How To Introduce Music To Baby

How To Introduce Music To Your Baby

Not every parent has musical talents or an in-memory archive of songs to share with their child. That’s OK — you really don’t need to be a maestro in order to enhance your baby’s early days, weeks and years with music.

Read on for simple answers to three straightforward questions about when and how to bring the benefits of sound into your infant’s life

How early can I start playing music to my baby?

You can sing songs and play records to your baby from day one. You could even take them to low-volume acoustic gigs and concerts when they’re a few weeks old — a great way to get you out of the house and feeling ‘normal’ again after the life changing experience of bringing a small human into the world.

In fact, early exposure to music is thought to help infants pick up language skills — and soft music or lullabies reduces stress and helps them sleep better.

How can I encourage my baby to listen to and interact with music?

In the very early days after birth, you may notice signs that your baby is responding positively to songs. They might become alert and quietly attentive; or haphazardly move their bodies when they hear a rhythm.

As they grow, babies who regularly hear music will start to respond more directly, and will want to get involved.

Dancing is a wonderful way for you and your little one to enjoy music together right from the start. As they gain increasing control over their limbs, you can offer them toys and instruments to make sounds with so that they can join in when you play recorded music or sing to them.

Babies love rhythm and discovering their own ability to create noise: give them a wooden spoon and they’ll revel in bashing it against anything within reach (including your head; you have been warned).

And, when you and baby are ready, going along to an interactive music class where they can experience baby music and play with or alongside other children will be an uplifting experience for both of you.

Can music be too loud for babies? How do I know if it is?

Yes — it is possible for music to be too loud for a baby.

But it’s unlikely that you’ll need to worry about this, unless you plan to take them to a concert or an event where loud music will be played. Noise at weddings might worry new parents, but usually you’ll be back home or in a hotel room with your sleepy baby before the heavy dance music kicks off! 

Babies are more vulnerable to hearing damage from loud music than adults are, because their skulls are thinner. But there’s no need to measure decibels and speak in whispers. Just be sensible; if you can’t hear your own voice while music is playing, it’s probably too loud for your baby.

Never use headphones or ear buds with a baby or young child. You have no way of knowing how loud the sound is and a baby is too young to tell you.