Babies Growth & Development Babies for Beginners Guide Babies for Beginners Guide Overview Baby Care Change a Diaper Swaddle a Baby Bathe a Baby Use a Baby Wrap Measure Shoe Size Development Help Baby Sit Up Teach Baby to Crawl Teach Baby to Roll Over Teach Baby to Walk Teach Baby Sign Language Make Baby Laugh Health & Conditions Burp a Baby Help with Hiccups Help with Congestion Help with Gas Nutrition Prepare Baby Formula Start Baby-Led Weaning Make Baby Food Make Baby Oatmeal Introduce Eggs Staying Tidy Wash Baby Clothes Fold Baby Clothes Sterilize Baby Bottles Make Baby Wipes Clean Baby Toys How to Make a Baby Laugh By Renee Plant Renee Plant Renee Plant is a health and wellness freelance writer with a passion for delivering well-researched, factual content to readers. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 08, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Family articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and family healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Sarah Rahal, MD Medically reviewed by Sarah Rahal, MD LinkedIn Sarah Rahal, MD is a double board-certified adult and pediatric neurologist and headache medicine specialist. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Photo Composite by Madelyn Goodnight / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How Milestones Predict Laughter When Do Babies Start Laughing? How to Make Your Baby Laugh What to Consider When to See a Doctor Next in Babies for Beginners Guide How to Burp a Baby Hearing your baby's laugh is one of the most remarkable moments during the first year. Whether it's a chuckle or a full belly laugh, once you hear that sound for the first time, you'll be doing all you can to hear it as often as possible. Your baby has been experimenting with sounds since the beginning. Those coos, squeals, and gurgles have all been practice for that first eruption of laughter, which is a vital step in learning to communicate. If you're impatiently waiting for your baby to hit this milestone, you're not alone. The sound of a baby's laughter is music to their parents' ears, and it's a sign of healthy development. Learn when to expect your baby's first laugh, how you can help them discover the sound, and what to do if they haven't reached this milestone when expected. How Milestones Predict Laughter Babies change rapidly during their first year of life. The significant developmental stages during this period are called milestones. The exact age each child will hit their milestones varies slightly, but these stages of development help serve as a benchmark. In that way, milestones can help you better understand when to expect certain behavioral and physical checkpoints to emerge. For example, when it comes to their first laugh, if your baby has begun flashing their signature smile, chances are that laughter will soon accompany their gummy grin. Like smiling, laughter is another way your baby can communicate with you. Each new sound your baby makes comes from learning how the mouth and tongue move, so like any new skill, laughing takes a bit of practice. It's important to remember babies reach their milestones at different times. While charts are a great reference tool, you may find your baby acquires some skills earlier or later than expected. Milestones are estimations, and there is a range of normal in terms of when a baby will reach significant achievements. 1:35 Click Play to Learn How to Make a Baby Laugh When Do Babies Start Laughing? Many babies will produce that first chuckle at about 4 months of age. However, you may notice your baby burst into laughter before or slightly after. In fact, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the typical range for babies to first giggle or laugh is somewhere between 4 and 6 months old. Like any new skill, laughter may take some time to perfect. But, as your baby gets older, their laughter will become more abundant. Also, while it's no question your baby's giggle is music to your ears, the sound likely 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. How to Make Your Baby Laugh Fear not: You don't have to be a stand-up comedian to tickle your baby's funny bone. Your baby's first laugh may come from their favorite toy or a pet doing something silly. Or just from looking at your smiling face. Having fun with your baby is the best way to encourage laughter. Here are some ways you can get your baby giggling. Funny Faces Your baby knows your expressions now and often tries to mimic them. Making a silly face, like opening your mouth wide or sticking your tongue out, may be unexpected enough to make your little one chuckle. Blowing Raspberries Who can resist a sweet baby tummy? Blowing raspberries on your baby's belly is a great way to produce a belly laugh. All you need to do is to kiss your baby's tummy while also blowing out. The sound and feeling is sure to elicit a giggle from your little love. Singing Don't worry if your vocals are a bit dicey—your baby adores your voice. Songs with fun hand motions (think "Itsy Bitsy Spider" or "The Wheels on the Bus") are big hits with little ones, and there's no better applause than laughter. Nose Kisses That little face is so kissable, but a regular smooch is what your baby expects. Switch it up by rubbing noses and see if your little one reacts with a gleeful chuckle. Peekaboo Hey, where did you go? Hiding your face in your hands then shouting "peekaboo!" may surprise and amuse your baby, perhaps to the point of laughter. Verywell / Jiaqi Zhou What to Consider When Making Your Baby Laugh It may seem intuitive to tickle your baby, but experts suggest waiting until the giggles become more frequent before giving this method a go. While some babies enjoy tickling, it can make others feel uncomfortable. So, 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 nap time. Is Tickling Toddlers Safe? When to See a Doctor 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 so your baby can receive early intervention services if needed. If your baby isn't laughing by 6 months of age, it's a good idea to bring this up with a pediatric health care provider. They can determine 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: Absence of cooing or babbling Failure to make eye contact Inability to gesture or wave Jitteriness or shaky, uncontrolled movements Lack of social smiling or laughing Losing previously acquired skills Poor muscle control What Is Early Intervention? A Word From Verywell It's easy to compare your child to others, especially in the age of parent groups and social media. You may find your friend's child who is the same age as your baby has developed a particular skill that your little one has yet to tap into, which can cause concern. However, as long as your baby is healthy and isn't exhibiting any red flags in terms of development, try to 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 a pediatrician for advice. Guide to Your Baby’s First Year Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Track your baby’s most exciting moments with our milestone checklist. Get it free when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 5 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Milestone moments. Speech and language milestones. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Birth to one year. Heggie BA. The healing power of laughter. J Hosp Med. 2019;14(5):320. doi:10.12788/jhm.3205 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Milestone moments: Learn the signs, act early. Featured Video