When do babies laugh for the first time?

One of the most emotionally rewarding experiences of early parenthood is hearing those first baby giggles. They’re not only adorable, but they also help your little one express their contentment and increase the infant-caregiver bond. 

In this article, we’ll help you set expectations around when you may expect your baby to giggle and laugh, give you tips for encouraging this skill, and let you know what comes next in terms of infant communication. 

When do babies start laughing?

There’s a wide range of normal when it comes to developmental milestones like laughing. Not all infants will begin to chuckle or laugh at the same age, and that’s expected! The timelines below may help you set realistic expectations about when your baby may laugh, but keep in mind that it may happen sooner or later.  

When do babies giggle or chuckle? 

By around 4 months [] your little bundle of joy may begin to chuckle or give you some giggles when you try to make them laugh. Young babies usually don’t fully laugh at this age.  

When do babies laugh out loud?

Those first big laughs [] may happen around . 

When do babies laugh in response to social games?

At around 9 months [], babies may give you a smile or laugh in response to social games like peekaboo — a moment you’ll remember and cherish for years and years to come. 

Why do babies laugh?

Baby laughter isn’t just adorable — it serves some pretty important purposes in your little one’s early development. Here’s a look at what those sweet giggles are actually doing.

Social development: 

When your little one laughs, you can’t help but smile and feel happy, right? It’s like the sweetest reward for all of the work you’re doing to take care of your little human around the clock. Studies have shown [] that laughter can help strengthen infant-caregiver attachment and these playful interactions are highly rewarding for parents and babies as well. 

Communication development: 

Babies learn to laugh long before they can say their first words. This early form of communication can help them express contentment, just like crying helps them express displeasure. It’s also one of the earliest forms of interactive communication and a means of recognizing shared experiences. Babies often laugh to elicit a positive response from their communication partner or in response to something they enjoy. How cool is that? 

Why does your baby’s laughter matter?

Baby laughter is more than just an adorable sound — it’s a meaningful marker of your little one’s growth. Here’s why those giggles are such a big deal.

Laughter signals healthy development 

Laughter requires your baby to process a stimulus, react to it emotionally, and express that reaction — a surprisingly sophisticated sequence for such a tiny human. Early on, laughter starts almost as a laughing reflex — a response to novelty and sensation — before gradually becoming intentional and social.

Laughing together strengthens your bond 

Parent-child bonding through laughter isn’t just heartwarming,  it’s doing important developmental work. Shared laughter deepens the infant-caregiver connection and helps your baby feel safe, seen, and secure []. 

Laughter supports future communication 

Laughter is one of your baby’s earliest tools for back-and-forth interaction. When they giggle and you respond, you’re both practicing the conversational rhythm — taking turns, responding to cues — that will underpin language development down the road.

3 ways to make your baby laugh

Tip #1: Make silly sounds  

Babies tend to love silly sounds and facial expressions. Get as goofy as you can and see how your little one reacts! 

Tip #2: Play social games 

Babies may not react to social games like peekaboo until closer to 9 months old [], but you can still give it a shot! Even if peekaboo doesn’t elicit a laugh, repetition and hearing new words [] can help pave the way for future communication development. 

Tip #3: Blow raspberries

When you blow a raspberry on your little one’s tummy, the combination of light touch, a silly sound, and the sensation of air on their belly may be enough to elicit a laugh. Keep in mind that babies have different tolerance levels for physical play, so it’s always best to watch for cues to make sure they’re comfortable and enjoying it. You could also try blowing raspberries in the air to see if you get a reaction. 

What to do if your baby isn’t laughing yet

Babies all grow and develop at different rates. If your baby isn’t chuckling by around 4 months or fully laughing by 6 months, they may just need a little extra time to meet these milestones. However, you know your baby best and if you have any concerns about their development, it’s best to consult their pediatrician. 

 Lack of laughter can sometimes indicate hearing issues [], so it may be worth mentioning to your child’s doctor around 6 months — especially if they don’t respond consistently to sounds or aren’t smiling or vocalizing when spoken to.

How does my baby’s sense of humor develop?

Just like rolling over or saying their first word, your baby’s sense of humor develops in stages. Here’s a rough baby laughter timeline — what your little one may find funny at each stage, and why.

Around 4 months

At this stage, babies are easily delighted by simple — a funny face, an exaggerated sound, or a surprise. Their “humor” is really just a response to novelty and stimulation, but those early giggles are the foundation of everything to come.

Around 6 months 

As your baby becomes more socially aware, they start to enjoy interactive silliness. Think: exaggerated expressions, silly voices, and physical play like bouncing or raspberries. They’re also beginning to anticipate what comes next, which means the buildup to a funny moment can be just as exciting as the punchline.

Around 9 months

By now, babies are active participants in the joke. They’ll laugh at peekaboo not just because it’s surprising, but because they’re starting to understand the game — and may even try to initiate it themselves! This is humor as a social act, and it’s a genuinely exciting developmental experience.

Beyond 9 months 

As language and cognitive skills grow, so does your baby’s comedic repertoire. Expect plenty of delight in repetition, absurdity, and — eventually — the timeless art of making others laugh on purpose.

4 - 6 month communication milestones

Around the time your baby starts giggling, you may notice some other exciting communication developments happening, too, including:

• Responds to facial expressions 

• Follows objects with their eyes

• Vocalizes vowel sounds, sometimes combined with a consonant (“daaaaa” or “uuuuummm”)  

• or with objects in their mouth 

7 - 9 month communication milestones

As your baby approaches that 9-month peekaboo stage, their communication skills are really starting to take off. Here’s what you might notice:

• Looks when you call their name 

• Babbles a string of sounds like “bababa” or “mamama” 

• Raises arms to be picked up 

• Recognizes the names of some people and objects 

• Looks for caregivers when upset 

Takeaway

• More than just cute: Baby laughter is an early form of communication and an important part of infant-caregiver bonding — little ones use giggles to express joy the same way they use crying to express displeasure.

• Get silly: Making funny sounds and blowing raspberries are great ways to encourage your baby to laugh.

• Every baby is different: If your little one isn’t laughing by around 6 months, don’t panic — but do mention it to their pediatrician, as it can occasionally signal hearing issues.