Why singing is soothing | Lovevery (2024)

Even if you don’t believe you have a good voice, singing to your baby can offer calming benefits ❤️

Even if you don’t like your own voice, singing to your baby can offer calming benefits ❤️

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.

5 tips for singing to newborns

  1. Hold your baby against your chest so they can feel the vibrations you create as you sing. Your voice alone is familiar and soothing, and this adds another layer of comfort.
  2. Sing a few songs over and over again. You don’t need to know a lot of melodies to soothe your baby.
  3. Make up new words to favorite melodies. Try using the activity you’re engaged in for inspiration: if your baby is getting fussy as you change their diaper, try something like, “Diaper changing, diaper changing/nice and clean, nice and clean” to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”
  4. Make it a daily ritual. Include singing in your baby’s routine, especially in the moments when you want your baby to wind down. Soon they’ll recognize this as a cue to calm down, which makes it easier to transition into sleep.
  5. Use singing to comfort. Singing can be particularly effective during car rides, doctor’s appointments, or when your baby doesn’t feel well ❤️

Learn more about the research

Corbeil, M., Trehub, S. E., & Peretz, I. (2016). Singing delays the onset of infant distress. Infancy, 21(3), 373-391.

Shenfield, T., Trehub, S. E., & Nakata, T. (2003). Maternal singing modulates infant arousal. Psychology of Music, 31(4), 365-375.

Looking for song ideas? Check out Lovevery’s Spotify page for lullabies, morning songs, dance tunes, and more.

Why singing is soothing | Lovevery (2024)

FAQs

Why singing is soothing | Lovevery? ›

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.

Why is singing so calming? ›

There's an increasing amount of evidence that singing releases endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – the 'happy' chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel good about yourself.

Why does singing make you feel better? ›

Singing releases endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in the brain. Singing also promotes deep breathing, as you need to take deep breaths and control your breathing. In fact, singing is an aerobic activity, which means it gets oxygen into your blood, improving circulation and it boosts your mood.

Why does singing soothe babies? ›

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 is singing therapeutic? ›

Singing improves your mood. It releases the same feel-good brain chemicals as sex and chocolate! It is very effective as a stress reliever and improves sleep. Singing releases pain-relieving endorphins, helping you to forget that painful tooth/knee/whatever.

Why does singing feel nice? ›

The release of endorphins gives singers a positive feeling and an energy boost. The act of learning a new skill, improving and being part of a group also helps to influence your confidence and self-esteem. Singing is a mindful activity.

Why do I sing so softly? ›

One reason could be related to the strength of the vocal muscles. If the muscles have not been strengthened appropriately and taught to be friends with one another, then the voice sometimes cannot get louder because the muscles “give out” and simply let go.

What are 3 benefits of singing? ›

It may help lower stress, boost immunity and lung function, enhance memory, improve mental health, and help you cope with physical and emotional pain. One of the best things about singing is that you don't have to be good at it to reap the rewards.

What happens to your brain when you sing? ›

By increasing blood flow through the body, singing also encourages the brain to release feel-good chemicals such as endorphins, and helps to strengthen neural pathways and increase neuroplasticity (the brain's ability to change and adapt to new experiences).

What happens if you sing every day? ›

Absolutely! Singing every day, even for a short time, can significantly improve your voice. It's like any other skill – the more you practice, the better you get. Just make sure to warm up properly and not overstrain your voice.

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.

Why do babies sleep when you sing to them? ›

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.

Why do babies cry when you sing? ›

Our babies are listening to our tone, melody, rhythm very closely. They are so sensitive to the EMOTION we convey in our tone. We can change our tone to make them feel more calm, more soothed and happier.

Why does singing calm you down? ›

Researchers have found that music and singing release dopamine and endorphins, the feel-good chemicals in your brain that makes you feel uplifted and happy, as well as simply taking your mind off the day's troubles, so it's no wonder why it's seen as being a good boost for your mental health.

Why is singing so healing? ›

Endorphins are released when we sing which help to promote positive feelings. This is especially true when we sing with other people. Group singing also induces the production of oxytocin (the bonding hormone). This can reduce stress, anxiety and increase feelings of trust and well-being.

Why is singing comforting? ›

Singing increases oxytocin levels (aiding bonding) and decreases cortisol (lowering stress). It can also rapidly result in feelings of connection and flow – improving our mood, strengthening sense of identity and helping out long and short-term memory.

Why does it feel good to sing along? ›

Singing Releases Endorphins

Part of that, it turns out, is by releasing endorphins — feel good chemicals, essentially. Performing music has shown to help people's pain threshold increase, a way for researchers to study if something releases endorphins. That's good news.

Does singing activate the vagus nerve? ›

Singing – especially the loud kind – involves deep breathing and a big old vibration of the vocal cords. Even better, it's a sure-fire way to activate the Vagus Nerve.

Why does singing take so much energy? ›

Your vocal folds or vocal cords are muscles. Whenever you use them to sing, you're essentially giving them a workout. In the same way that you'd need to rest your other body muscles after exercise, sleep allows your vocal cords to regenerate their cells. It gives you more energy.

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