L’apparition du sourire intentionnel requiert la stabilité psychoaffective de la mère et un environnement social interactif.

Analyser l’âge de survenue et les facteurs maternels associés au sourire intentionnel du bébé.

L’étude a été transversale, descriptive et analytique avec un suivi à domicile durant 4 mois, de 165 bébés recensés dans des maternités de la ville de Parakou et ses périphéries.

L’âge moyen de la survenue du sourire était de 58 jours, avec des extrêmes de 16 et 93 jours. Il y a eu 51,5 %, ayant souri à 1–2 mois ; 40 %, tard (2–3 mois). Le bébé ayant eu un sourire intentionnel précoce est celui dont la mère est âgée de 30–34 ans, engagée dans une union monogame, ayant reçu son bébé sur son abdomen à la naissance, l’ayant pris dans ses bras dans les 5 heures suivantes, s’en étant occupé pendant au moins 13 semaines, avant toute reprise d’activités et vivant dans une concession familiale.

L’âge d’apparition du sourire intentionnel était presque identique à celui de la plupart des études. La stimulation et les interactions maternelles sont indispensables.

La tranche d’âge maternel de 30–34 ans, l’accueil du bébé sur l’abdomen de la mère à la naissance, sa prise dans les bras maternels et les congés de maternité longs, facilitent l’apparition du sourire intentionnel. Une meilleure connaissance des facteurs maternels constitue une piste de mesures préventives en pédopsychiatrie.

The appearance of the intentional psycho-smile requires the stability of the mother and an interactive social environment. The aim of this study is to analyze the age of onset and maternal factors associated with the intentional smile.

The study was cross-sectional and descriptive with a home monitoring for 4 months of 165 babies identified in maternity hospitals of the city of Parakou and its surrounding area.

The mean age of onset of smiles was 58 days, with extremes of 16 and 93 days; the sex ratio was 0.89. Among the infants, 51.5% smiled at 1–2 months, 40% did so later (2–3 months). The baby who had an early intentional smile is one whose mother is in an age group between 30–34 years, engaged in a monogamous union, who received her baby on her abdomen at birth, took it in her arms within 5hours, cared for it for at least 13 weeks prior to any resumption of activities while living in a family situation.

The age of onset of intentional smile was almost identical to that of most studies. Living in a family home environment favors early occurrence of intentional smile of the baby (P=0.016). Indeed, the current mode of residence in Benin is one erected in a house where life is interwoven cohabitants. The child remains exclusively with its mother when in the womb. Once born, the baby is invested and becomes the object of care and protection of all members of various families, including people living in neighboring apartments, without blood relationship. Living in a house with several people around the baby, is an asset to the occurrence of intentional smile. It seems pejorative, born from parents who do not have any bond of union. The most conducive parental marital status found by our study is monogamous. The rank of the baby amongst the children of the mother has no influence on the age of onset of intentional smile. Stimulation and maternal interactions are essential.

Maternal age over 30–34 years, the reception of the baby on the abdomen of the mother at birth, being held in the mother's arms and a long maternity leave, facilitate the emergence of intentional smile. A better understanding of maternal factors constitutes a track of preventive measures in child psychiatry.