Mini Mimics

DNA plays a role in everything from your child's silly sense of humor to her erratic sleeping patterns. American Baby's Executive Editor, Laura Kalehoff, tells us how to find out which behaviors you might have passed along to your baby.

Baby's inherit facial expressions. Studies have found that family members often use the same quirky facial expressions to convey emotions such as anger, sadness and deep focus. These signature looks usually appear by the time a baby is 6 months old. It's not just that your kid is a copycat, a recent study found that people who were born blind made facial expressions similar to those of their family members.

If your baby isn't sleeping at night, you might actually be the cause. Sleep runs in the family. However, insomnia and stress related tossing and turning are also genetically linked. So if you struggle to sleep, your baby might too.

Your baby's way of handling stress starts during pregnancy. Everyone gets a smidgeon freaked out about pregnancy, but if your anxieties are on overload, you stand a good chance of having a baby who gets stressed too. Studies have shown that the more on edge mom is, the more negatively baby reacts to trying situations. Experiencing lots of stress during pregnancy can make it harder for your baby to relax, even if you're generally laid back. Researchers suspect that Mom's stress hormones actually affect her fetus's central nervous system.

Your baby's silly sense of humor are a reflection of genes and your environment. A quick to laugh temperament might be your baby's natural disposition which are at least part genetically inherited. Both genetic and environmental factors can influence temperament. When you notice that your child's temperament is similar to your husband's or your own, it's safe to assume he either got some of your hand me downs or picked up aspects of your personality living under the same roof.

When your children are opposites it might be because you are responding to them differently. Each child's natural temperament may influence the way you care for him. Your firstborn might be just like you, but your second born is like no one you've ever met. You might tend to a colicky baby different than you would a contented one. And that's ok.

For more tips on your baby's behaviors and other parenting tips, click here.

Laura Kalehoff & Erika Wortham