Giggly Baby

Having a baby can be tiring and stressful, but the moment you see him smile and hear him laugh, it all seems worth it!

What are the benefits of laughter?
Laughter actually makes you feel better. Studies have shown that laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress and strengthens the body's ability to fight infection and disease. When you laugh, your body releases natural painkillers called endorphins, and your sense of well-being increases.

You've probably noticed that you feel better after a good laugh. The only problem is that our sense of humor usually deserts us when we need it most, which is when things get tough. After all, let's face it, caring for a baby is stressful. The crying, the hectic feeding schedule, the interrupted sleeping, the colic and the diaper changes can make you exhausted and irritable. The trick is to see the funny aspects of daily life and to use laughter to diffuse tense situations. Once you taste the fun and pleasure of your baby's laughter, it becomes addictive and you can't wait to have some more

Why is it important for babies to laugh?
Laughter most likely has the same positive psychological and physical effects on babies as it does on adults. Furthermore, until a child is able to talk and express his feelings, the only indication that he's doing well is from his mood. A baby who enjoys a good laugh shows his parents that he's fine, and that, consequently, they are doing a good job as parents.

Also, laughter plays a fundamental role in forming a bond between a baby and his parents, especially his father. Many fathers have a hard time seeing themselves as parents, especially during the first three months of their child's life, when the baby's tiny size and delicate nature usually frightens them more than it appeals to them. However, when the baby first starts to laugh, fathers usually melt with emotion. From that day on, they will usually look for every opportunity to make their baby laugh Babies learn very quickly that you love to see them laugh, and they will laugh in the hope of captivating your attention a little longer. It is their way of telling you they enjoy your company

How do you make your baby laugh?
Babies, like adults, have their own sense of humor. Some babies find balloons hysterical, while others laugh at soap bubbles or clowns. You'll never know what makes your baby laugh until you try. You can exhaust yourself testing techniques that always made an older brother or sister laugh, and your younger child will remain expressionless. However, do something different, and he may giggle uncontrollably. One mom says that whenever her baby is miserable, she grabs him by the feet and pretends to look everywhere for his head and not find it, which causes fits of laughter in her baby. She says she only uses this method when he is extremely upset, so it doesn't lose its effect.

Improvisation based on your baby's personality is the best way to find out what will make him laugh. However, some classic laughter techniques work on most babies. In his book, 97 Ways to Make a Baby Laugh, author Jack Moore describes several methods that are tested and guaranteed to produce giggles in babies. Here are five methods that we have adapted for you to try:

Soap bubbles: Buy a small container of soap bubbles at a toy store and use it to blow bubbles for baby. He'll love to watch the bubbles get bigger, float and pop.

Snoring dad: Dad (or another family member) lies on the floor, pretending to be asleep and making very loud, exaggerated snores. Each time baby touches Dad, he sits up in mock surprise.

Mirror, mirror: Babies love looking in mirrors. Hold baby in front of a mirror, and say "Look, there is baby," then do something funny. For example, make a silly face, or put a baby-sized hat on baby's head and an adult-sized hat on yours, then switch hats, then switch them again.

Crawling backwards: On a large bed, allow baby to crawl a few steps away from you, then gently grab his legs and pull him back to where he started. Baby will continue his efforts to get away, laughing harder each time you pull him close.