How to Make Your Baby Laugh

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By Heather Kephart
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My little Lily Rose

When everybody's losing sleep due to baby fussiness it's time to get serious about silliness. Nothing cures baby fussiness like laughter. I've noticed that babies have an inherent appreciation for slapstick humor. When considering ways to make your baby laugh and smile with unabashed glee it helps to picture masters of slapstick humor such as:

* The Three Stooges
* Lucille Ball
* Jim Carrey
* Carol Burnett
* Jerry Lewis
* Gilda Radner
* John Ritter
* Julia Louis Dreyfus
* Dick Van Dyke

Here are instructions for how to use slapstick humor to entertain your baby based upon what works in our home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Your Baby
Yourself
Willingness to look silly
Stuffed ferret (optional)

Step 1

Yes those are baby bags under my eyes

Put something on your head. This almost always works. Of course you should choose a baby-safe item. I'm going to use a stuffed ferret. Once the ferret is on your head, do something to get your baby's attention. When your baby notices the ferret she will probably smile. Play dumb. Act like you don't know it's there. When you finally "discover" the ferret really ham it up. Grab the ferret and fling it. Run in place. Widen your eyes. Flap your arms around and say, "Bwlaaaaah!!". Do this in a silly way. The intent is to entertain, not to terrorize.
Step 2

Keep a hand on the baby!

Play airhead when changing your baby's diaper. Establish eye contact with your baby. Make sure you have a firm hand or hands on the child to keep your baby safely on the table. Suddenly look up and to the right and glaze your eyes over. Look over to the left. Completely ignore your baby. Wiggle your chin and say, "Hmmm". You may even spice things up at this point by whistling. Your baby should be laughing and bucking like a fish out of water. Keep at it for a few more seconds to seal the deal. When your baby is laughing so hard that you fear she may flip herself off the changing table this is the time to quickly look down at her and say, "Zibba zibba zibba!" and tickle her sides. *repeat* Her delight will grow during each anticipatory "playing dumb" phase of the encounter. Very important: Do not forget to actually change your baby's diaper.
Step 3

The part of the flinger is being played by Fester Ferret

Suddenly and inexplicably lose your balance at bedtime. When you put your baby in her crib she will probably start to fuss. This is the time to fling yourself across the room and into the bedroom door. Really play it up. Roll your eyes and say, "Whoa!" or "Oooooh no!". Throw your arms up. Keep at it. Lower your head and shoulders and fling yourself across the room into a wall or a chair. Once this has been accomplished, fall onto the ground and put your legs up into the air. Make goofy audibles like, "Oof!" and "Yeow!". Keep at this until your baby turns a light color pink. This is important. You don't want your baby to turn dark pink. This would be a sign of overjoviality and that is no good right before bed. Once you determine that your baby has turned the correct shade of pink, this is the time to make your exit. Don't hesitate. Babies can smell hesitation and indecision and may respond with fussiness and binky tossing. Simply open the door, bow, smile and say, "Good night baby. I love you." and close the door.