I believe that babies really start laughing at around the age of three to five months. Some will laugh sooner than others, however the range should still be about the same. Every baby develops their personalities at different ages, some sooner than others. The most important is to know the difference between a true laugh from your baby and not just an involuntary reflex your baby has no control over. I know that many parents see their babies laughing and smiling earlier than the age of three months, however, surprisingly this is usually due to gas or some kind of discomfort the baby is feeling in their bodies. I assume that babies have less control and understanding over their facial muscles so they can make extreme faces when they are gassy, hungry, or feeling some sort of discomfort. This can come across as a giggle, smile or even a laugh.

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Babies are triggered by laughing in many different ways. The most common way to make a baby laugh would be to play the game peek-a-boo. When you play this game, a baby does not understand where your face disappears to and that becomes funny to a baby and sometimes can create a hysterical laughing fit. Sometimes, babies can laugh at the oddest of things, such as a sneeze or a cough. The sound that you make can really send a baby into a laughing spell. Another great way is to blow what are called raspberries on your baby’s tummy. This gives them a ticklish feeling and then it could trigger them to laugh as well.

I have even heard of pets making babies laugh. The sight of some pets are even funny to adults, so I could definitely see where a baby may find them interesting enough to laugh at because of their odd appearance. Either the sight of a dog, the touch of a cat or anything that moves and is unfamiliar to a baby could make them turn over with joy. Lighting and musical sound is another great way to get a baby to laugh. The sound of sweet melodies and silly tunes can send a baby into a frantic laughing fit, and of course, this is a good thing. Babies see life in a different light than adults. They have no worries other than feeling hungry and wanting to be changed when needed. Their laughter comes more frequently than it would in an adult, so the simplest of things can get them going.

People say laughter is the best medicine and it is a known fact that it is good for a baby to experience these feelings. Some babies laugh more than others; however, I do not believe that this is due to the parents but rather to what they see and feel around them. Parents who think there is something wrong with their baby because they do not laugh at their jokes or the silly faces they make should not worry. A baby may not find the same things as funny as you may. I know of many babies who can sit and swing all day while keeping themselves occupied and laugh like they are watching the funniest comedian in the world. What I have observed with babies and why they laugh is that they are always in motion, whether it’s their eyes, bodies, or hands. This is why I believe the feel, sight and overall misunderstanding of something is what triggers a baby to laugh.

Even though I have given many suggestions on how to make or why a baby laughs does not mean that every baby will laugh at these same things. Parents should know their baby best and they will know what he or she likes and finds amusing. I know many parents who say that bath time creates a very inviting and friendly environment and this triggers their babies to laugh while splashing in the water. Other babies may not like bath time and they may be fearful of the water and have a negative response when getting wet. Again, there is no specific age, only an average age of an expected true laugh. One that is not induced by other feelings a baby may have but one that tickles their fancies in a way that we may not understand. On the other hand, it could be clear as day to us and we should continue to try and make our babies laugh if we know the trick.

I would like to add in general, babies should really start laughing between the ages of three and five months. If this does not happen, do not force your baby to try and laugh. It will only harm them and possibly hurt your ego. Do not mistake the early signs of discomfort from your baby as laughing because this is not a true laugh, which many people misunderstand. Always remember that light from a toy or even a simple lighted fan can be amusing to a baby. Sound from a silly song or a noise that you make from your body such as a sneeze or raspberry and feeling something that is different and unique like petting a dog or cat. Bath time while your baby is splashing water and even a baby who sees something that may look peculiar could trigger them to laugh.

I would like to say, in closing and, of course, last but not least, the pure and simple joy of a baby seeing a familiar person could trigger them to laugh. Unlike laughter from seeing or hearing something that is unfamiliar to them, they could respond the same way to seeing or hearing something that is familiar, such as their parents, grandparents and or siblings. Over all, there is no exact time or reason why a baby laughs but the one thing I do know is that when it happens, it is a pure joy which can light up any room and change a person’s mood with one simple laugh from a baby.

Sometimes, as parents, we forget to enjoy our children. We juggle busy lives and rush from one task to the next, rarely stopping to smile and laugh.

This video has become famous with nearly 100,000,000 views. Why? Because it is a wonderful, cheerful and encouraging celebration of family life. We can look at it every day and it makes us feel better. Yes. A baby can teach us to appreciate life.