Dr Anne Shaw

Check out this little comedian. 🥸 Not long ago I fielded a question about how to interpret a newborn’s smiles and laughter - noting that (at three days old) these behaviors were probably more reflexive than intentional. In doing so, I also made a promise: that meaningful smiles and laughter would be just around the corner. And that once they arrive you really couldn’t miss them. Which brings us to this little joker. You only get a quick glimpse of the game he’s playing with his grandfather, but what you’re watching is the pair using rapid changes in their facial expressions to make one another laugh. And boy, is it effective! Watch as our hero goes from delighted to completely straight faced at the drop of a hat. His serious face makes grandpa laugh and this brings out some of the biggest baby grins you’ll ever see. It’s clear that this little guy is engaging in humor on purpose - and takes real pleasure in making his family laugh. He’s just the right age as well. At about 9 months, babies begin developing “theory of mind” - or the ability to begin envisioning a situation from the viewpoint of another. I’d say he has a pretty good sense of what will make his grandpa guffaw. Wouldn’t you agree? This amazingly expressive little guy was shared to IG by thatbabyluv.