Is Music Good For Babies While Sleeping? (2024)

There’s no question that there is an art to getting a baby to fall asleep, and just as importantly, stay asleep. One of the key tricks to mastering this art is finding ways that you can relax your baby to soothe them to sleep. After many sleepless nights and a firsthand experience of the side effects of lack of sleep, a revolutionary solution was found by mom and founder of Dreamland Baby.

Our array of products, including gently weighted sleep sacks and swaddles, help your baby calm down, fall asleep, and stay asleep. Our CoverCalm® technology evenly distributes weight from your baby’s shoulders to toes to naturally reduce stress and give your baby the feeling of security and comfort. While you may want to hug and touch your baby as much as you can, when it comes to sleeptime, let our swaddle mimic your hug.

In combination with Dreamland sleep aid products for babies, turn on a sound machine or music. Keep reading to explore the benefits of music for babies and how it can be incorporated during their bedtime routine. At Dreamland, we understand how important a good night’s sleep is for the entire family - and it’s our mission to help you all get the sleep you need.

Baby Sleep Music Explained

What should babies listen to while sleeping?

Whether you’re looking to drown out the noises of the house, or soothe your baby to sleep, there are certain sounds that can be better suited for baby sleep time. While music can be a great way to stimulate your baby’s cognitive development, some tunes aren’t really soothing, or suitable for bedtime. In fact, some of the best sounds for sleep come from noises that don’t involve the lyrics from your favorite artist or soundtrack. Instead, what’s termed white noise can be best if you’re looking to incorporate soothing sounds at bedtime. We will later review what can be categorized as white noise and how you can implement it for soothing your baby to sleep.

Is Music Good For Babies While Sleeping? (1)

Is it OK to leave music on all night for baby?

Music, soothing lullabies, or white noise can all be used when trying to get your baby to sleep. While they can help relax your baby into a state of deep sleep, it’s not recommended to keep these sounds playing throughout the night. After about 30 to 45 minutes, or once your baby has fallen asleep, it’s best to turn off the noise. It’s understandably tempting to keep the noise that just calmed your baby to sleep running, but it’s recommended not to keep it on through the night. Keeping sounds playing once your baby is asleep can unintentionally stimulate your baby, meaning they are no longer getting that deep and restful sleep you’d hoped for.

What are the effects of sleeping with music?

Depending on the music, the effects it can have can be very relaxing. While heavy rock or loud frequencies may not be the music we are referring to here, soothing tunes can cause an actual physiological response of relaxation in the body. When in a more relaxed state, the quality of sleep we get is enhanced. For your baby, using soothing music to fall asleep may help get them to an even deeper sleep.

Add in your baby’s Dreamland Weighted Sleep Swaddle, and you’ll have the perfect duo for a calm baby ready to drift off for hours of sleep. As mentioned, music should just be used to help get your baby to sleep, and not remain on through the night. Our weighted sleep sacks and swaddles can be used to help keep your baby sleeping through the night. The gentle weight helps your baby feel calm and secure, thus allowing them to get the sleep they need. Babies go through a lot of change as they grow and develop, one being leaving the womb. They often crave that feeling of security they felt in the womb. A swaddle can help mimic that womb-like hug feeling but in the real world. As can noise. The two together are the perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep.

Is it OK for babies to sleep with lullabies?

Much like music, lullabies shouldn’t be left on through the night. This isn’t to say that they should be ditched from your nighttime routine. All babies are different, so soothing techniques for sleep can vary, but you may find lullabies to be the perfect way to lull your baby to sound sleep.

Lullabies sung by parents or played softly in the room can be a great way to relax your baby and let them know it’s time for sleep. Babies begin to become familiar with the sound of their parents’ voices early on. This familiar sound and routine of mom or dad singing a lullaby at bedtime can be a great bonding experience for the family, and very calming for your baby.

While a perfect addition to your bedtime routine, lullabies shouldn’t be played throughout the night. If using lullabies to help your baby fall asleep, be sure it’s at a low volume to keep your baby relaxed and out of harm from loud sounds too close to the crib. No need to keep the lullabies running through the night, and best to turn them off completely after about 30 to 45 minutes.

Should babies sleep to music or white noise?

Soothing sounds can be a great way to help your baby doze off into a deep sleep. A popular alternative to lullabies or music is what’s called ‘white noise.’ White noise is a mix of sound frequencies that can drown out other background noises, like the sound of a fan or air conditioner.

Between music or white noise, deciding which your baby should fall asleep to really comes down to preference. Finding what works for your baby’s sleep time routine can take some time trial and error. If you find that your soothing music option really isn’t helping your baby relax to sleep, it may be time to try white noise. A benefit of using white noise with your baby’s sleep routine, which can come from a white noise machine, is the familiarity of the sound frequencies to that of the womb. Your baby can feel comforted when they hear those familiar whooshing or static sounds.

Is it OK to leave white noise on all night?

Just like music, white noise is not recommended to be left on for your baby all night. While the comfort of white noise may help your baby fall asleep, it’s not recommended to keep it on through the night.

When thinking of a safe solution to keeping your baby asleep once they’ve been put to sleep by comforting sounds, Dreamland has you covered. Your baby can stay asleep longer, even once the white noise has stopped, with the comfort and security they feel in their weighted sleep sack or swaddle.

Why does white noise help babies sleep?

