Colin Snow
It's not uncommon for newborns to laugh in their sleep, and it's usually nothing to worry about. Laughing during sleep, also called hypnogely, is generally harmless. However, in rare cases, it can be a sign of a more serious issue, such as REM sleep behaviour disorder or gelastic seizures. While the exact cause of a baby's sleep laughter is not fully understood, it is believed to be a reflex, as babies under six months old likely don't dream. This reflexive laughter may be related to the Moro reflex, where a baby startles at a loud noise, and it helps develop the muscles needed for voluntary laughter and smiling when awake.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Commonness | Laughing during sleep is a relatively common occurrence in newborns |
| Cause | The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be a reflex rather than a response to a dream |
| Safety | In most cases, it is harmless, but rarely it can be a sign of a neurological issue or gelastic seizures |
| Sleep stage | Laughing in sleep usually happens during REM sleep, but it can also occur during non-REM sleep |
| Similar behaviours | Newborns may also smile, twitch, moan, or cry in their sleep |
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What You'll Learn
Laughing in sleep, or hypnogely, is generally harmless
During sleep, we cycle through rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM sleep. REM sleep is associated with dreaming and typically starts about an hour and a half after falling asleep. While in this state, our eyes move rapidly, our brain waves are similar to those when we are awake, and our breathing is irregular. It is during this stage that laughing in sleep usually occurs, although it can also happen during non-REM sleep.
In the case of newborns, it is believed that laughing in sleep is often a reflex rather than a response to a dream. Babies experience an equivalent of REM sleep called active sleep, during which their bodies can make involuntary movements, including twitching, smiling, and laughing. These involuntary movements contribute to the adorable smiles and laughter that parents often witness during their baby's sleep.
While laughing in sleep is typically harmless, there are rare instances where it can indicate something more serious. For example, uncontrollable laughing fits could be a sign of gelastic seizures, a rare type of seizure that can cause episodes of uncontrolled giggling. These seizures usually last around 10 to 20 seconds and can start in infancy, typically around 10 months old. However, they are exceptionally rare, affecting only 0.005% of people.
Additionally, laughing in sleep can, in rare cases, be associated with REM sleep behavior disorder or non-REM sleep arousal parasomnias. REM sleep behavior disorder occurs when the usual paralysis of the limbs during REM sleep does not occur, leading to physical acting out of dreams. This can include laughing, as well as talking, shouting, or other movements. Non-REM sleep arousal parasomnias, on the other hand, are like being half-asleep and half-awake, and include sleepwalking and sleep terrors.
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It is believed to be a reflex, as babies under 6 months likely don't dream
It is not entirely clear what causes a baby to laugh in their sleep. While laughing during sleep can often be observed in babies, the reason behind it is not well understood. One theory suggests that it is a reflex action. Since babies under six months likely don't dream, their laughter is probably a reflexive response rather than a reaction to a dream. This reflexive laughter may be related to the Moro reflex, where a baby might smile or laugh as a reflex when they hear a loud noise while sleeping. Additionally, babies' bodies can make involuntary movements during active sleep, which may also contribute to smiles and laughter.
Babies experience an equivalent of REM sleep called active sleep, during which their eyes move rapidly and they might smile or laugh. While it is unclear whether babies dream, they might experience dream-like activity during sleep. Newborns spend about 50% of their time in REM sleep, a phase associated with dreaming in adults. However, the exact nature of infants' dreams is uncertain due to their significantly different cognitive and emotional experiences compared to adults.
In very rare instances, laughter during sleep in infants can be a sign of gelastic seizures, a type of seizure that causes episodes of uncontrolled giggling. These seizures are short, lasting around 10 to 20 seconds, and typically start in infancy at around 10 months old. They are exceptionally rare, occurring in only 0.05% of people. If you notice any concerning signs or if the laughing interferes with your baby's sleep, it is recommended to consult a healthcare provider.
While the exact cause of newborn laughter during sleep remains a mystery, it is generally considered harmless and is often a source of delight for parents. It is a common occurrence, and most babies smile and laugh in their sleep as part of their normal and healthy development.
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It could be a result of their developing nervous system
It is not entirely clear what causes a baby to laugh in their sleep. However, one theory suggests that it could be a result of their developing nervous system. During sleep, babies may experience an equivalent of REM sleep, called active sleep, during which their bodies can make involuntary movements, including twitching, smiling, and laughing. This theory is supported by the observation that most babies smile in their sleep before they do so when awake.
