How to Make a Baby Laugh

Four Parts:Using Simple Games to Amuse Your Baby Playing Peekaboo Playing Pat A Cake With Your Baby Playing This Little Piggy Questions and Answers

Babies love to laugh, as it's a new sound for them to create. Playing games, singing songs, and tickling are good ways to make a baby laugh. These games will help a baby develop some early cognitive skills too. Making a baby laugh is easy through simple games and can be a welcome distraction for new parents dealing with a fussy child.

EditPart 1 of 4: Using Simple Games to Amuse Your Baby

1
Play up the absurd. Babies as young as 9 months know when something's amiss.^[1]
- For instance, if you put a pan on your head, your kid will realize something's wrong and will likely find it funny.
- Try funny faces. Pull funny faces by making your eyes wider and pulling out your lips or sticking out your tongue. Your kid will find it silly and funny.^[2]
- Babies that are 6 months will find this especially hilarious because they think anything silly or out of the ordinary is funny. Try different noises to see what your baby finds funny.^[3]
- If you want your baby to keep laughing, change your facial expression to something else.
- Laugh in response.
2
Make funny movements. You can do things such as dancing, clapping, or other gestures to make your baby laugh. ^[4]
- Use a hand puppet. Making a hand puppet dance and sing for your baby will make him giggle.^[5]
- Making funny hand gestures isn't usual, and your baby will notice. It's funny because your baby doesn't expect it to happen.^[6]
3
Try making funny noises or singing songs. Babies love unusual sounds. They will get your baby's attention.^[7]
- Sing a song. Any song that has hand or body gestures will make your baby giggle. Try the "Itsy-Bitsy Spider" or even the "Hokey Pokey."^[8]
- Play a funny sound. Kids like sounds that are odd or silly, such as farting noises. You may have to try different noises to see what your baby finds funny.
- Kids also love animal sounds, so try copying the family cat or dog.
- Try not to make these sounds too loud or startling. This might scare the baby!
4
Try physical games with lots of touch and fun noises. These kinds of games help to build a physical bond between you and your baby, and serve to make him laugh and be happy. ^[9]
- Tickle your baby. Babies often find tickles funny, but keep them to a minimum. Too much can be annoying to your baby.^[10]
- Chase your baby. If your baby is crawling, get down on the floor and crawl after her. Make sure you're smiling so that your baby knows it's a game.^[11]
- Kiss your baby, and make raspberries. By blowing bubbles on his tummy or face, you'll get a laugh out of your baby. You can also try kissing her toes or fingers.^[12]
- Capture his nose. Pretend you're stealing his nose, and show him your thumb between your fingers (his "nose"). He'll giggle at the thought.^[13]

EditPart 2 of 4: Playing Peekaboo

1
Start playing when your baby is happy. Make sure you are in a good mood yourself. ^[14]
- Babies can mimic laughter even at an early age.
- Many babies laugh out loud for the first time at 3-4 months of age.
- Babies will laugh in response to bright colors, toys, and other people's laughter.
2
Recognize that even younger infants will smile and laugh at simple game.Peekaboo can be important for object permanence development in infants six months and older.
- Object permanence is when the baby recognizes that objects and events still exist even when they can't be seen or heard.
- Playing peekaboo is a great way to exercise this cognitive development.
- It can also be a great way for younger kids to play with a younger sibling or relative.
3
Show the baby an object. It should be one of their toys such as a teething ring or a ball they can grab.
- Allow the baby to examine the toy for a minute or two. Let them touch it and grab at it to explore.
- After a few minutes, cover the object with a cloth. If a baby has object permanence, they will be able to pull the cloth off and find the object.
- Pull the cloth off and smile. This will often make the baby laugh or giggle, as you have made the object re-appear.
4
Do the same with faces. Start by smiling at your baby and talking to him in a sweet voice.
- Cover your face with your hands and say "Where's Mommy?" or "Where's _____?
- Pop back out and say "Peekaboo! I see you!"
- Keep your voice happy and stay smiling.
- Remember, the goal is to get the baby to laugh and not scare the baby.
5
Get other children to join in the game. This is a great way for a brother or sister to connect with a younger sibling.
- This is one of the games that older children love to play with babies.
- Both the baby and the older child get automatic feedback from one another.
- The baby enjoys the game and this allows the older child to establish a bond with the baby.

EditPart 3 of 4: Playing Pat A Cake With Your Baby

1
Be aware that this is a rhyming game that has hand motions that go along with a short poem. This may be better for older babies that can mimic your body movements and some simple words.^[15]
- Even younger babies may get a huge kick out of this game.
- Babies tend to like sounds that rhyme.
- Babies will unconsciously begin to mimic your smile and laughter at 3 months.
- Playing games such pat a cake using happy sounds can bring out a laugh from baby.
2
Start the game by saying the first line. As you say the line, you will need to do the right hand movements. ^[16]
- The first line of the poem is "Pat a cake, pat a cake, baker's man."
- As you say the line you will want to clap your hands.
- You can alternate by patting your palms on your thighs.
- With older babies, you can gently help your child clap along with the rhyme.
3
Continue with the poem. The second line reads "Bake me a cake as fast as you can". ^[17]
- Continue to clap and pat your thighs as you say the second line.
- Alternatively, you can gently help an older baby to follow along with the hand motions.
- Keep your tone bright and enthusiastic with a big smile on your face.
- As your baby laughs, respond with laughter. This will just increase the fun!^[18]
4
Finish the poem. The last lines are as follows: ^[19]
- "Roll it. Pat it. And mark it with a B. And put it in the oven for baby and me!"
- When you say "roll it", roll your arms in a circle.
- When you say "pat it", pat your hands on your lap.
- When you say "Mark it with a B", draw a B in the air with your finger.
- When you say "put it in the oven", mimic the action of putting a cake in the oven.
5
Repeat as many times as your baby is amused. Children love repetitive games.^[20]
- Many babies will find this amusing over and over again.
- It can be a good way to distract an unhappy child.
- As your child gets older, try to make them do the hand motions with you. This can help them to learn ordered play and coordination.

EditPart 4 of 4: Playing This Little Piggy

1
Know that this little piggy can amuse younger and older babies. In this game, you touch each toe as you say a line about a different little pig. ^[21]
- Younger babies will enjoy the sound of the rhyming and the touching of the toes.
- Older children, as they begin to understand words and animals, will be able to relate to the words of the rhyme.
- This can help you introduce some vocabulary words and body parts to a toddler or older baby (12-15 months).
2
Start by touching one of your baby's big toes. Say the first line of the rhyme.^[22]
- It is "This little piggy went to market".
- Wiggle her big toe as you say the line.
- Laugh and smile after say the line, this might get a reaction from your baby.
3
Continue to the second, third, and fourth lines of the poem. These are as follows: ^[23]
- "This little piggy stayed home".
- "This little piggy had roast beef."
- "This little piggy had none."
- As you say each line progress to the next toe and wiggle it.
- As you wiggle the toes, this might tickle the baby a little and cause him to laugh.
4
Say the last line of the poem. You should land on the pinky toe as you say this line.
- The last line of the poem is "And this little piggy went wee, wee, wee, wee all the way home!"
- As you say the last line wiggle your baby's pinky toe.
- Then tickle all the way up to his tummy.