When Do Babies Start Smiling And Laughing?

Is there anything cuter than a happy child? Its sweet laughter and lovely smile.

No, probably not.

Well, maybe puppies?

No. When it comes to your baby, nothing can compare.

If your little one is whipping and grinding, get ready, laughing is on its way. These sounds are the first signs that your toddler is experimenting and learning how to move its mouth and tongue around. All of this will lead to laughter and later on, to words.

When Do Babies Start Smiling?

Believe it or not, infants actually start to smile while they are still in a womb.

Yes. That’s true. They are quite active in there.

First smiles are not intentional, and they are not the answers on anything. Those are reflexes, similar to hand or leg ones. Newborns are born with a lot of reflexes, as with sucking reflex. Smiling is one of them. That’s why a nursling is only laughing at mom.

These facial expressions represent the experience of the infant’s growth.

Smiles are more important than you might think. They reveal a lot about development. Grin is a sign that eyes are getting better (a baby can recognize mother’s face). Brain and nerve system are healthy enough to eliminate reflex smile.

The reflex smile will disappear on its own until the second month of age.

In this phase, the infant starts to understand that its feelings are important and that they have a specific effect.

Just like crying, grinning is a way of communication and an infant will use it to connect with others. It will be used to express gratitude, happiness, excitement, and pleasure.

First conscious, or the real smile and laugh can appear between sixth and twelfth week.

The difference between the kind of smiles is the moment when it happens and the length of it.

Reflex ones tend to happen randomly and last very short; it can happen baby is tired, or it’s sleeping.

Real smile and laugh occur as a response to something when a nursling sees its mother when it hears the familiar voice. That’s when you get to look at the emotions on the face.

When you hear your child laugh it is good to respond at it. That’s something your kid is looking and hoping for. A nursling enjoys its sound, and it will be excited with your reaction when you use the sound. Also, it’s a great exercise, interactions like these will help your child develop social skills in the future.

Once a newborn starts to laugh it will happen more and more often. Now it will not be random anymore, it will be an aware physical reaction to something that makes your little one feels great.

Don’t be surprised if you put your angel to bassinet and you hear it laughs.  A toddler might do it even while it is dreaming and sleeping. This can happen around the ninth month or earlier.

The sound of the laugh will not stay the same. Listen carefully, and you will notice the difference as your newborn is growing. Sounds are changing as the larynx is developing too.

As baby’s senses and mind are growing too, knowledge of the world around it develops with it. Even if it can’t see some things, it will laugh at it, often hysterically.

Peek-a-boo kind of games is what will make your baby go crazy, and it will be delighted. The same goes for putting a block tower up and knocking it down. A child understands that blocks are toys and it will appreciate the game, and it will be funny for it to watch and enjoy.

baby-laughing

My Baby Is Not Smiling Yet!?

Don’t panic!

Remember, children are not machines, and they are programmed to do the same things at the same time.

Same goes for your baby.  It is unique, and is growing, developing skills and learning in its own pace.

Also, it might take a while for you to understand what is making your nursling to show some facial expressions. Some are just more serious than others.  Others don’t react to something most kids do. Be creative and try different gags until you find the right one.

My Baby Doesn’t Laugh at Other People?

Well, it might be that your baby is just cautious.  It can recognize familiar and unfamiliar faces, and that’s why it might not laugh at someone new. That’s why when you do something, and your child reacts to it positively it might cry when a stranger does it.

Still Nothing?

Don’t worry, as long as your baby is whipping and grinding, and is communicating in its way and style, it is fine. Some children take more time than others.

How Can You Make Your Baby Smile?

When your toddler starts to enjoy smiling, make it happy and laugh with it as much as possible. Use visual and vocal stimulation as often as you can.

Of course, have in mind that not every time is the right for fun. Make sure that your little one is well fed and rested. After that, fun times can start.

Here is how you can make your baby laugh and smile more:

  • Make eye contact often, be sure to have a big smile on your face while you are doing it
  • Laugh when you talk to your child
  • Act crazy and foolish, make funny faces and funny noises
  • Imitate sound of different animals
  • Tickle toes or feet, or the rest of the body
  • Blow gently on your baby’s belly, or kiss it with smooch noise
  • Put it in your lap and wiggle it
  • Sing songs and clap in the rhythm

Conclusion

It might look easy to smile and laugh, but it’s a bit harder than you think. Researchers are not precisely sure how many muscles you need to make a single smile. Some say more some say less. It’s not really that important.

What matters, is that laughings one of the best things you can do, especially with the person you love.

For some people, children’s laugh is the most beautiful sound that could exist in the world. Whether thattrueor not for you. There are big chances you like to hear it.

Don’t waste time and enjoy every second of your baby’s laughter!

Remember to put on at least one every day!

Tags:

We will be happy to hear your thoughts

Leave a reply