World Music Therapy Week, which is recognized annually from April 10 to April 15, is an opportunity for music therapists and supporters to engage in activities that increase awareness of and advocacy for music therapy. World Music Therapy Week is a global initiative aimed at promoting the use of music therapy as a valuable tool for improving mental health and well-being, and it also serves to highlight the global connectedness of music therapy and its ability to transform lives and impact those around us.
Have you ever sung lullabies to your infant? Singing lullabies is one of the most simple and effective ways to create a nurturing environment for babies. In fact, of research has shown that singing lullabies to infants can have positive and long-lasting benefits on both the baby and mother.
One of the most significant benefits of singing to babies is the improvement in oxygen saturation levels. 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.
Singing lullabies plays an important role in promoting meaningful mother-infant interaction. For instance, a relaxed mother singing a lullaby creates a peaceful and safe environment for her infant, which promotes attachment and bonding. Also, singing has been found to facilitate a relaxation response in both the baby and the mother, which further strengthens this emotional connection.
Lullabies are a specific type of music designed to lull a child to sleep, often using a repeated formula sung by a female. The benefits of singing to your baby start in pregnancy. Research suggests mothers who sing to their babies while pregnant feel more attached to their babies when they are born. Singing also reduces maternal stress and anxiety, resulting in a peaceful pre-natal environment for the baby.
Once your baby is born, here are several ways to use lullabies to create a calm and safe environment:
- Choose any lullaby and repeat it often. Try to match your child's emotional intensity and gradually modify the style of your singing. Use body contact, such as patting, stroking, walking, and swaying in tempo with your singing to create a soothing environment.
- Personalize your lullabies to make them more meaningful to you and your baby. Adding your child's name or using a lullaby that has been passed down from your family of origin can make the experience more special. You can also turn a favorite song into a lullaby. Studies show older infants (6-7 months), prefer lullabies sung at a lower pitch and play songs sung at a higher pitch.
- Record your voice singing lullabies or reading stories to your baby. This is an excellent way to keep your presence close even when you cannot be there. Include other family members, such as fathers or older siblings, as this can help create a sense of familial attachment for your child.
As you can see, singing lullabies to your baby is a simple yet effective way to promote attachment, bonding, and relaxation for both the mother and the infant. It’s a win-win situation for all involved.
As we celebrate World Music Therapy Week from April 10 to 15, now is a great time to reflect on the therapeutic power of musicand how it can improve our lives, starting from the very beginning.
So go ahead and start singing to your baby – it's good for both of you!
For more information about the Music Therapy Program at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit our website: Music Therapy | Children's Hospital New Orleans (chnola.org)
FAQs
For instance, a relaxed mother singing a lullaby creates a peaceful and safe environment for her infant, which promotes attachment and bonding. Also, singing has been found to facilitate a relaxation response in both the baby and the mother, which further strengthens this emotional connection.
Why are lullabies important to babies? ›
It helps the baby connect, communicate, move, relax, coordinate, and feel pleasure. Lullabies calm down babies and put them to sleep. It is a soothing song with the perfect balance of rocking music that lures the baby into sleep. Nursery rhymes have been a time-tested bedtime routine by parents over the years.
How does singing help a baby's development? ›
Listening skills – Like reading, singing is an activity that requires listening. It's another opportunity for your baby to begin to understand language and feelings expressed through language and sing-play. LOVE – All of the above boils down to using your singing voice as a way to express love.
Does singing to your baby really work? ›
Babies respond to music from day one. Sandra E. Trehub, a music psychologist, found that babies remain calm for twice as long when they hear sung music as opposed to speech. Parental singing has a huge effect on preterm infants' well-being, improving their heart and respiratory rate and causing better sleep.
What happens when you sing to a baby? ›
Singing songs to your baby or toddler can increase their attention span and help them display positive emotions toward their parents. Another study by the Harvard Medical School found that parents who sing lullabies to babies had a calming effect on infants who were fussy or wailing.
Should lullabies play all night? ›
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.
What is the psychology of lullabies? ›
“Lullabies signal your caregiver is close and relaxed, and if your caregiver is relaxed, there must not be danger.” Snuggling your baby while singing a lullaby can also promote the release of the hormone oxytocin, the so-called “love” hormone that Dr. Wu says promotes a sense of well-being, safety, and relaxation.
When should I start singing to my baby? ›
2-4 Months: At around 2-4 months, babies discover their own voice and begin to explore ways to use it in order to communicate. Continue singing the song your child is familiar with, adding more songs that incorporate finger or hand games or movement of baby's hands and legs in play.
Why do babies love when you sing to them? ›
"When the baby is in utero they can recognise their mother's voice. When they are born they just hear this one single mass of sound, and the one way they can start discriminating sounds is through the familiar voice of their parents. And when parents sing, babies respond even more," she says.
Is it better to sing or read to baby? ›
Parents should speak to their babies using sing-song speech, like nursery rhymes, as soon as possible, say researchers. That's because babies learn languages from rhythmic information, not phonetic information, in their first months.
Infant-directed singing is a natural and healthy distraction from negative thoughts, allowing the mother to develop a bond with their infant. Research also revealed that the quality of singing doesn't need to be professional or high quality in order to keep the infant's attention.
Do lullabies actually work? ›
Lullabies can help soothe your baby and make them feel more secure. Lullabies help calm babies down and help them sleep. It might seem like a no-brainer that a reassuring song would aid in calming a fussy baby, but it's backed up by science!
Why do babies calm down when you sing? ›
In a 2015 study, researchers from the University of Montreal discovered that babies remained calm twice as long when listening to a song as they did when listening to speech. Lullabies and other soothing songs may help your baby form neural pathways for calming down and falling asleep.
Does singing to a baby help brain development? ›
Talking is one of the most important skills your baby will learn and they need your help to do it. By talking, reading and singing with your baby you are providing them with the stimulation they need to get the best start in life.
Can my baby hear when I sing? ›
At around 18 weeks of pregnancy, your unborn baby will start being able to hear sounds in your body like your heartbeat. At 27 to 29 weeks (6 to 7 months), they can hear some sounds outside your body too, like your voice. By the time they are full term, they will be able to hear at about the same level as an adult.
Why is singing songs good for babies? ›
Singing can help children develop cognitive skills
Through singing, children can learn new concepts, such as counting or sequencing. The repetitive nature of many songs we use in early childhood, such as nursery rhymes, also helps to reinforce the learning.
Why is music good for babies development? ›
When young children are exposed to music, their brains change. Among other benefits, music can: Improve moods and empower young children by reducing stress levels. Even listening to sad music can be good thanks to its cathartic power, making it easier for children to get in touch with their emotions.
Why do hospitals play lullabies when a baby is born? ›
heard throughout the hospital common areas? It's to. announce a new mother and baby to the world!
Do lullabies help babies stay asleep? ›
Reduces Stress Hormones, Slow Breathing, Lower Heart Rate, and Relax Muscle Tension. A lullaby is an effective way to put a baby to sleep because it induces a sense of comfort and security in babies. It creates an environment of calmness and relaxation for the baby, making them drowsy over time.
Do lullabies help stimulate early language development? ›
Music can invite children to get active and silly — or slow down and relax. Songs can also be effective in focusing children's attention during transitions or when introducing new ideas. Music can act as a powerful tool that supports language and literacy development.
