One of the most joyful moments for new parents is hearing their baby’s first real belly laugh. Here’s what to expect with laughing milestones, ways to encourage those first giggles, and what it means for development.
When Do Babies Start Laughing?
Babies typically go through stages on the way to full laughter:
- 2 months: Begins smiling
- 3-4 months: Coos turn into chuckles
- 4-5 months: Giggles and mild laughing
- 5-6 months: Full belly laughing out loud1
Of course every child progresses at their own pace. But most babies laugh noticeably by 4-5 months and enjoy big contagious laughs by 6 months old. If you are concerned your baby is delayed, consult your pediatrician.
Signs of Laughing Milestones
Here are signs your little one is reaching key laughing stages:
- Cooing and chuckling: Around 2-3 months babies make throaty sounds and give breathy mini-laughs.
- Laughing at interactions: By 4 months, babies laugh in response to smiles, silly faces, and peekaboo games.
- Laughing at sights and sounds: Around 5 months, your baby may find sounds, toys, and exaggerated expressions funny.
- Belly laughing: Full on, contagious baby belly laughs emerge at 5-6 months.
What Makes Babies Laugh?
What evokes those sweet baby giggles?
- Physical sensations: Babies laugh at light tickling, bouncing, raspberries on their belly, or being flown gently through the air.
- Social interaction: Making eye contact, smiling, and being silly engages your baby’s social awareness and gets laughs.
- Surprise: Around 5-6 months, exaggerated expressions, peekaboo, and unexpected sounds become funny to babies.
As your baby develops cognitively, their sense of humor expands. But a secure bond with you makes the difference early on between interest and full baby belly laughs. 2
Encouraging Your Baby’s Laugh
Here are fun ways to get your little one giggling:
- Make silly faces, sounds, and gestures
- Tickle your baby’s feet or belly
- Play peekaboo
- Gently bounce or fly your baby
- Have animated, sing-songy conversations
- Laugh often yourself – babies imitate!
It may take a little while for your baby to warm up and start really laughing out loud. Stay patient, keep interacting playfully, and that first big belly laugh will come soon!
When Do Babies Become Ticklish?
Interestingly, babies aren’t ticklish right away. Newborns don’t laugh when tickled under their chin or feet. Around 2-3 months, babies start showing sensitivity to touch that leads to ticklishness and giggles.
One theory is newborns can’t differentiate between their own body and others yet. As babies develop self-awareness, they realize you are touching them and it feels tickly. Now your light tickles provoke giggles and bonding! 3
What Baby Laughter Means
Your baby’s emerging laughter is a huge milestone! Here’s what those giggles signify:
- Cognitive growth: Your baby knows you exist even when playing peekaboo. Their world now extends beyond just the visible.
- Social development: Laughing shows your baby enjoys interacting. This motivates building relationships.
- Emotional development: Belly laughs mean your baby feels safe and happy with you.
So savor that baby laugh alert – it means amazing developmental leaps! With time, consistency, and play, your little one’s giggles will erupt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my baby isn’t laughing at 6 months?
Consult your pediatrician if your 6 month old isn’t laughing steadily yet. Your doctor can check for potential developmental lags and provide help if needed. But remember, every baby has their own schedule.
How do I get my 4 month old to laugh?
At 4 months, babies start to chuckle in response to social interaction. Try making silly faces and noises, playing peekaboo, or giving raspberries on their belly. Respond and laugh yourself when your baby giggles to encourage more!
Why do babies laugh when you tickle them?
Laughter from tickling emerges around 2-3 months as babies differentiate touch on their own body versus others. Light tickling likely produces a sensation babies now recognize as coming from you, which evokes smiling and laughter.
Do babies know why they are laughing?
Not at first! Early giggles are reflexive without a sense of “humor.” But around 5 months, cognitive growth allows babies to intentionally laugh at sights, sounds, or games they find funny. Their sense of humor expands rapidly.
How can I make my unhappy baby laugh?
If your baby is fussy, try taking a play break. Hold them closely, make eye contact, and be silly with faces and voices. Bouncing gently or blowing raspberries on their belly might elicit smiles. Meet any immediate needs like feeding or changing first.
Hearing your baby’s first real laughs is absolute music to a parent’s ears! With attentive care and encouragement, most babies start giggling by 4-5 months and belly laughing around 6 months. Celebrate this precious sound and the amazing development it represents.