Almost 5 Months and Not Laughing Yet

My daughter is going on 8 months (although was 8+wks early) and rarely laughs. We'll maybe catch a giggle a few times per week. She is constantly smiling and chatting though and we did ask the pediatrician and neonatologist as well as the occupational therapist. None thought it was a problem. I don't think she even started laughing until at least six months which was nerve racking for us in itself.

Hi C. -- If you're worried, bring it up with the doctor, however, my grandson wasn't laughing at that age but he sure laughs now (20 m0). Good luck! L.

I was just thinking and worried about my own child. 3mos. at end of December and won't smile, I've gotten like 2-3 half smiles from her. I guess they do all develop at their own pace. I was just on my other mom website where 3 and 4 mo. olds are laughing and smiling away and I was really disappointed I can't even crack a smile out of my baby. She does give some very intense eye contact though so maybe mine's just more serious.

I would say if your baby is smiling and making eye contact it will come probaly just his personality.

I didn't read what anyone else wrote.

Trust your own gut instincts. Especially if this is your 5th, you've been through this before.

It could be nothing. It could be minor. Whatever it is, seek any help that you need. (I have more opinions, but I don't want to post publicly because they are based on personal things.)

I agree with all the other moms - he's smiling and talking so it's probably just his personality.

But as always, you're his mother, and a mother's instinct is almost always the best indicator of right/wrong with their child. If you feel there's something not right, bring it up with your doctor.

It is always much better to have someone think you're an hysterical mom than to ignore something important because we're afraid of being laughed at.

I wouldn't worry about it just yet. All kids develope at different rates. Maybe he just hasn't seen anything funny enough yet.

Nothing's wrong. He'll laugh when he's darn good and ready. ;-)

If he wasn't vocalizing, was avoiding eye contact, and so on, then I'd be concerned, but not laughing in and of itself is nothing to be concerned about.

I had the same question when my DD wasn't laughing yet at about 6 mos. The doc said that it was fine and that timing varied a lot by personality. Sure enough - about 2 weeks later baby decided that her big brother was hilarious and has been laughing since. :-)

Hi C.,
My son was the same way. I was so worried (and sad!) that I couldn't make him do those big belly laughs. Even now we have to work to get more than a smirk from him--though he smiles all the time. He's a normal, healthy, boy who just isn't a big laugher. I would say if everything else is normal (eye contact, "communicating," reacting, etc.), you should be OK, but your pediatrician can confirm at your son's 6mo check-up. Good luck!!

I would think if he is smiling, talking, making eye contact, etc, then everything is okay. If not, then it wouldn't hurt to bring it up to the doctor.

My daughter is 8 months old and doesn't really laugh. At least not like the kids in her ECFE class do. I haven't thought of it as a concern because she's SO vocal and social and generally happy and smiles so big that it seems like her face is going to break in half. I just figured that she's not a laugher, or else she is laughing but it doesn't sound like something I'd recognize as a laugh. Your son is probably just fine!