What most of us probably haven’t done is stopped to think about why babies laugh at things. Whether it’s tickling their tummy or making funny faces, parents usually have a way for making their baby chuckle. Happily, mums and dads appear to score equally when it comes to making a baby chortle. According to a report by Dr Caspar Addyman, a Research Fellow at London Birkbeck University’s Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development — or the BabyLab as it has been dubbed. He is overseeing one of the biggest studies into what makes babies laugh, and why, it’s the boys who seem to have the biggest sense of humour, with parents reporting their sons laughed nearly 50 times a day in contrast to a mere 37 for daughters.Equally, a small number reported their baby didn’t laugh at all for the first 12 months.
This suggests babies have a range of temperaments that are present from early on.’ However, This could be reinforced by the behaviour of parents,’ says Dr Addyman. ‘If you think your boy baby is laughing more, you may try to make them laugh more.’ ‘Laughter is foremost a social thing. You laugh in company,’ he says. 'One of the clearest bits of evidence we’ve found is that it is not necessarily what you are doing, but the fact you are present with your baby that’s important — that is why they are happy.1
‘Crying is a signal they want something to change, while smiling or laughter is the opposite — it says keep doing what you’re doing.’
- Dr Caspar Addyman
‘The interesting thing, too, is that most parents play games instinctively because babies have an amazing way of getting adults to do stupid things that benefit everyone. 'It makes them laugh, but it is a bonding experience, too, which is really important. The first way to get babies to laugh is through touch,’ says Dr Addyman. ‘Tickling has deep evolutionary roots that come from being a mammal. It’s partly related to grooming, a vital function that is also pleasurable.’ it doesn’t take long for a baby to respond to the anticipation of being tickled as much as the act itself.’Less surprising was that the laughter was linked to parental touch.
'Ninety per cent of babies have smiled in the first two months and laughed just a few weeks after that, while we have had reports from parents that their baby has laughed unambiguously at just a few weeks old. Sometimes a baby’s laughter is triumphant — a form of “I have made this happen,’’ ’ says Dr Addyman. ‘And sometimes it can just be because there is a pleasing noise or sensation that is new to them. I think there can be a cause-and-effect connection, too
so tell me, what makes your baby laugh?
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2580540/Why-babies-laugh-Thats-scientist-set-learn-tantalising-results.