As we mentioned, white noise is very similar to the frequency of sound your baby is used to hearing from the womb, which can be very soothing. With familiar sounds, your baby may be able to fall asleep faster by using white noise. From a sense of security to lots of sounds - the womb was your baby’s home. As you help them transition into the real world, be sympathetic to the changes they are going through. Recreating the sense of security with a weighted swaddle and white noise can help your baby self soothe and get the sleep they need for healthy development.

Is Music Good For Babies While Sleeping? (2024)

FAQs

Is Music Good For Babies While Sleeping? ›

Music inspires emotions, so music can be a popular recommendation to soothe the little one peacefully. And it is a welcome addition to the baby's sleep routine. The music must be soft, soothing, relaxing, to create a calm atmosphere to nurture their sleeping patterns.

Is it okay to leave music on all night for a baby? ›

Music, soothing lullabies, or white noise can all be used when trying to get your baby to sleep. While they can help relax your baby into a state of deep sleep, it's not recommended to keep these sounds playing throughout the night.

Should you play music to help a baby sleep? ›

Nighttime lullabies played each evening helps to establish a bedtime routine for your little one, letting them know that it's time for bed. Music is also the perfect way to add another sense of familiarity with their bedroom – which can help your child feel more secure and in turn more relaxed.

Do babies sleep better with music or white noise? ›

The best “music” for Baby to fall asleep to is not music at all, but white noise—a proven sleep-inducer. For example, a study in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood found that white noise helped 80% of babies fall asleep in a mere five minutes.

What music do babies sleep best to? ›

Types of music for better baby sleep.

Lullabies playlists (streamed via apps like Spotify) Classical music. Heart beat/womb noises. White noise machines.

Is too much music bad for baby? ›

No matter your baby's age, remember that less is more. Use music thoughtfully and for short durations of time. 32-37 weeks gestation 30 minutes per hour or less, presented as your baby tolerates (enjoys). If your baby shows signs of distress or overstimulation, decrease listening time and watch them closely.

Does music affect infants? ›

Neuroscientists who study baby brains say music has long-lasting benefits for babies, too. Music makes a big difference to the baby brain. One study from the Institute of Learning and Brain Sciences detected that after babies listen to music, their auditory and prefrontal cortexes look different.

Should I make noise while baby sleeps? ›

try to limit (where you can) loud noises during sleep times 2. maintain your normal every day noises so you aren't tiptoeing around 3. consider enhancing sleep environments with white noise, and 4. healthy, sleep habits turn “light sleepers” into well rested babies!

Do lullabies help babies sleep longer? ›

Premature babies who listen to their mother singing lullabies have been found to have better oxygen levels, and singing can improve their feeding volumes as well, which is important for their bodies to function. Singing also decreases emotional arousal and crying in babies, which promotes a more restful sleep.

Is it bad to leave music on all night? ›

When you play the music too loud, it can worsen your hearing and make it even harder to fall asleep. Poor choice of music can increase your heart rate, impact your mood, and increase alertness and anxiety. In children, sleeping with wired headphones or earplugs can lead to strangulation, though rather rare.

Is it OK to play white noise all night for baby? ›

Place the white noise machine as far away as possible from your baby's cot. Turn the volume down or alternately, don't turn it up to maximum. Only use for settling periods, no longer than an hour and turn off white noise once your baby is asleep. Try not to use a white noise machine for every sleep.

What noise is best for babies' sleep? ›

This special sound is as important as swaddling. In fact, a 40-baby study found that white noise helped 80% fall asleep in just 5 minutes! Another study found that white noise significantly decreases the duration of crying and increases sleepytime in colicky babies.

What's better, white noise or lullabies? ›

So, my preference would be having white noise during the night and for a nap. Lullabies are great for scene setting though, so calming a fussy baby, or as part of the winddown routine and then switching over to your white noise machine when you're popping them down to fall asleep.

What kind of music calms babies down? ›

In the third trimester, the baby will be definitely able to hear the music you play. Classical music, gentle sounds like lullabies, nice melodies that inspire happiness all are designed to be soothing.

What kind of music is good for baby brain? ›

Studies have shown that classical music brings down a newborn's heart and breathing rates and soothes their stress, and that listening to a waltz or concerto might help promote brain development, especially in premature babies.

How can music help a baby to sleep? ›

Playing gentle, soothing music can help to calm babies and promote sleep. Music can reduce stress hormones like cortisol and release feel-good hormones like oxytocin. One study found that music therapy “stabilized the respiratory rates and oxygen saturations in sleeping, preterm infants.”

Is it bad to leave sound machine on all night for baby? ›

Place the white noise machine as far away as possible from your baby's cot. Turn the volume down or alternately, don't turn it up to maximum. Only use for settling periods, no longer than an hour and turn off white noise once your baby is asleep. Try not to use a white noise machine for every sleep.

Is it bad to sleep with music on all night? ›

Be careful with headphones: Headphones and earbuds may cause damage to the ear canal while sleeping if the volume is too high. Sleeping with earbuds can also lead to a buildup of earwax and may increase the risk of ear infections. Instead, try setting up a small stereo or speaker somewhere close to the bed.

Can loud music harm my newborn baby? ›

Your child's inner ears may be damaged if he or she is around extremely loud noises or around loud noises for long periods of time.

How often should you play music for my unborn baby? ›

Don't play too much music – No need to go overboard with the discovery that music encourages development in your unborn baby by constantly playing music to your baby all through your pregnancy. Listen to music for your own pleasure and not for the purpose of assisting in your baby's development.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Catherine Tremblay

Last Updated:

Views: 5610

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 86% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Catherine Tremblay

Birthday: 1999-09-23

Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379

Phone: +2678139151039

Job: International Administration Supervisor

Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.