At approximately what age do healthy infants typically begin to smile?

• A. About 12 weeks.
• B. About 6 months.
• C. About 6 weeks.
• D. About 2 months.

Answer: (C)

A genuine social smile starts to appear as babies begin to engage with others, not just show reflexive facial movements. Healthy infants typically begin to smile in response to a caregiver around six weeks after birth. This marks the shift from reflex or incidental smiles to social interaction, helping with bonding and communication. While some babies might smile a bit earlier or later, six weeks is the most common onset among the choices; others (twelve weeks or more, or six months) occur later in infancy.