What does the term "social smiling" refer to in infants?

The term "social smiling" specifically refers to an infant's ability to smile in response to positive social interactions, such as when they see familiar faces, hear laughter, or engage with caregivers. This type of smiling typically emerges around six to eight weeks of age and indicates that the infant is becoming more attuned to social cues and developing interactive relationships. Social smiling plays an important role in bonding and communication between the infant and their caregivers, fostering emotional connections and social development.

The other options, while they might involve smiling, do not capture the essence of social smiling. For example, smiling during feeding or while sleeping does not indicate interaction with others, whereas social smiling is inherently relational and involves an engagement with the environment and people. Non-verbal communication is broader and encompasses various actions beyond smiling, making it less specific than the term "social smiling."