Baby's first laugh: here's what to expect

When to expect baby's first laugh

So exactly when do babies giggle? Most babies start to laugh once they reach 3 or 4 months old but equally this could be earlier or later for your baby – and that's completely normal. Babies tend to hit developmental milestones at different paces so parents need not worry too much. Believe it or not, you could experience your baby laughing at just 2 months old!

There are stages to this wonderful milestone, it all begins with a smile from as young as 6-8 weeks old then the audible sound of giggles and chuckles usually comes much later as they develop.

Why do babies laugh?

Babies laugh and coo when engaging with one of their favourite people or enjoying playtime. More particularly, a baby's laugh is triggered by a sense of connection and familiarity. You – their carer – have the key to unlock your baby's bundles of giggles. This is their way of communicating with you and expressing joy. "They laugh at people, they laugh with their best friends, they laugh when they are happy" shares baby psychologist Dr Caspar Addyman.

As time passes, your baby's sense of humour will continue to develop and will manifest in how they respond to your humorous efforts. They'll start to understand funny gestures and eventually complex jokes and stories as time goes on.

How to encourage your baby to laugh

Most parents spend hours wondering how to make their baby laugh for the first time. But rest assured that as their parent or carer, you have all it takes to make your little one giggle.

Babies love seeing familiar faces and hearing familiar voices, so just by you engaging with them in a light-hearted way through talking or singing will surely produce an adorable, little chuckle.

Ever heard the saying 'laughter is medicine for the soul'? This is the case even for your young baby. Encouraging your baby to laugh and smile has proven benefits including creating a strong bond between you both. It also helps to relieve stress for your baby and you too especially during the difficult early days.

"Laughter is an intensely social activity and humour reflects a delight in the world. So in my view, children who spend more time in good company and exploring widely are likely to develop the best sense of humor" says Dr Caspar Addyman.

Try the following ideas to make your baby laugh:

• playing peek-a-boo
• blowing raspberries on their tummy
• making funny, animated faces
• making silly, babbling noises
• gently tickling your baby
• singing songs and nursery rhymes
• holding up their favourite toy
• (bizarrely!) ripping a piece of paper

The last one was demonstrated in a viral YouTube trend back in 2015 which showed parents ripping a piece of paper in front of their little one. Lo and behold, there were belly laughs and giggles triggered by this ordinary action.

Why is my baby not laughing?

It's perfectly normal for babies to hit developmental milestones at different ages such as holding their head up or rolling over. It can take up to 7 months for your baby to make their first chuckle and this could be due to simple reasons such as their individual personality or sense of humour still forming. Be patient with your baby and discover what brings them joy by trying out the various ideas to encourage your baby to laugh. Also, ensure that your baby is relaxed and satisfied before trying to encourage them to laugh.

If you are concerned that this isn't the case for your little one and they still haven't attempted to laugh by the end of 7 months, then see your GP or health visitor. They can discern and offer the best advice for you and your baby.

Pic: Getty Images

Read more:

• What is tummy time?
• When will my baby be able to hold their head up?
• Your 3-month-old baby's development milestones