Music plays a central role in our lives. It brings us joy and comfort, and it’s hard to imagine life without it. Babies are born into the world highly attuned to music — they understand and respond to it from birth. Making music part of your baby’s life is a wonderful, lasting gift. Here are 10 reasons why playing music for babies is so good, from Fiona at Earlybird Music.
#1. Connecting with Your Baby
Playing music for your baby helps strengthen the relationship between you and them. Music brings joy and comfort, and sharing the experience of listening together is a nurturing act that fosters strong bonds between parent and baby.
#2. Release of Feel-Good Endorphins
Listening to music you both enjoy, at any time of day, is a wonderful way to spend time with your child. Music has the power to activate the release of feel-good endorphins in the brain, helping you have fun with your baby and encouraging positive emotions.
Recommended Reading: How to calm a crying baby
#3. Highly Effective for Calming and Soothing
Music is a brilliant calming tool in times of stress. Listening to calming music is an excellent way to soothe your baby, gently easing upset and stress for both baby and parent.
#4. Development of Self-Expression
When music plays an active part in a baby’s life, it nurtures self-expression and creativity across every area of life — education, play and, later, work. It also sparks interest in active music-making such as singing, playing instruments and dancing, which brings its own wide range of benefits.
#5. Development of Listening Skills
Babies are born with highly developed hearing and are sensitive to sound. They’re listening from the moment they’re born, and everything around them — loud noise, street noise, voices — affects them. Music fills their world with positive, beneficial sound that comforts them and supports healthy development of listening skills.
#6. Healthy Brain Development
The early years of a child’s life (0–3) are considered the most important for brain development. Research shows that listening to music is highly beneficial for the brain at this stage. Playing music for your baby can support the development of communication skills and later academic achievement.
Recommended Reading: 10 tips for surviving with a new baby and toddler
#7. Regulates and Calms the Nervous System
Playing music calms your baby and helps regulate the nervous system — and a regulated nervous system means a more relaxed, happy baby. This has a positive effect on a baby’s growth and development, and creates a peaceful atmosphere that parents benefit from too.
#8. Healthy Sleep Patterns
Music should play a part in any healthy bedtime routine. Listening to gentle, soothing music is a perfect way to help your baby relax and wind down after an active day. It’s an important part of creating a calm environment for sleep, so try making it part of your routine and enjoy the benefits for both of you.
#9. Encourages Confidence and Healthy Self-Esteem
Making music part of your child’s life provides building blocks for confidence and self-esteem. Listening to and playing music encourages positivity and releases tension and stress — and a happy, stress-free environment is the perfect setting for confidence to grow.
#10. Contributes to Well-Being
Music in your baby’s life has many positive effects, and one of the most significant findings in early childhood research is its contribution to lifelong positivity, health and well-being. Making music part of your baby’s life builds a love of music that lasts — children who grow up with music tend to keep using it for comfort, joy and the enhancement of happy experiences throughout their lives.
The Kind of Music You Should Play
It’s worth thinking about what kind of music you play for your baby. Research suggests music that is both soothing and complex works best — classical, jazz and modern music can all be beneficial, and singing, the most expressive “instrument” of all, is wonderful too, since babies are naturally attuned to the human voice.
All music offers some benefit, but it’s important to keep the volume moderate, as a baby’s hearing is very sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of music is best for babies?
Soothing, gently complex music tends to work best — think classical, jazz or other calm modern styles. Singing to your baby is just as valuable, since babies naturally respond to the human voice.
How loud should music be around a baby?
Keep the volume moderate at all times. A baby’s hearing is very sensitive, so gentle, comfortable listening levels are best.
Can music really help my baby sleep?
Yes — gentle, soothing music can be a helpful part of a calming bedtime routine, helping your baby relax and wind down after an active day.
Does playing music for babies really make a difference?
Yes. From bonding and mood to listening skills, brain development and sleep, music offers a wide range of benefits when it’s a regular, gentle part of your baby’s routine.
Related Articles
- How to Calm a Crying Baby
- 10 Tips for Surviving with a New Baby and Toddler
- More family-life ideas and parenting tips on Mykidstime
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