Sometimes you just want to laugh at nothing.
April 3, 2009 6:49 AM Subscribe
This is a laughing baby. Babies laugh with abandon. They think everything is very funny. Hooray for laughter!
The fist baby seems kind of exhausted by the end. That said, I've never spent too much time around babies, so I wasn't familiar with this phenomenon, and these are amazing.
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:56 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by showbiz_liz at 6:56 AM on April 3, 2009
My wife has always said that being a baby must be like being on a 24-7 acid trip; nothing makes any sense, things you like make you laugh uncontrollably and bad stuff terrifies the shit out of you.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:57 AM on April 3, 2009 [28 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:57 AM on April 3, 2009 [28 favorites]
It is estimated that children laugh over 300 times a day whereas adults laugh only 15 times. Children laugh as early as seventeen days after birth. (source)
Some say that this is to keep adults from eating babies, who would otherwise be annoying / delicious.
When my brother was a wee thing, he had his own room, and my parents would hear him laughing in the dark, when no one was around. They said he was filling his quota for the day.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:01 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
Some say that this is to keep adults from eating babies, who would otherwise be annoying / delicious.
When my brother was a wee thing, he had his own room, and my parents would hear him laughing in the dark, when no one was around. They said he was filling his quota for the day.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:01 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
That first baby has the most infectious laugh I've ever heard! I was laughing along with him from about ten seconds in. Adorable!
posted by lysistrata at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by lysistrata at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2009
My wife has always said that being a baby must be like being on a 24-7 acid trip; nothing makes any sense, things you like make you laugh uncontrollably and bad stuff terrifies the shit out of you.
Yep, and both demographics regularly wake up with their mouths on a tit, and no idea how they got there.
posted by mannequito at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2009
Yep, and both demographics regularly wake up with their mouths on a tit, and no idea how they got there.
posted by mannequito at 7:09 AM on April 3, 2009
Another chance to post the video from a couple years ago of my daughter laughing at our dog
She's three now, and the dog still cracks her up.
posted by malphigian at 7:10 AM on April 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
She's three now, and the dog still cracks her up.
posted by malphigian at 7:10 AM on April 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
Obligatory link to baby shredding paper and laughing. Bonus: babies' first lemons.
posted by The White Hat at 7:22 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
posted by The White Hat at 7:22 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
Laugh it up kid.
posted by Pollomacho at 7:23 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Pollomacho at 7:23 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
There are a LOT of laughing baby videos on the net. A whole freaking LOT.
And that's because they're so much damn fun to watch.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:24 AM on April 3, 2009
And that's because they're so much damn fun to watch.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:24 AM on April 3, 2009
The tearing-paper video cited by The White Hat is the standard by which all other laughing baby videos should be measured.
posted by brain_drain at 7:32 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by brain_drain at 7:32 AM on April 3, 2009
Thanks Aunt H00py.
posted by hellbient at 7:34 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by hellbient at 7:34 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Obligatory link to baby shredding paper and laughing.
posted by The White Hat at 7:22 AM on April 3 [+] [!]
Librarian nightmare video right there.
posted by Smarson at 7:35 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by The White Hat at 7:22 AM on April 3 [+] [!]
Librarian nightmare video right there.
posted by Smarson at 7:35 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
EmpressCallipygos's laughing babies video is the alpha and omega of laughing baby videos. (and also the Beta and Delta)
posted by schwa at 7:40 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by schwa at 7:40 AM on April 3, 2009
My daughter was like this--a little tickle under the chin, and she was off. Popeye noises like in the first linked video and beating up on the dog (playfully, playfully) produced gales. I knew she'd had enough when she'd throw up.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:44 AM on April 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:44 AM on April 3, 2009 [3 favorites]
At a few weeks old, my son would occasionally smile and stare for long minutes at a blank white wall. No color, no interesting shadows. I have no idea what he saw. Perhaps, being so young, just seeing anything at all was entertainment enough.
posted by emjaybee at 7:51 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by emjaybee at 7:51 AM on April 3, 2009
And then they go and ruin it by SCREAMING ALL DAMN NIGHT FOR A WEEK! So I hear...
posted by i_cola at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by i_cola at 8:05 AM on April 3, 2009
You might think that paper tearing laughing baby video is the most hilarious thing ever. And I agreed -- until I learned it was actually filmed in 1949, the dad was a young Dick Cheney, the baby was W, and the paper was the Constitution.
