All babies have the occasional tantrum, but Alfie Clucas’ permanently cross face has led his mum to declare him the grumpiest tot in the country.
Now 18-months-old, Alfie’s fixed frown has been a familiar sight to mum Cheryl Priestley, 21, since just two days after he was born.
The mother-of-one recalls being struck by her newborn son’s ‘hilarious’ angry expression as he slept – and she says it’s been the same ever since.
Why so cross, baby? Alfie’s mum Cheryl, from Lincoln, says her son has been ‘grumpy since the day he was born’
Camera shy? Little Alfie has never been a fan of smiling for the camera, it seems
Now 18-months-old, Alfie is still perfecting his signature scowl on a daily basis for the camera
A year and a half later, Alfie still has ‘the grumpiest little face’, said Cheryl, and continues to pout every time a camera is pointed in his direction.
‘He’s always been grumpy since the day he was born – he has the grumpiest little face,’ she said.
‘It’s mainly when he’s tired or hungry and tired – a lethal combination.
‘He also doesn’t like the word ‘no’ now he’s toddling around. He’s like a little old man in a baby’s body with his grumpiness.
‘When he was just two days old I spotted when he was asleep, even then, he had a bit of a grumpy face on him.
‘When I saw him like that I just burst out laughing, he obviously wasn’t happy about what he was dreaming about.’
And as he got older his funny facial expressions, and apparent hand gestures, developed too.
Cheryl said: ‘Once we were at the seaside at Skegness and in the photo he didn’t look happy at all.
Cheryl says that whenever Alfie is hungry or tired, he immediately sticks out his lower lip
Alfie’s pout has become a familiar expression to mum Cheryl Priestley, 21, from Lincoln
Alfie has been known to crack a smile on occasion – perhaps this time it was because he knew Santa was due for a visit
‘Another time, when he was about five months old, we went out to the park and I have pictures of him sat on a swing and on a seesaw – he just looked really annoyed about the whole thing instead of smiling like other children do.
‘It looks like he’s saying “mum I really don’t like this, can we do something different?”‘
Cheryl said that despite pouting his way through pics over the last 18 months, the adorable tot does have moments where a rare smile and giggle escape his lips.
Full-time mum Cheryl tries her best to capture Alfie’s rare smiles on camera – but she has to be quick off the mark
Full-time mum Cheryl said: ‘He loves the TV adverts and will stand staring at them transfixed.
‘He’s not massively into toys just yet but for some reason finds it hilarious when his Nana walks towards an ornamental tree in the living room.
‘When he’s having a good day his smile lights up the room, it’s absolutely beautiful and I love it.
‘Sometimes he laughs hysterically – he has one of those proper naughty little laughs.’
But like any naughty tot he turns on the waterworks when things don’t go his way.
Cheryl said: ‘At the moment he’s got a thing for sticking his hand up where it’s hot, such as near a radiator or oven.
‘He looks so mardy all the time and cries too if I say ‘no’ then he squeezes out these little crocodiles tears – but obviously I just want to make sure he doesn’t hurt himself.
‘He’s either one of two extremes – he’s either grumpy or a little monkey -you never know what you’re going to get.
‘He’s a lovely boy and I wouldn’t change him for the world.’