The Huffington Post
January 18, 2017

Beware: Tickling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

I was on the phone with my friend Elizabeth when I heard her 9-month old daughter Poppy screeching in the background.

“Ooooh!” I winced. “Is Poppy okay?”

“She’s not crying. She’s laughing!” Elizabeth explained. “Greg’s playing Tickle Monster with her.”

Oh, no! Not Tickle Monster! I thought, my heart racing. “Are you sure she loves it?” I asked gingerly.

“Yes! Why?” she replied in a way that said This better be good.

“Well,” I started, “just because a baby’s laughing doesn’t mean they’re necessarily enjoying …”