NOT SO FUNNY NOW IS IT.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:06 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
NOT SO FUNNY NOW IS IT.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:06 AM on April 3, 2009 [5 favorites]
If Clara Bow went goo-chee-goo-chee-goo at me, I'd laugh like this baby, too. Even if it is silent and in black and white.
posted by CrunchyFrog at 8:11 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by CrunchyFrog at 8:11 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Ah yes, here's my Lucy, approximately 6 months old, laughing. The sound gets out of sync with the video pretty quick, but it still makes me smile.
posted by Reverend John at 8:16 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by Reverend John at 8:16 AM on April 3, 2009
Sometimes you just want everybody to fuck off and die. (scroll down for hilarious cranky baby picture!)
posted by clavicle at 8:19 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by clavicle at 8:19 AM on April 3, 2009
Actually, laugh it up now parents. 15 years time all you'll hear is 'I HATE YOU!', 'IF I'M BAD IT'S BECAUSE YOU MADE ME LIKE THIS!' & 'COME AND PICK ME UP FROM THE POLICE STATION!'.
posted by i_cola at 8:22 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by i_cola at 8:22 AM on April 3, 2009
No, i_cola, you've got it wrong, they laugh adorably in order to stop you from throwing them against a wall when they threaten to SCREAM ALL DAMN NIGHT FOR A WEEK. You make them laugh you see, by wiggling a finger at them and/or offering your bosom to them as sacrifice and so they decide that laughter (or suckling) is preferable to screaming. I think if you waggled your nipple at them they would not scream at all and could in fact give their devoted parents fodder for the next amusing youtube video.
posted by h00py at 8:22 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by h00py at 8:22 AM on April 3, 2009
Last time I wiggled my nipple there was a lot of screaming and a hell of a lot of explaining to do...
posted by i_cola at 8:26 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by i_cola at 8:26 AM on April 3, 2009
They make a great audience since they're never, ever heard any of your jokes before and don't care if you flub the punchline as long as you make a goofy face at the appropriate times.
posted by tommasz at 8:37 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by tommasz at 8:37 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Children are surreally good. There's always something wonderful about of a day which features a child doing/saying something really fucking odd.
posted by h00py at 8:42 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by h00py at 8:42 AM on April 3, 2009
I always liked the Evil Eye baby, myself. WARNING: stupidly cheesy background music.
posted by sephira at 8:49 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by sephira at 8:49 AM on April 3, 2009
My theory is that laughing in babies is like tail-wagging in dogs; it doesn't express only amusement or happiness but a whole range of emotions or states of mind. A non-laughing person I dated briefly (and here's why) used to complain that I laugh "too much" and seemed to consider it some sort of mental illness or affectation, whereas I see it as, like a baby, being unfailingly delighted by anything funny, odd, inexplicable, incongruous, cute, awesome, surprising, etc.
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:59 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by FelliniBlank at 8:59 AM on April 3, 2009
One of the best things about babies is that being around them you want to make them laugh and you find yourself doing the oddest things to get that giggle out of them. Quick and easy way to make my 22 month-old daughter laugh is to hop towards her and say "bunnybunnybunny." Gets her every time.
posted by papercake at 9:26 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by papercake at 9:26 AM on April 3, 2009
I would like to propose a toast to waggling/wiggling nipples, laughing too much... and Clara Bow.
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:33 AM on April 3, 2009
posted by CynicalKnight at 9:33 AM on April 3, 2009
Here's one of my son laughing at me brushing my teeth.
posted by tylerfulltilt at 10:25 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by tylerfulltilt at 10:25 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
i never thought i could enjoy videos of babies laughing. now i'm a dad, and here we are. i'm laughing as hard in the kids in the videos.... amazing all around.
can't wait to show them to sigo-how
posted by askmehow at 10:40 AM on April 3, 2009
can't wait to show them to sigo-how
posted by askmehow at 10:40 AM on April 3, 2009
has no one told them we're in a recession? oh the humanity ...!
the quads rock
posted by fistynuts at 10:40 AM on April 3, 2009
the quads rock
posted by fistynuts at 10:40 AM on April 3, 2009
OK, that evil eye baby was awesome. I hadn't seen it.
