Baby Lullaby Sleeping Music for Babies or White Noise?
By: Sarah Cullen
Tags: Baby Sleep Routine, Lullaby, Baby Sleep Miracle, Baby Sleep Music, Baby Sleep

Music is an essential part of human activity. Knowing this fact, music has also been considered an important tool in raising babies.

Because music is so dynamic, a lot of parents ask many questions about incorporating it in raising their children. Here, we will try to answer most of the questions parents usually ask about music as a part of raising babies.

What is the best music or sounds for a new baby to support sleep?

In truth, most medical practitioners discourage parents from hooking their babies to music in their sleeping routine. Dependency may be a problem in the long run but if it is necessary to have them listen to music, then dynamic music should be avoided.

Instead, elevator music comprised of soft lullabies, “spa” music, and mellow classical music is highly recommended. It is important to maintain a volume of between 60 to 65 dB (decibels) as anything beyond this may have the opposite effect on sleeping. Singing is also highly recommended as it acts as a bonding activity between parent and child.

What sounds are the best for a baby to sleep?

It is difficult for a new mother especially when the baby can’t sleep. So here are some of the best sounds to help baby sleep:

White noise mimics the sound of being in the womb, it is the best to use especially for newborns or fussy preemies.

mimics the sound of being in the womb, it is the best to use especially for newborns or fussy preemies. A hairdryer in a strong setting is excellent for calming fussy babies while a low setting increases deep sleep for light sleepers.

in a strong setting is excellent for calming fussy babies while a low setting increases deep sleep for light sleepers. Fast and Vigorous sounds are the best for the fussiest babies

are the best for the fussiest babies For a mellow approach and a full night’s sleep, womb music can be most helpful.

can be most helpful. Rain sounds are good for soothing both babies and parents alike

Is singing proven to help a baby sleep?

The right combination will definitely get your baby in the right mood to sleep. A lullaby, when sung by the mother while incorporating swaddling and light rocking will surely get the baby to sleep. Lullabies have proven so effective in research that Neonatal Intensive Care Units in-hospital use lullabies to get their preemies sleeping, feeding, and healing well.

Now, it doesn’t matter if you sing like Adele or can barely carry a tune. What’s important is the sound that’s coming from you. You are your baby’s whole world and any sound that comes out of your mouth is golden.

Is white noise good for getting babies to sleep?

Your baby was in the womb for a total of nine months. And it was no empty auditorium in there. In fact, it was an environment with a plethora of sounds that the baby had grown up in.

Now, upon coming out of that non-stop racket-filled place and encountering deafening silence, some babies experience anxiety. That’s where fussiness starts. And that’s when white noise can help.

White noise sounds create a blanket of comfort. Almost like transporting your baby back into the womb. It can calm anxiety-ridden babies and encourage them to stop crying allowing them to fall asleep faster.

Are lullabies effective for getting a baby to sleep?

Yes, they actually are effective. Of course, with the right combination and consistency, lullabies have become an integral part of the ritual of sleeping. It is known, based on research, that singing has a positive effect on an infant’s brain development.

It is known as the triple effect wherein there is a connection established and strengthened between parent and child. There is a shared expectation of going to bed when the routine is repeated and accepted positively by the baby. Lullabying gives the parents a sense of control in creating a safe and pleasant environment for their baby to sleep in.

What is Womb Music for babies?

Womb Music is simply the sounds heard within the womb during pregnancy — the amniotic fluid that surrounds the baby inside the womb, swooshes, and swirls similar to sounds underwater. Other sounds heard inside the womb by the fetus are muffled talking and the environmental noises surrounding the mother’s body.

Similar to white noise but more specific to replicating the inside of a womb, this music is used to calm a newborn baby to sleep. This is banking on the idea that the baby will remember the 9 months of the same sounds and become comforted and feel safe as he or she hears it. The music will encourage the baby into resettling to sleep with less fuss.

Conclusion

Music, while highly influential and effective in the growth of our babies, is a preference that will depend solely on your baby. If you are a new mother and you are trying to decide between baby lullaby sleeping music for babies or the scientifically backed white noise, then the deciding factor will most likely be your baby’s preference. However, you must reach out to your consultant or healthcare provider for medically sound advice.

If your pediatrician supports your initiative, then introduce the different suggested music and sounds mentioned in this article. Take some time as your baby will most likely have to get used to the sounds.

***The complete version of this can be found here: Baby Lullaby Sleeping Music for Babies or White Noise?