Out of the mouth of babes and unweaned infants...                                    

Every mother knows that her lullaby can calm her agitated baby. Lullabies are powerful influences to a newborn’s growth. Yet, scientists are learning more and more about babies and their ability to hear in the womb. Today embryologists agree that the ear is the first organ to develop in embryo, that it becomes functional after only eighteen weeks, and that baby listens actively from twenty-four weeks on.

Speaking, reading and singing to a baby before birth enhances its ability to distinguish among sounds after birth. This is known as "auditory tracking." Some scientists believe that babies actually understand what is being said around them.

One of our Early Childhood moms absolutely believes this is true. Her husband was stationed overseas during much of her pregnancy. Arriving home a few weeks before baby’s due date; this couple knew once the baby was born, their world was going to be different forever. Wanting to some spend time alone, each morning they patted her swollen stomach and said; "Not yet baby, Mommy and Daddy aren’t ready for you yet. We need to spend some time together first." After a few weeks, they felt that they were ready. The next morning, as they lay in bed, they lovingly patted her tummy and said, "O.K.  we are ready for you. You can come out whenever you’re ready." Immediately, the baby started kicking…hard. She felt a ‘POP,’ her water had broken and labor was underway! A coincidence? Maybe not, read on!

A few years ago, a true story circulated regarding this very amazing subject. A family in Tennessee sought ways to make their three-year-old son feel included in their expected baby’s birth. They encouraged him to sing to his sister during the pregnancy. His favorite song was "You Are My Sunshine."

The pregnancy came to an end too early and complications developed. The tiny baby was rushed by helicopter to the Neonatal Center in Nashville, where she was hooked up to wires and tubes so that she could be monitored constantly. After a few long weeks, the family was called in and told to give up hope for her survival.

During all this time, brother had been begging to see his tiny sister. Finally, when told that there was no hope, the mother insisted that the little boy be taken into the NICU ward. Seeing the mother’s persistence and knowing that the baby was dying, the nurse finally agreed, but only for one moment.

Unencumbered by the huge sterile attire, big brother marched to the incubator and began to sing, "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy…"

The nurses watching this process, were amazed as the monitors showed the tiny baby’s heart rate stabilizing. The blood pressure regulated. "Keep singing…keep singing," they proclaimed.

"…when skies are gray. You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you…."

As the tiny, struggling baby listened to the familiar lullaby, her body responded with healing. She made an amazing recovery. According to this moving story, she was released from the hospital the very next day. It’s a story of the power of a lullaby…the power of love…and the power of music.

We are just beginning to scratch the surface of what is going on with our babies while still in the womb. During pregnancy and during the first few years, neuron connectors are finding their way to ‘wire’ your child’s brain. Music stimulates that connecting process like nothing else. Here is a true story about a friend of mine.

As musical parents, they were aware of music’s benefits for their developing child. So, from the time they knew she was pregnant, Bob and his wife, played nothing but classical and Christian music in her presence. When their son was born he was serenaded twenty-four hours a day with classical music in his nursery. As he toddled about, musical activities were a vital part of his environment. At age five, he skipped kindergarten and 1^st grade, and was placed directly into 2^nd grade. I.Q. testing rates him as a genius. A coincidence? Hardly.

Your baby is developing before and after birth. Here are some musical tips to enhance his/her development:

• Sing to your baby before and after birth. Mom and Dad’s voices are better than canned music. It’s your voice and the patterns in music to which your baby responds.
• Make your home environment musical. Surround your baby with all types of music before birth and musical activities after birth.
• Listen to tapes or CDs of instrumental classical music or other soothing songs during Mom’s rest times the last few months of pregnancy. After birth, these same songs will have a soothing appeal at naptime or when the baby is agitated.
• After birth, do musical activities; like bouncing games, rhythmic chants and massage rhymes. Rhythmic activities stimulate the neuron process and are a fun, bonding activity for both baby and parent.
• Read to your baby before and after birth. Choose from classics ‘The Pokey Little Puppy,’ ‘Winnie the Pooh,’ etc. Get a Bible storybook and enjoy the wonderful stories.
• Ask your doctor about music in the labor and recovery rooms. Use the same CD’s that you listened to before birth during labor and delivery to comfort Mom and baby.
• Make music a part of your everyday activities. You will be happier and calmer after the new baby’s arrival…and so will baby.

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Last modified: October 20, 2008