Baby laughter is freakin magical. It should be harvested and freely handed out to strangers. The would would be a better, happier place.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:52 AM on April 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
Baby laughter is freakin magical. It should be harvested and freely handed out to strangers. The would would be a better, happier place.
posted by 8dot3 at 10:52 AM on April 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
I have a pet theory about laughing babies.
Babies laugh whenever they are being stimulated in a way that is good for their development. The laughter is a reward for helping the baby develop well and a way to promote future positive interaction with adults and the environment.
posted by oddman at 11:37 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Babies laugh whenever they are being stimulated in a way that is good for their development. The laughter is a reward for helping the baby develop well and a way to promote future positive interaction with adults and the environment.
posted by oddman at 11:37 AM on April 3, 2009 [1 favorite]
Babies laugh whenever they are being stimulated in a way that is good for their development. The laughter is a reward for helping the baby develop well and a way to promote future positive interaction with adults and the environment.
I dunno. My baby laughs when I make fart sounds. Although fart humor is darn near universal, so maybe it is preparing her for a life of fart jokes.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:15 PM on April 3, 2009
I dunno. My baby laughs when I make fart sounds. Although fart humor is darn near universal, so maybe it is preparing her for a life of fart jokes.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:15 PM on April 3, 2009
Yeah. My little guy giggles like crazy while grabbing fistfulls of beard and pulling as hard as his wee little muscles allow. As an adult, he'll probably get slugged for trying that.
posted by Dr.Enormous at 12:23 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by Dr.Enormous at 12:23 PM on April 3, 2009
My daughter was like this--a little tickle under the chin, and she was off. Popeye noises like in the first linked video and beating up on the dog (playfully, playfully) produced gales. I knew she'd had enough when she'd throw up.
We now call that "Jacking."
posted by Edgewise at 12:39 PM on April 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
We now call that "Jacking."
posted by Edgewise at 12:39 PM on April 3, 2009 [2 favorites]
I approve of laughing babies, and I approve of this post!
posted by languagehat at 1:11 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by languagehat at 1:11 PM on April 3, 2009
Holy cow. I can't watch any more. My ovaries are screaming HAVE MORE BABIES!
posted by PuppyCat at 1:28 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by PuppyCat at 1:28 PM on April 3, 2009
It is estimated that children laugh over 300 times a day whereas adults laugh only 15 times. Children laugh as early as seventeen days after birth.
I bet that explains why babies typically live longer than adults.
posted by ghiacursed at 1:52 PM on April 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
I bet that explains why babies typically live longer than adults.
posted by ghiacursed at 1:52 PM on April 3, 2009 [7 favorites]
The baby in the first video has a maniacal laugh that is clearly a precursor indicator of evil geniusness. Someone should probably keep in eye on him over the next 20 years to see how many weather machines and death rays he builds.
posted by quin at 2:50 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by quin at 2:50 PM on April 3, 2009
A laughing baby and a laughing mom makes me wonder at the possibilities for perpetual motion.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:02 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by ricochet biscuit at 3:02 PM on April 3, 2009
Some cute kids laughing in the tub. Warning: sad ending. :(
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 4:39 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by Barry B. Palindromer at 4:39 PM on April 3, 2009
Oh my god... whip-sawing emotions on that last one! Laughing along, happy with the bathing babies, then BAM! Face all screwed up in that universal parental concern squinch...
But, overall, babies laughing are a treasure.
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl."...From the book Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
posted by Corky at 7:35 PM on April 3, 2009
But, overall, babies laughing are a treasure.
