There are few sounds in the world more wonderful than a baby's laugh. That first real giggle is one of the milestones parents wait for most eagerly, and when it happens, it has a way of making even the most exhausting day feel worth it.
If you are wondering when to expect that first laugh, what triggers it, and how you can encourage it, here is what to know.
When Do Babies Typically Start Laughing?
Most babies laugh for the first time between 3 and 4 months of age. Some babies might let out their first giggle as early as 2 months, while others take until 5 or 6 months. Like all milestones, the timing varies from baby to baby.
The first laugh might catch you off guard. It could happen during a diaper change, while you are making a funny face, or during an ordinary moment that strikes your baby as hilarious for reasons only they understand.
What Comes Before Laughing
Laughing does not appear out of the blue. It builds on earlier social and emotional milestones:
- Social smiling (around 6 to 8 weeks): Your baby starts smiling in response to your face and voice, not just reflexively. This is one of the first signs of social connection.
- Cooing (2 to 3 months): Your baby starts making vowel-like sounds ("ooh," "aah") as they experiment with their voice.
- Squealing and gurgling (3 to 4 months): These joyful sounds often appear just before or alongside the first real laughs.
If your baby is smiling, cooing, and making happy sounds, laughter is likely just around the corner.
What Makes Babies Laugh
Babies find different things funny at different stages. In general, early laughter tends to be triggered by physical and sensory experiences rather than visual humor. Common triggers include:
- Physical play: Gentle tickling, bouncing on your knee, being lifted in the air, or having raspberries blown on their tummy
- Peek-a-boo: The element of surprise combined with a familiar face is endlessly entertaining for babies
- Funny sounds: Exaggerated sneezes, popping sounds, silly voices, and animal noises
- Funny faces: Wide eyes, puffed cheeks, or any exaggerated facial expression
- Unexpected movements: A toy that pops up, a ball that rolls off a table, or a sibling doing something silly
As your baby grows, their sense of humor will develop too. By 6 to 9 months, many babies start laughing at things that are "wrong" or surprising, like you pretending to drink from their bottle or putting a sock on your head.
How to Encourage Your Baby to Laugh
You do not need to be a comedian, but here are some ways to bring out those giggles:
- Be animated. Use big facial expressions, varied tones of voice, and exaggerated movements. Babies respond to energy and enthusiasm.
- Play peek-a-boo often. It never gets old for babies. You can use your hands, a blanket, or duck behind furniture.
- Try gentle physical play. Bouncing, swinging, gentle tickling, and "airplane" rides are often big hits.
- Make silly sounds. Blow raspberries, click your tongue, or make popping noises. The sillier, the better.
- Repeat what works. When you find something that makes your baby laugh, do it again. And again. Babies love repetition.
- Laugh yourself. Laughter is contagious, even for babies. When you laugh, your baby is more likely to join in.
Why Laughter Matters for Development
Baby laughter is not just adorable. It is also a sign of healthy social and emotional development. When your baby laughs, it means they are:
- Forming social bonds with you and other caregivers
- Developing an understanding of cause and effect (I do this, and something funny happens)
- Processing sensory information and finding patterns
- Beginning to understand social interaction and turn-taking
Laughing together also strengthens the bond between you and your baby. Those playful, joyful moments are building blocks for your relationship and for your baby's sense of security.
When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Every baby has their own personality. Some are naturally more serious or reserved, and that is okay. However, consider reaching out to your pediatrician if:
- Your baby is not smiling at people by 3 months
- Your baby shows little interest in faces or voices by 4 months
- Your baby does not seem to engage socially (no smiling, cooing, or eye contact) by 6 months
Your pediatrician can help determine if there is anything to look into further and can offer guidance.
Capture That First Laugh with Remi
Your baby's first laugh is a moment you will want to remember forever. Log it in Remi along with other milestones so you have a complete record of your baby's "firsts."
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