When do infants start giggling

You also want to be sure you're within a foot or two of your child, since young babies may still experience blurriness when looking across a room. And, don't be afraid to bust out your silliest baby talk. Sign up here. Be a copycat. Imitating your baby is another way to encourage the back-and-forth interactions that are so important for social development whether they spark a laugh or not. Also imitating them is a great way to show them oh, I can do something myself to engage this person.

At first they won't imitate words, but they will imitate cooing, blowing raspberries and mouth movements as they explore what it is to make sounds," says Cross. Limit screen time. Even if you think "Sesame Street" is hysterical, it's not going to have the same effect on a little one. According to Cross, you should let your pediatrician know if your baby isn't smiling by four months and if they are not demonstrating any kind of laugh by six months.

Starting around the 6-month mark , babies have enough information about the world around them to be surprised —and delighted—at the unexpected. Peekaboo becomes a funny-bone favorite now, and almost anything that is decidedly out of their ordinary realm of experience gives kids the giggles.

A baby's first laugh is usually reserved for the people who first made him smile: Mommy and Daddy. It begins with parents making faces and funny noises to get the baby excited and interested, notes Doris Bergen, PhD, a professor of educational psychology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. A baby's relationship to the adult doing the funny stuff matters as much as the physical sensations and funny noises; he'll laugh and play only if he feels secure. After the first few chuckles, what makes an infant giggle is primarily physical and feels pleasurable: blowing raspberries on his belly, tickling his feet, picking him up and flying him gently through space.

At about 4 months, a baby begins to laugh at things he can see and hear. He'll delight in nonsense humor —an exaggeration of things he typically experiences, such as faces with wide-open mouths and big eyes and wacky sounds such as toots and trills.

Your baby's giggles mean he's having a good time, but he doesn't yet have a true sense of humor. He'll begin to develop one within the next six months, when he has the cognitive ability to find an idea funny.

Try to tickle your newborn, and you'll discover that he doesn't laugh. Why isn't he ticklish? Maybe it's because he doesn't understand that other people are separate from him, says child development expert Lawrence Kutner, PhD, co-director of the Harvard Medical School Center for Mental Health and Media. It's no question your baby's giggle is music to your ears, but the sound pleases your little one, too.

Laughter feels good for everyone, and it's an enjoyable new sound for your baby to make. Babies also enjoy seeing the reaction their laughter evokes from their parents, siblings, and other caregivers.

Fear not: you don't have to be a stand-up comedian to tickle your baby's funny bone. In fact, your baby's first laugh may come from their favorite toy or from a pet doing something silly.

There's no need to pull out your best jokes, but having fun with your baby is the best way to encourage laughter to emerge. Here are some ways you can get your baby giggling:. It may seem intuitive to tickle your baby, but experts suggest waiting until the giggles become more frequent before giving this method a go.

Some babies rather enjoy tickling, however, it can make other littles ones feel uncomfortable. Wait until your baby can better communicate and express emotions before introducing the tickle monster. Like adults, babies have their own moods and preferences. The best bet for producing a case of giggles is to try during a time when your baby is fed, rested, and alert.

In other words, don't let comedy hour coincide with naptime. If your baby seems to have missed the laughter milestone altogether, it could signal a potential problem.

Although there is a range in terms of when babies reach their milestones, remember to keep an eye out for signs of a developmental delay in order to implement early intervention services, if needed. It's important to mention any concerns about your child to the pediatrician—big or small. The doctor can advise you as to whether the issue warrants further testing, or whether it's simply something to keep an eye on during the coming months.

Common red flags to watch out for during the first year of your child's development include:. It's easy to compare your child to others, especially in the age of mom groups and social media.

You may find your friend's child who is the same age as your baby has developed a certain skill that your little one has yet to tap into, which can be cause for concern. Remember, milestones are expected dates of when children typically meet certain goals, but there is room for variation. That first laugh is a special moment, and will likely arrive before you know it! As long as your baby is healthy and isn't exhibiting any red flags in terms of development, you can sit back and enjoy their unique timeline.

Of course, should you have any questions or concerns about your baby's development, it's always best to reach out to their pediatrician for advice. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter.