Parents desperately try to make their baby boy smile after doctor's advice — but he refuses to budge

For new parents, there’s nothing better than their baby’s adorable smile. But Candida Villa-Lobos, 29, and her husband Sebastiao Oliveira, 28, had a difficult time squeezing the faintest grin out of their 2-month-old son. The baby was born with a natural seriousness that his parents have not yet been able to decode, but the internet apparently understands. When Villa-Lobos made their routine pediatrician visit, they were advised that babies generally begin flash smiles at 2 months. Intrigued, the mom shared the revelation in a TikTok clip posted to @candiivillalobos, showcasing her son’s unbothered expressions. 

“Doctor: ‘At 2 months old, he should already be smiling,’” a note on the clip stated. The parents poked and tickled their son gently in an attempt to make him smile, but in vain. The baby boy just lay there, staring intently at his parents making a fool of themselves. His judgmental expressions even caught Villa-Lobos and her husband off guard. The father consistently poked the baby’s cheeks and chin, hoping to catch his reaction. Strangely, the infant remained unimpressed and barely even blinked at his parents’ efforts. “He did not smile,” Villa-Lobos confirmed in the caption after trying for half a minute. 

With the baby’s smile still a mystery, the video generated a lot of interest and garnered over 8.3 million views. His serious personality urged viewers to comment on the plausible reasons for his seriousness. “This baby knows there’s nothing to smile about in this cruel world,” wrote @notonmynelly while @calime_lemon figured, “He seems capable but not inclined.” “Lil’ bro works at the parliament,” joked @h1brd.eth. Similarly, @kimworrall4 mused, “That baby looks like a 40-year-old science teacher that given up on life. Adorable though!” Someone else (@annie8604) pointed out, “He’s highly offended at all that face poking.” “Bro came out with grudges that haven’t even happened yet,” said @vickii8678. 

However, the mother revealed that they talked to the pediatrician about the expected age for social smiles in babies. “She said they usually start around two months and even gave him a little cheek poke to encourage one. Naturally, we tried the same at home and failed spectacularly,” Villa-Lobos told Newsweek. The advice was followed with a series of failed attempts and blank stares. She even stressed her son’s lack of blinking. “No blinking... just completely unbothered. Like a tiny judge silently deciding if we're even worth a smile. It was humbling for us; clearly, we had to step up our game!” the mom added. 

Following the futile attempts, the parents were reassured that this was not something they should be worried about. Babies start smiling at their own pace, and forced smiles would lead to no growth or social development. "Ultimately, instead of focusing on precise ages for milestones, parents should observe their baby's overall well-being and consult with their pediatrician if they have genuine concerns regarding their child's development," said psychologist Ieva Kubiliute. Though babies smile at their own pace, it does mark a significant milestone in every family’s life, per Care.com. It indicates the child’s social and emotional development and the brain’s ability to connect with others. 

You can follow @candiivillalobos on TikTok for more videos.