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now when every new baby is born its first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl."...From the book Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie.
posted by Corky at 7:35 PM on April 3, 2009
From my own observations, my son laughs hysterically like those cute videos when he is overtired. Of course he laughs happily at many other times during the day - but there's something about being overtired that brings out that bordering-on-insane laughter that is so awesome.
posted by Joh at 10:22 PM on April 3, 2009
posted by Joh at 10:22 PM on April 3, 2009
as Homunculus pointed out some of us were on to this earlier. Great to see it again. This is "the Mother of all Laughing Baby Videos" dammit. It is my favorite Youtube video ever.
Devoid of social constructs, and semiotic BS, it's pure, happy humanity . yyaya!
posted by celerystick at 12:10 AM on April 4, 2009
Devoid of social constructs, and semiotic BS, it's pure, happy humanity . yyaya!
posted by celerystick at 12:10 AM on April 4, 2009
I've always loved being around kids. I've worked with kids of varying ages in myriad surroundings both formal and informal. I've always believed that a baby's laugh is the greatest, happiest, best sound in the world - it is just an expression of such pure, unsullied, unadulterated joy.
Shortly after I became a father for the first time almost two and a half years ago, that belief was strengthened immeasurably when my daughter began laughing out loud. At about 6 months, after she'd been at it for a couple of months already, I recorded her laughing (at me throwing a random toy up in the air and bobbling the catch, one of the ten million things she found hilarious) and have been using that sound as my cell phone ringtone ever since. She's still got a terrific laugh and displays a great sense of humor, and that still amazes me and makes me incredibly happy.
I now have an infant son, and he's beginning to laugh out loud (he'll be 4 months old next week), one "ha" or "heh" at a time. It's still just as infectious and has the same power as a good drug - once you have a little, you've gotta get more and keep the supply coming.
posted by yiftach at 7:52 PM on April 4, 2009
Shortly after I became a father for the first time almost two and a half years ago, that belief was strengthened immeasurably when my daughter began laughing out loud. At about 6 months, after she'd been at it for a couple of months already, I recorded her laughing (at me throwing a random toy up in the air and bobbling the catch, one of the ten million things she found hilarious) and have been using that sound as my cell phone ringtone ever since. She's still got a terrific laugh and displays a great sense of humor, and that still amazes me and makes me incredibly happy.
I now have an infant son, and he's beginning to laugh out loud (he'll be 4 months old next week), one "ha" or "heh" at a time. It's still just as infectious and has the same power as a good drug - once you have a little, you've gotta get more and keep the supply coming.
posted by yiftach at 7:52 PM on April 4, 2009
I now have an infant son, and he's beginning to laugh out loud (he'll be 4 months old next week), one "ha" or "heh" at a time. It's still just as infectious and has the same power as a good drug - once you have a little, you've gotta get more and keep the supply coming.
*grins* I am a fairly new first-time aunt. I saw my niece for the first time ever back at Christmas, when she was only three months old. I'm going to be seeing her again in a week for Easter -- she's six months old now, and it sounds like she is going to be right at this giggling-at-everything stage and I CANNOT BLOODY WAIT.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:56 PM on April 4, 2009
*grins* I am a fairly new first-time aunt. I saw my niece for the first time ever back at Christmas, when she was only three months old. I'm going to be seeing her again in a week for Easter -- she's six months old now, and it sounds like she is going to be right at this giggling-at-everything stage and I CANNOT BLOODY WAIT.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:56 PM on April 4, 2009
ETA....
I showed just about all the videos in this entire thread to my whole family this past weekend. My parents laughed to the point of tears, and insisted we try showing my 6-month-old niece to see if she'd laugh.
She just stared at the screen in bewilderment. So we gave up and had an intense game of "got your nose!" for a while instead.
(No giggles yet, but she did give my father a dirty look when he tried to tickle her one too many times.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 PM on April 14, 2009
I showed just about all the videos in this entire thread to my whole family this past weekend. My parents laughed to the point of tears, and insisted we try showing my 6-month-old niece to see if she'd laugh.
She just stared at the screen in bewilderment. So we gave up and had an intense game of "got your nose!" for a while instead.
(No giggles yet, but she did give my father a dirty look when he tried to tickle her one too many times.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 PM on April 14, 2009
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Heh.
posted by delmoi at 6:55 AM on April 3, 2009