At how many months can a baby laugh

Every parent looks forward to their baby's first smile and their baby's first laugh. 
It is a feeling of real connection beyond the day to day routine of feeding 
and changing nappies that is very special. Also laughter, like a smile, 
is a communication that everyone in the whole world can understand.

At what age should my baby start to laugh? is a question asked by many parents. You can expect your baby to laugh somewhere between 3 to 6 months but keep in mind, as with all child development, most babies are different. So don't worry if your baby is not laughing at 4 months because everyone is unique and some babies just don't laugh as much as others. Please don't compare your baby to other babies, even other siblings.

What's in a Laugh?
A laugh may seem like a simple and spontaneous act but it is quite complex - it even has it's own science called gelotology. It is a brain development involved with various regions of the brain. When we laugh we use the diaphragm and parts of the respiratory system. 
Laughing is a form of communication and babies will be babbling and cooing before they laugh. 

Laughter consists of two parts -- a set of gestures and the production of a sound. When we laugh, the brain pressures us to conduct both those activities simultaneously. When we laugh heartily, changes occur in many parts of the body, even the arm, leg and trunk muscles. science.howstuffworks.com

You may also like this interesting article: How five-month-old babies know what’s funny

Before they speak or crawl or walk or achieve many of the other amazing developmental milestones in the first year of life, babies laugh. This simple act makes its debut around the fourth month of life, ushering in a host of social and cognitive opportunities for the infant.

Baby Massage

"It is through our hands that we speak to the child. That we communicate. Touch is the child’s first language, understanding comes long after feeling" ~ Dr Frederick Leboyer *

I have done an Infant Massage course and use to teach parents to massage their baby from birth as I understood the calming and bonding nature of this ancient activity.

Baby's hands at 2 months of age

Have you noticed that newborn infants have strong grasps?
 
This is caused by the Grasp Reflex, also called the Palmar grasp. At 2 months of age the grasp reflex should still be present in your baby’s fingers. It is a part of normal early development. Newborn babies are miracles, moving in response to stimulation and inbuilt body reflexes.

A reflex is a movement response - a muscle reacting automatically so this movement is involuntary.

Games for babies: everybody dance now!

Put on some of your own favourite music: it doesn't matter if it is rock, pop, classical, hip hop or jazz.

Hold baby close to you.

Support your baby's head by holding the back of their neck (as shown in photo).

Win $500 in the Baby Registry Sweepstakes

Healthy recipes for baby foods

How you feed your baby will be one of the many important decisions you make in the first year of your baby's life.

What first foods to feed baby.
I have had 5 babies and always found that they loved sweet vegetables as their first foods. Sweet vegetables like carrot and sweet potato. There is nothing better than making your own baby foods as most commercial foods have been heated so highly to sterilize them, which takes out most of the good nutrients found in fresh fruits and vegetables. This is also why bananas and pears also make a wonderful first fruit, when ripe, as they need no cooking and therefore retain all their vitamins and minerals.

Developmental baby toys for 3-6 month olds

As I've mentioned previously, babies do not need lots of toys.  But what if you need to buy a gift for a new born baby or a baby who is having a naming day or christening - what should you buy? Developmental baby toys for 3-6 month olds would make a great gift for a newborn because this is the age when they would start to appreciate a toy.

Baby game to play: Row, Row, Row your boat

The HOW and Why of  playing this traditional song as a game with your baby.

 

Row, row, row your boat,

Gently down the stream. 

Merrily, Merrily, Merrily, Merrily,  
Life is but a dream.

AGE: From when your baby is 4 months

old.

Caring for Infants With Respect

The way we care for our babies is how they experience our love.  – Magda Gerber

Magda Gerber was an amazing woman who taught how we can have a great relationship and appreciation of our baby and embrace their ability for self-discovery.

Be careful what you teach. It might interfere with what they are learning. - Magda Gerber

Lullabies





Lullaby painted by 
William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1875)

Libraries have a lot to offer

Libraries are a free source of wonderful learning materials and now, in Australia and many other countries, they are a way for parents of young children to connect and learn.

You can borrow great baby books, for free, from your local library and there is usually a specific section of board books which are the absolute best for babies.

This means you can have lots of books in your home for your baby to explore and you can change books regularly. If one or two become favourites then you know which ones to purchase or request for birthday gifts.

Peek a boo

Babies seem to love this Peek a boo game, from around 3 months of age, and are happy to play it over and over again.

1.You can play it in  four different ways:

• Hide your face behind your fingers, move your hands and say PEEK A BOO! (as in picture)