Babies typically start laughing around the age of 4 months , although this can vary from about 3 to 7 months depending on their individual development. Laughter usually follows earlier milestones such as social smiling, which tends to begin around 6 to 8 weeks old. Initially, babies may giggle or chuckle lightly before developing into full laughter. This early laughter is an important expression of emotional, social, and cognitive development. In summary:
- Social smiles: around 6 to 8 weeks old
- First laughter/giggling: generally around 3 to 4 months old
- More consistent, full laughs: around 4 to 6 months old, sometimes up to 7 months
Babies laugh in response to playful interactions and stimuli like tickling and funny faces, and this laughter helps build social bonds and communication skills.
