Shawna Runt fondly remembers her daughter Hayley's first smile. "I walked over to pick her up and she smiled so big for me, I almost cried!" says the Muskegon, Mich., mother of one.

First smiles are just the start of the amazing emotions a baby will show and develop during the first year. As early as 3 months, a baby already may be "reading" expressions and storing the information in her growing memory bank. These stored experiences will help her to manage and control emotions as she grows.

At 3 months of age, your baby may enjoy socializing with you and other immediate members of your family. She may smile easily and have a keen interest in other human faces.

"Babies learn about others and their emotional expressions when they have the opportunity to watch, listen and participate in social interactions," says Dr. Norbert Herschkowitz, who along with Elinore Chapman Herschkowitz co-authored A Good Start in Life ... Understanding Your Child's Brain and Behavior.

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