Babies are funny because they are learning basic human software live, with no concern for dignity.
A mirror is astonishing. A raspberry is communication. Dropping the spoon for the ninth time is apparently research.
Eight moments adults find hilarious for very normal reasons
Laughing at the same ridiculous sound again and again
CDC lists laughing as a common social/emotional milestone by around six months.
Discovering the mirror baby
By six months, liking to look at oneself in a mirror is among CDC’s developmental milestones.
Blowing raspberries with enormous concentration
CDC includes this among six-month communication milestones.
Taking turns making sounds
What looks like a tiny argument can be the beginnings of back-and-forth communication.
Dropping an object and staring at the adult who retrieves it
Cause and effect plus an extremely reliable human assistant.
Putting everything in the mouth
Mouthing objects is a common way babies explore their environment.
Making a face at a new food like the chef has personally offended them
Taste, texture and novelty arrive all at once.
Copying a sound almost correctly
Imitation and turn-taking gradually turn noise into communication.
Children develop at different rates
CDC milestone checklists describe skills that most children — 75% or more — can do by a certain age. They are monitoring tools, not a race between babies and not a substitute for standardized developmental screening.
Most of the cute stuff happens during ordinary interaction
Copy their sounds
Back-and-forth imitation helps social communication.
Look at books and pictures together
The conversation matters long before the baby understands the story.
Give safe space to move
Rolling, reaching and sitting are physical practice.
React to signals
A baby learns that sounds and expressions can affect another person.
Baby comedy is mostly learning with excellent timing
The reason the moments feel so spontaneous is that they are.
To the baby, the mirror, spoon, raspberry and funny sound are all legitimate experiments.