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How Music Affects Your Baby’s Brain

November 18, 2020

Pregnant mother holding headphones to her belly
Music can have an amazing effect on babies, even before they’re born. In fact, some studies have shown that playing music for babies while they are still in the womb can help stimulate their brain development, and exposing them to music throughout their infancy and babyhood can help regulate their moods and improve cognitive skills.1-3

How Music Impacts Development

At around 16 weeks of pregnancy, babies begin to hear their first sounds. By 24 weeks, their ears are becoming even more developed, and by the third trimester, they may even turn their heads toward certain sounds.1 Since we know that babies can hear while they are in the womb, and there is ample evidence to suggest that music is good for the brain, it’s no surprise that more and more prenatal researchers are interested in the effects of music on babies in utero. In doing this research, some surprising discoveries have been made.

First, it has been documented that high levels of stress in a mother can be harmful to her baby’s development in the womb. If the mother listens to calming music that helps her relax, this will indirectly benefit her baby.4 As for direct benefits to the baby’s development, hearing music (particularly classical music) has been shown to increase neural connections in the brain and aid in building brain structures. Some studies even indicate that babies can remember certain music for up to four months after being born.4

What type of music is best for baby?

Researchers believe the complexity of classical music helps aid in the development of cognitive skills and helps babies solve spatial problems more quickly.3 That being said, experts believe that just about any type of music can be beneficial, as long as it gives the mother positive feelings and is not too loud or jarring. Even heavy metal music is fine from time to time; however, the rapid rhythm and constantly shifting beats can cause stress for babies if they hear it too frequently.5

Playlist Picks for Your Baby

Thinking of curating a pregnancy soundtrack for you and your baby to enjoy? Here are a few suggestions for songs, playlists, and YouTube channels to help soothe, stimulate, and encourage development in your little one:

  1. Classical Music for Babies playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4H6lPuASKXVpLsVF1apakq
  2. “Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Bublé: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1AJmKkU5POA
  3.  Guided Meditation for Pregnancy from The Honest Guys on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p39afBUYk7c
  4. Pregnancy Music to Make Baby Move from Nova Relaxing Music on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uks3mGAOfsc
  5. “Lullaby” by the Chicks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjAYkFpyqp8
  6. “To Zion” by Lauryn Hill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWz-RU3OtmA

Don’t forget to include some of your own personal favorite songs and playlists – and don’t be shy about singing along! Babies are comforted by hearing their mother’s voice, even while they are still in the womb.

 

Prenate® Vitamin Family
This post is sponsored by the Prenate® Vitamin Family, a line of prescription prenatal supplements designed to enhance preconception, prenatal, and postpartum nutrition in women. Talk with your doctor about how taking a daily prescription prenatal or postnatal vitamin could help support a healthy pregnancy and postpartum wellness.

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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

WARNING: Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6. Keep this product out of reach of children. In case of accidental overdose, call a doctor or poison control center immediately.

WARNING: Ingestion of more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (such as DHA) per day has been shown to have potential antithrombotic effects, including an increased bleeding time and International Normalized Ratio (INR). Administration of omega-3 fatty acids should be avoided in patients taking anticoagulants and in those known to have an inherited or acquired predisposition to bleeding.

This site and its contents are an information resource only, and are neither intended to nor should be used in replacement of your doctor or other prescribing professional’s medical guidance, recommendations or advice. Neither this site nor its information should be used or relied upon for any diagnostic, medical, treatment, nutritional or other purpose. All aspects of pregnancy, including whether pregnancy is right for you, and the nourishment and care of your child, should be made with your doctor and other appropriate medical professional, and in consideration of your and your child’s particular medical history. Avion Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“Avion”) makes no representation, warranty or other undertaking that this site or its information are appropriate for you or your child’s specific needs or issues, and further expressly disclaims all damages, losses, injuries or liability whatsoever incurred or alleged to have been incurred in consequence of your reliance on the information on this site. Avion does not endorse any test, procedure, treatment, remedy, therapy, cure, nutritional regimen, method or other activity or undertaking that you and/or your doctor or other medical professional may elect or recommend. By visiting this site you agree to these terms and conditions and acknowledge that you have read and understand the same. These terms and conditions, together with any information on this site, may be amended, restated or otherwise changed from time to time and at any time by Avion within the sole, absolute and uncontrolled exercise of its discretion. You acknowledge and agree that Avion has no duty or obligation to keep you informed of any amendments to, restatements of or other changes to these terms and conditions or this site, and that you are solely and exclusively responsible for apprising yourself of the same.

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