A newborn’s face can seem to change by the minute: a fleeting grin, knitted brows, pursed lips, a startled stare, or a sleepy grimace. Baby Facial Expressions helps parents notice these signals without turning every movement into a diagnosis or a promise. Vivian Cross Harlow explains how facial muscles, reflexes, sleep states, feeding, discomfort, overstimulation, and early social connection shape what you see. You will learn why newborn smiles are often spontaneous, when social smiling usually becomes clearer, and how to consider the whole baby rather than one expression in isolation. Practical observation tools help you record patterns, respond calmly, and distinguish ordinary variation from concerns worth discussing with a pediatrician or health visitor. The book also addresses premature birth, corrected age, cultural differences, neurodivergence, parental anxiety, and the pressure to appear endlessly delighted. Warm, evidence-aware, and grounded in everyday caregiving, this guide supports curiosity without overinterpretation—and connection without forced positivity. Part of The Smile and Happiness Library.