How to Make Babies Smile and Laugh

Babies' smiles are charming. Even the most cantankerous among us soften when a baby smiles or laughs. Baby smiles are essential for a child’s emotional and social development. Smiles and giggles are the way a baby shares positive connection with people. Smiles show delight in the world, a way of communicating happy and content feelings. Laughter shows surprise and is a way of being playful. It is so much fun to elicit smiles and chuckles. Here are some sure-fire methods to help you instigate the fun. If you develop these skills, you might get really lucky and end up receiving delightful squeals and giggles. Read on to learn more.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A playful attitude

1. Practice your smile so that when a baby is near you will be prepared and ready. Turn the corners of your mouth up, soften your eyes, relax your face.

2. Be playful. One thing about babies, they can recognize a frozen phony face immediately. They know a sourpous when they see one. If your smile is half-hearted, the baby will either look away or give you a blank stare. If you aren't playful, they will find someone who is.

3. Don’t be shy. Babies like faces, especially kind, gentle ones. If you see a baby, look directly into baby's eyes, relax your brow, take a deep breath and smile. If the baby stares at you, give a little wink or a thumbs up. Babies like gentle surprises.

4. Develop several flirting styles. Some babies like winking, some prefer peek a boo games, others like to hear a soft friendly voice saying, “Hello.”

5. Be lively, respectful, and charming. Don’t force yourself onto a baby. Don't be condescending. Take your clues from the baby. If a baby isn’t in a smiling or laughing mood, don’t take it personally. There will be other chances.

6. Bring out you silly side. Make funny soft sounds, click your tongue, pop your lips. Wiggly your ears and nose if you can. If the baby is a relative and familiar with you perhaps you might get a chance at holding the baby and then you can blow air on the tummy.

Tips & Warnings

• Spread good will by complimenting the parents for having such a sweet, cute little baby.

[smileformetoys]

on 11/24/2009 Great article! Make it fun to smile for the camera and try this tip. Get your camera ready for the shot with the focus set and lighting worked out, wave a simple tissue above the baby and gently touch his or her nose, pull it up and snap away!

[grouch]

on 12/6/2007 You did a wonderful job with this article. I loved the part that you added in about being respectful. To many people forget that maybe a newer or first time mother does not want her child touched.

[grouch]

on 12/6/2007 You did a wonderful job with this article. I loved the part that you added in about being respectful. To many people forget that maybe a newer or first time mother does not want her child touched.

[bmi57]

on 12/4/2007 Loved your article so much. I LOVE it when babies smile or laugh, to me, it's just about the the best thing in the world. Thank you for your comment on my article.