Baby Laughter

Likely personality - I had twins & one was ALWAYS laughing - full-on belly laughs, so much so that he developed a little six-pack! My other son, while always very happy & content, just wasn't the laugher his brother was (& still is). One is also hyper-ticklish & the more solemn one is simply not. He'll laugh, but something will have to be just the right amount of silly to really get to him.

I would say its probably just his personality. My son laughed early and often. My daughter, was very serious and alert (she is also gifted). If I had a dime for every time people commented about "how alert" she was.....
Anyway... my husband was able to get her to belly laugh around that age... but I could not. No matter what I did. She was VERY hard to get to laugh out loud. Eventually it got easier.. but I was the last person to be able to get her to laugh. Try not to rush it or worry.. and let others give it a shot.. you never know.
My daughter (at 8 years) is still very serious a lot of the time.. but has a very advanced sense of humor.

Pat,
I know how hard it is to wait for that first laugh. There is so much anticipation, waiting for that sign of understanding, joy and personality. But in my opinion, it's way too early to be worried. My daughter is approaching 2 now. She was a very serious and alert baby, much like one of the other ladies described. When she hadn't laughed by the time we had her 6 month check-up, our pediatrician was starting to show some concern (although she was very low key about it). But when I realized the doctor was a little concerned, I started to obsess about it. Fortunately she giggled for the first time only a week later (much to my relief). I don't remember her ever really squealing as an infant, and the belly laughs didn't come until much later. But now, as a toddler, she has a tremendous sense of humor and an absolutely wonderful laugh that she blesses us with all the time. My advice (based solely on my experience with her) is to talk to your ped. about it at his 6 month check up, if he still hasn't laughed. Then maybe your doctor can tell if there are other things you should be watching for that might be causes for concern.

Pat hon,
Keep your heart light.
Every child develops differently,
like every adult has a different temperment.
Comparing kids wont help you in any way,
so see this one for the sober child it may be.
My son as like that when he was very small, too.

if he smiles, he recognizes you and that is all that matters.
don't worry and don't compare.

It's probably personality, but it can't hurt to ask your pediatrician about it just to be safe!

My son is 7 months today. Three months ago your question would have been exactly what I wanted to ask! His first laugh was at 5 months, and then he didn't laugh again for several weeks. Now he's very smiley and happy, but he still doesn't laugh much. It's a LOT of work to get even a hint of a snicker out of him. I suppose that makes it a fun challenge!
I had a hard time following my own advice here, but don't worry! You aren't alone!

Hi, Pat. Well, this may not be a question of development, but of personality. This baby may not be a big laugher, but that doesn't mean he isn't happy. The important thing is that he's loved and nourished; I'm absolutely certain that you are doing that fantastically. So be confident that if he's not screaming and crying all the time, he's happy, but he's just a quiet baby. As long as he smiles, he's feeling it, but he may not even be ticklish! Some people are just not ticklish.

My son happened to have been only a little bit ticklish, so he would giggle a little when I tickled him, but not explosively like some other kids. In general, he was always a quieter child, observing everything, not always inclined to reach out and socialize or to get excited. There's really nothing wrong with that, so don't worry that your child has a quieter nature than his older brother.

Keep talking to him, smiling at him, singing to him, kissing him, tickling him, and keep giving him all the other sweet, loving attention you do. Just enjoy the quiet, non-ticklish kid that he is.

Peace,
Syl

Pat,

I would lean more towards personality. But if you are really worried. I would call your ped or ask at the next visit. He just may be a quiet baby.

Hi Pat,
I would suggest you give your baby a month and if no improvement discuss it with your pediatrician.
Angel

Get his hears checked by a specialist right away.Sounds like he could have fluid on his ears which can be taken care of by tubes. Or he could have other hearing problems.

Hi Pat

My daughter is the same way. she is now close to 18 months and doing fine. she still dosen't laugh or gafaw but is a happy healthy littlte girl.. just not a giggler.

My daughter is now 9 1/2 months old. At 4 months we would try to get her to smile and laugh by doing silly things. She would look at us like we were crazy. She seems to be more serious than my son. However, one day I was holding her while my son (3 1/2) was getting undressed for his bath. All of a sudden my daughter started giggling and it turned into a really deep belly laugh. We found that she won't laugh for us but she seems to idolize her brother and finds a lot of what he does funny. After a while it changed and now she laughs at a lot more but for quite a while he was the only one that could get her to crack a smile and laugh. See if you get the same reaction from your son when he watches his older brother. It's worth a try. I wouldn't worry if you don't - all children do develop at their own pace and I am finding SO MANY differences between my first and second children that it's hard to say one is more "NORMAL" than the other was. Good Luck - if you are still concerned, discuss with your dr. at the 6 month check up.

"They say"- oh my gosh how much trouble that has caused.

Did you vacinate? If you did I'd find a homeopath and get your baby checked out,
best of luck, k

Oh, don't worry. Every baby's different. Don't rush it. Soon you won't be able to shut him up, LOL!!

I have 3 children--3, 2, and 1--and not a one of them did the "belly laugh" thing. You're right when you say every baby's different. If he's smiling at you and making eye contact, I wouldn't worry about it. I also watched a baby from the time she was 3 months to 8 months, and I think I only got her to laugh about 5 or 6 times. She smiled a LOT, but her M. and I called her a "tough customer" as far as the laughing goes. I'm sure your little one is just fine, and that you're doing a great job!!!

I definitely wouldn't be worried at this point in time. Like you said, babies develop at different paces. If he were a year old and still no laughs, I'd be worried. Give him some time and if he still isn't laughing at his 6 mo check up, tell the doctor and see if (s)he has any advice or expresses any concern.