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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Does your newborn laugh in its sleep?

17 replies

ShowOfHands · 03/10/2011 22:49

DS has been laughing in his sleep since around a week old. It's quite possibly the most amazing sound in the world . Obviously he doesn't do it when awake yet (he's 4 weeks old) but he spends the first half of every night giggling, grinning and shaking with mirth.

Why do they do this? DD did the same but a few weeks later. He can't laugh when awake but when asleep he seems to be playing Eddie Izzard in his head.

I wonder if it's a reflex or if he's actually developing emotions.

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Poledra · 03/10/2011 22:57

I don't know if it's a reflex, but it is one of the cutest things in the world. Not fair, I don't have a baby to watch chuckling in its sleep - have to settle for DD2 shouting 'No, , that's mine!'

Yes, even in her sleep

ShowOfHands · 03/10/2011 23:12

DD shouts all sorts of rubbish in her sleep.

"Catch it, catch the multi-coloured squirrel and put it in a pot". Just last night. Strange child.

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Alibabaandthe80nappies · 03/10/2011 23:17

Aww this is so lovely :)

DS2 is 6 months now, and when he hears my voice in the morning he rolls himself onto his side with his eyes still shut and grins when I talk. It is gorgeous.
And then he starts demanding milk

juneybean · 03/10/2011 23:20

I was doing some brief nanny work last year for a fellow MNetter and was absolutely tickled pink when her tiny one started grinning in her sleep.

BertieBotts · 03/10/2011 23:20

Awwww how lovely! DS never did as a newborn (he didn't laugh at all for 6 months!) but he does now as a toddler and it's gorgeous. Very different to any of his "awake" laughs. Very very cute.

DS did make a strange chirruping noise when he was newborn though, similar to the sort of trembly whine that a dog will sometimes make. He did it for a few minutes when he was born, once at four days, and once at two weeks when my sister was holding him. Never for anyone else, just her and me!

CBear6 · 03/10/2011 23:24

DD is 2wo and does this, it's amazing to hear (DS did it too). I have no idea why they do it but apparently newborns can mimic facial expressions? She also does a silent pet-lip/crying face in her sleep, we joke that this is her having the bad dream and the laughing/smiles are the good dream.

ShowOfHands · 03/10/2011 23:25

It just seems so strange that he does it at an age where he doesn't do it when awake.

It's the happiest little chuckle, properly shaking and grinning with a 'he he he' type giggle.

I wonder why such a young baby would do it. I'd like to think it's because he's happy but do suspect it's just a reflex. He is extremely content, has been smiling since a few days old. Maybe he is just pleased with his life of milk/cuddles. I would be.

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BertieBotts · 03/10/2011 23:44

Awwwww how cute!

DS smiled at about 2 weeks. It was in his eyes, not his mouth.

ShowOfHands · 04/10/2011 09:10

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turtle23 · 04/10/2011 09:40

DS2 did this from about a week old. Scared me to death the first time as I thought his brother had snuck in! Mine had a proper snicker as well which just made me laugh out loud and wake him up!!!

ShowOfHands · 04/10/2011 09:55

It IS a snicker isn't it? I thought Mutley had got into the room the first time. It makes me laugh out loud too. He seems so pleased with himself when he's asleep. I've had a good google and found some research into it which suggests it is an emotional reaction but not to something funny but to contentment. A couple of studies have found that it (tiny babies laughing in their sleep) seems to be linked to comfort/relaxation levels.

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AWimbaWay · 04/10/2011 10:03

Aww how cute! None of mine did that, grumpy sods.

LilMizzSunshine · 24/06/2014 16:35

My little one smiles in his sleep very cute but got me thinking why he is smiling.

I heard that when they dream and dad falls down it's funny to them but if mums falls than they cry.
Don't know if that is true. Everything is in God hands tho.

beccajoh · 24/06/2014 16:37

I remember doing this in his sleep when he's was quite teeny - three or four weeks. It was lovely!

Poppet45 · 24/06/2014 20:31

Dd did this. We thought her wee baby goat bleat was hilarious. Turned out to be stomach acid flooding her vocal cords as she slept and the start of reflux... Ho hum.

GiorgiaP · 23/05/2018 20:47

My baby is 6 days old and is proper giggling in her sleep too. She also goes to cry and has R.E.M. not going to lie it worries me but I’m glad to see all other mums has experienced the same thing.

Tallace · 24/05/2018 14:30

My 3 did this as newborns. Its so cute. We called the sleep chuckle.

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