Why singing to your baby is so much more than music to their little ears

­

From favourite recipes to household hacks, there’s a reason some things are passed down from generation to generation. It’s because they work! 

And the same can be said for lullabies.

Whether it’s a verse of Twinkle, Twinkle or a chorus of Baa Baa Black Sheep, most new parents know the words to at least one or two. But even those who don’t will be singing their way through every nursery rhyme book on their baby’s bookshelf by the time they’re just a few months old. Or should that be asking Alexa to play a lullaby at bedtime?

Either way, there’s something so soothing about these super familiar songs that our parents sang to us, and their parents to them. Not just in a nostalgic, comforting way, but in a scientifically proven way, too.

Studies suggest that singing lullabies as part of your baby’s bedtime routine could calm them and help them sleep more soundly, which is music to every sleep-deprived parent’s ears. 

But before you try it, keep reading to find out the other benefits of singing to your baby – as well as top tips for working songs into your baby’s routine, starting from tonight.

­

­

Reasons to sing to your baby

­

Singing not only strengthens the bond between you both, but it also teaches your baby communication and language skills. 

Hearing and seeing you sing gives them something to copy, ready to practise making their own sounds. Before you know it, they’ll be cooing and babbling along, ready to say their first word and sing their first song.

There’s even evidence to suggest that singing to babies can help them do well at school when they’re older. Sally Goddard Blythe, director of the UK’s Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology, once described singing lullabies and nursery rhymes to babies as ‘an essential precursor to later educational success and emotional well-being’. Impressive, eh?

­

The power of lullabies

­

Although it doesn’t matter what you sing, there’s something powerful about lullabies, especially when it comes to soothing babies to sleep or calming them down. Studies show they provide emotional comfort to babies, possibly due to bonding time and physical closeness to the parent singing. 

But why are they so calming? The secret to lullabies’ success, according to music experts, is down to easy-to-sing-along-to tunes, repetitive lyrics for familiarity and a gentle rhythm.

Of course, lullabies are versatile too, and can liven things up as well as calming them down – think Pat-A-Cake or Humpty Dumpty, which have actions your baby can follow and one day do for themselves.

Parent talk: ‘I keep a nursery rhymes book in my changing bag so I’ve always got a way to soothe or entertain my baby on the go.’ Debra Walker, mum to Evie, 4 months.

­

­

Easy ways to work music into their routine

­

‘Singing at bedtime is an amazing way to soothe your little one and create a real moment between you at the end of each day,’ says mum of two and singing leader, Beth Allwood (babyledsinging on Instagram).

‘Sing the same couple of songs at bedtime and your baby will recognise that these signal sleep time, so will start to settle as you sing,’ she adds.

If singing really isn’t your thing, you can still add plenty of music into their world with cot mobiles, musical buggy toys and even lullaby playlists for when you’re in the car, or worse, stuck in traffic when it’s nearly feed time. Nothing distracts from hunger, but a few lullabies on a loop are worth a try!

Parent talk: ‘I play the same few songs whenever we go on a short car journey – my baby is starting to babble along to them. I think she’s learning the words!’ Rupinder Patel, mum to Lara, 5 months.

­

3 lullabies to sing today

­

A recent poll discovered that half of all millennial parents struggle with classic lullaby lyrics, and it’s likely to be even higher for Gen Z mums and dads. If you’re one of the many who doesn’t know Twinkle, Twinkle from start to finish or forgets how Rock-A-Bye Baby ends, help is at hand.

Here are three lullabies to learn today, ready to sing to your baby tonight.

1. Twinkle, Twinkle
Who knew this star-themed lullaby had so many verses?

2. Rock-A-Bye Baby
Although popular with parents, only 43% of those polled could actually sing along to this one. Remind yourself how it goes.

3. Hush Little Baby
So soothing, so lovely, so what are the words? Learn them by bedtime.