Babies under six months old likely don't dream, so their sleepy smiles and giggles are probably just reflexes. These reflexes may be triggered by loud noises or the baby's imitation of adult facial expressions, and they help the baby develop the muscles needed for voluntary smiles and laughter while awake. Additionally, these reflexes may be a precursor to the baby's first real social smile, which often occurs around two months of age.
While laughing during sleep is usually harmless, in rare instances, it can be a sign of a neurological issue. For example, gelastic seizures are a rare type of seizure that can cause episodes of uncontrolled giggling in infants, typically starting around ten months old. However, these seizures are exceptionally rare, affecting only 0.005% of people. If you notice any concerning symptoms or if the laughing interferes with your baby's sleep, it is always best to consult a healthcare professional.
In summary, a newborn's laughter during sleep is likely a harmless result of their developing nervous system and a normal part of their growth and development. It is often a reflex that helps them practice and strengthen the muscles needed for voluntary smiles and laughter when they are awake.
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In rare cases, it could be a sign of gelastic seizures
In rare instances, laughter during sleep can be a sign of a neurological issue. In some cases, it could be a symptom of a rare type of seizure called a gelastic seizure. These seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the part of the brain that controls laughter, resulting in uncontrolled laughter or giggling. The term "gelastic" is derived from the Greek word "gelos," which means laughter.
Gelastic seizures are often associated with a noncancerous mass or lesion found in the hypothalamus, known as a hypothalamic hamartoma (HH). This condition is present since birth and is not cancerous. However, gelastic seizures can also be caused by masses in other areas of the brain, such as the frontal or temporal lobes. They usually start in infancy, around 10 months old, and can occur as a child is falling asleep or at any time.
The laughter during a gelastic seizure may sound forced and unnatural, and it often occurs without the person feeling genuine joy or happiness. It can be challenging to recognize gelastic seizures in babies and young children, as bursts of laughter may not seem unusual. Other symptoms that may accompany the laughter include a startled or fearful look, unusual feelings in the stomach, tickling in the chest, a headache, or automatic behaviors like lip-smacking or swallowing.
Gelastic seizures are typically diagnosed using an electroencephalogram (EEG) to record electrical activity in the brain, along with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans to identify any tumors or lesions. While gelastic seizures themselves don't usually require immediate medical attention, they can lead to other types of seizures and are associated with various health conditions that can impact a child's quality of life. Therefore, it is essential to consult a healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your baby's health or well-being.
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REM sleep behaviour disorder could also be a rare cause
While laughing during sleep is usually harmless, in rare cases, it can be a sign of REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD). This disorder is characterised by the absence of muscle paralysis during REM sleep, which allows the person experiencing it to act out their dreams physically. This can include movements such as kicking, punching, arm flailing, or jumping from bed, and vocalisations like talking, laughing, or shouting. The person may also remember the dream if they wake up during the incident.
RBD is a parasomnia, a type of sleep disorder that causes abnormal movements, behaviours, emotions, perceptions, or dreams. Parasomnias can also include sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep eating disorder, and sleep paralysis. While RBD was initially described as a parasomnia in older men, it is now recognised as a disorder that can occur at any age and in any gender, although it still predominantly affects men.
The onset of RBD can be sudden, and episodes can occur occasionally or several times throughout the night. In severe cases, it can cause danger to the person sleeping or those around them. RBD can be treated successfully, often with low doses of clonazepam and benzodiazepine, which help suppress muscle activity and relax the body during sleep.
In newborns, it is unclear whether laughing during sleep is caused by dreaming or is simply a reflex. Newborns experience an equivalent of REM sleep called active sleep, during which their bodies can make involuntary movements that may contribute to smiles and laughter. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether laughing during sleep in newborns is caused by RBD or is simply a reflexive response during active sleep.
While RBD is a rare disorder, it is important to be aware of its possibility and seek medical advice if concerned.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, it is relatively common for newborns to laugh in their sleep. It is believed that this is often a reflex rather than a response to a dream, as babies under 6 months old likely don't dream.
It is not entirely clear why newborns laugh in their sleep. One theory suggests that it is a reflex, similar to the Moro reflex, where a baby might smile or laugh in their sleep after hearing a loud noise. Another theory suggests that babies experience dream-like activity during sleep, and their laughter may be a response to these dreams.
In most cases, laughing in your sleep is harmless. However, in rare instances, it can be a sign of a neurological issue or a rare type of seizure called gelastic seizures, which cause people to laugh uncontrollably. If you are concerned about your baby's health or well-being, contact their healthcare provider.
If you notice your newborn laughing in their sleep, you don't need to do anything unless it is interfering with their sleep or you are concerned about their health. In that case, you should contact your baby's healthcare provider.
