Don’t Ticklish Babies Too Much—It’s Riskier Than You Think

Experts are urging parents to dial back the tickling when playing with infants. Too much ticklish giggling can strain a baby’s chest and stomach muscles, trigger hiccups, or even cause breathing trouble. Especially vulnerable are toddlers who can’t express discomfort—so pediatricians caution that what seems harmless giggles may actually be hazardous.