if he is doing the talking but certainly not when the other person is.

At 6 weeks, your little guy can't see much of anything anyway so snuggle up and relax. :)

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S.L.

answers from Kansas City on

http://www.babycenter.com/0_milestone-chart-1-to-6-months...

http://www.parenting.com/article/month-by-month-guide-to-...
These links give guidelines for baby milestones but keep in mind even the chart for one is birth to 3 months. Don't worry. Do all children walk at the same time? Talk at the same time? No, neither do they all do everything else at the same time. Just enjoy your little one and don't worry.

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D.P.

answers from Seattle on

It sounds like he's overstimulated. Keep your face still and don't talk when he's looking right at you - mouth and eye movement is a lot to take in for a sensitive kiddo. If he doesn't come around in a few weeks, definitely mention it to your ped.

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L.B.

answers from New York on

6 weeks is too early to tell anything. That is about the earliest you can expect ANY baby to start making eye contact, much less all babies. Mine didn't make any kind of definite eye contact until almost 12 weeks, and I think I obsessed about it, too. So I read a lot of the milestones charts, and I can assure you 6 weeks is WAY to soon to worry about anything! :)

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