A baby’s first laugh is always a trigger for a mini celebration as he tries to explore his new world, he finally starts interacting with those around him, and in case your little one hasn’t laughed yet and you’re wondering When does a newborn baby laugh? Follow this article with us.

Why do infants smile while sleeping?

When we see the infant smiling in his sleep, we hasten to say that he is smiling because he sees the angels, but there is also a scientific aspect to this matter, as the reasons that drive the infant to smile in his sleep vary, including:

Evolution of feelings

During waking hours, the infant is exposed to various types of sounds and scenes that the brain stores and then processes during sleep. Among these stored experiences may be feelings of happiness that push him to smile.

REM sleep

Infants experience rapid eye movement sleep just like adults, and it is a state in which the body undergoes many changes, one of which may be smiling. It may also be noticed that the infant moves the eyes quickly due to realistic dreams.

farting

The most common reason for children smiling during sleep is the release of gas, as this movement tickles them, especially children who suffer from colic, as this helps them to feel comfortable after pain, so they smile.

When does a newborn baby laugh?

One of the best moments of motherhood is hearing the infant’s laugh for the first time, but because each child is different from the other, there is no fixed time when the infant begins to laugh exactly, but most children laugh for the first time between the third month and the fourth month and begin to laugh hard in the fifth month. Gradually, children learn that the sound of their laughter causes positive reactions, so they start making lots of random sounds from time to time.

What many people don’t know is that the baby’s first smile is in the womb, and the baby starts to smile interactively at those around him when he reaches the age of one month, but some babies start smiling for the first time in the fourth month, and of course you can see their smile from time to time when they sleep.

How to encourage a child to laugh

Encouraging the child to smile is important and contributes to his cognitive and interactive development and develops his self-esteem because it makes him feel that his feelings are important and that he can influence those around him. Of course, this matter directly affects the development and growth of the brain, and the child can be encouraged to smile by:

• Choose a suitable time when the infant is comfortable and avoid times when he is hungry, for example.
• Hold the infant close to the face, as the infant cannot see beyond 20-30 cm.
• Smiling in the face for a few minutes and saying hello in a cheerful voice.

When the infant begins to smile in return, this means several things, including:

• He became able to understand human behavior.
• He comes to understand that smiling brings positive feedback from those around him.
• The brain is developing in a fast way.

After knowing the answer to your question When does a newborn baby laugh? We note the importance of avoiding violent play with the infant in the first months, such as throwing it in the air or the like, as this may lead to physical damage to the infant, and the child should be encouraged to smile constantly because this makes him feel important and happy.