Tuesday, June 12, 2012

The music and your baby

Music affects a baby's emotions, soothing him when he is sad or when he is ready to sleep and making him active during playtime. According to Diane Bales, a human development specialist from the University of Georgia, music improves spatial reasoning and thinking skills. Music also helps relieve stress and aids in recovery from surgery and illness. According to a study in the neonatal intensive care unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, premature babies who listened to music gained more weight, had lower blood pressure and stronger heartbeats after four days in the study.

Does Music Make Babies Smart?
Don Campbell, a specialist in psychology and music and author of "The Mozart Effect," believes musical rhythms stimulate the lower part of the brain system and that the neo-cortex responds to melody. But, while some support exists, there is not enough research available to conclude that music makes a baby smarter. According to Bales, music can prime an adult's brain for thinking, but this response only lasts a short time. Some studies found that music might enhance spatial reasoning skills, but these tests were only performed on children age 3 to 4. More studies are needed to conclude that a baby grows smarter if he routinely listens to music.

Play the same music every day for your baby, occasionally changing the songs to different songs that are in the same genre. Your baby will get used to hearing the same type of music every day and will learn to crave the music when it's not on. Babies will have an easier time falling asleep with the music after they have heard it for a while.

Create a mixed disc using your home computer or go out and purchase a CD. Creating your mix will allow for more selection, but any CD will work. If you've been dying to listen to a new CD that just came out, go pick it up and use it for your baby's soothing music as well. Don't forget about stores that sell products specifically for babies and young children. If you are looking for music specifically made for babies, these stores will carry the perfect products.

Classical music, from composers such as Mozart and Bach, has a more complex musical structure. Babies as young as 3 months can understand the structure of a piece and recognize a song they have heard before. The complexity of classical music helps a baby's brain develop, which is why it is more often recommended. Other types of music can also benefit a baby emotionally, but it is important not to play it loudly. Animal studies show that constant exposure to chaotic music can alter a brain's structure, and BabyCenter recommends not playing hard rock, rap or grunge music for this reason.

How to Introduce Music to Babies
Campbell recommends that a baby listens to music at different times during the day, such as when waking up, playing, in the car and when going to bed. Music can be included in daily activities in different ways. Sing songs during playtime, such as when playing peek-a-boo and stacking toys. Introduce your child to toy instruments and let him create his own music. Play soothing music at bedtime to relax your baby, and in the morning to help him transition from sleeping to wakefulness. Create playlists for car rides and dinner time. As your baby grows, encourage him to learn an instrument or take music lessons.



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