Quick Answer
Babies make a wide variety of facial expressions — grimaces, frowns, scrunches, and fleeting smiles — and almost all of them are completely normal. In the newborn period, most facial expressions are involuntary and driven by neurological activity rather than conscious emotion. They are a sign of a healthy, developing brain.
Why It Happens
Newborn facial expressions are fascinating and often hilarious — but they are rarely what they appear to be. Here is what is actually driving them:
- Immature nervous system activity: The brain is sending a constant stream of signals to the facial muscles as it develops. Many of these signals produce fleeting, involuntary expressions — including grimaces, frowns, raised eyebrows, and lip movements — that have no emotional meaning behind them.
- REM sleep activity: Newborns spend up to 50% of their sleep in active (REM) sleep, during which the brain is highly active. This produces a rich variety of facial movements including smiles, frowns, sucking motions, and eye flutters — all while the baby is completely asleep.
- Reflex expressions: Many newborn facial movements are reflexive. The rooting reflex causes lip and mouth movements. The Moro (startle) reflex can produce a wide-eyed, open-mouthed expression. Sucking reflexes produce rhythmic mouth movements even when nothing is in the mouth.
- Gas and digestion: The digestive system is immature in newborns, and the effort of processing gas or a bowel movement often produces scrunched, strained, or grimacing expressions that can look like discomfort — and sometimes is, briefly.
- Early imitation: Research shows that newborns as young as a few days old can imitate facial expressions. If you make a face at your baby during an alert period, they may attempt to mirror it — an early sign of social and cognitive development.
- Sensory responses: Strong smells, tastes (from breast milk or formula), changes in light, or sudden sounds can all trigger brief facial reactions as the baby’s sensory system processes new information.
What Parents Can Try
- Enjoy and engage with your baby’s expressions — mirroring them back is a wonderful early bonding activity
- Talk and make faces at your baby during alert, awake periods to encourage early social interaction
- If expressions seem to be related to gas discomfort, try gentle tummy massage or bicycle leg movements after feeds
- Keep a video or photo record — these fleeting expressions pass quickly and are worth capturing
- Look for the first true social smile, which typically appears between six and eight weeks and is a deliberate response to your face or voice
When It’s Worth Checking In With Your Pediatrician
Funny faces are almost never a concern. However, mention the following at your next well-baby visit:
- Facial movements that are repetitive, rhythmic, and cannot be stopped by gently holding the baby’s face — this could warrant evaluation to rule out neonatal seizures
- Asymmetrical facial movements where one side of the face consistently moves differently from the other, which may indicate facial nerve involvement
- No social smiling or facial responsiveness to your face or voice by two to three months of age
- Expressions that seem to accompany significant distress, poor feeding, or other concerning symptoms
Key Takeaway
Your baby’s funny faces are one of the most entertaining parts of the newborn stage — and a window into a brain that is working hard around the clock. Most expressions are involuntary, reflexive, or driven by sleep activity rather than conscious emotion. The social smile, when it arrives around six to eight weeks, is the first expression that truly reflects your baby connecting with you.
Parents Also Ask
- Why Does My Baby Smile in Their Sleep?
- Why Does My Baby Stick Their Tongue Out?
- Why Does My Baby’s Chin Quiver?
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your pediatrician or a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your baby’s health.