10 Reasons Why You Should Sing Lullabies To Your Baby

As parents of little babies we all try a variety of ways and techniques to help babies sleep. Every parent has some specific, and sometimes weird sleep strategies that work for them. Some parents rock, some talk, some even dance twirling around, and there are some others who really struggle with putting their babies to sleep. One technique that has come handy, for ages, across cultures and traditions, is the use of music or singing--to be precise singing lullabies to put little beings to sleep, almost effortlessly.

Does Music Help In Relaxing A Child?

Music and its rhythm, vocals and their intonation, have been instinctively used by parents to try and lull their little one off to sleep.

• Even though children may not understand speech or language at the early stages, they begin responding to rhythm much before their birth, in fact, in the mother's womb itself in the pre-natal stage
• According to scientific researchers it is believed that babies hear the environment outside even when they are in their mother's womb and react accordingly. They begin to hear the outside environment by the 18th week and react to what they hear, onwards the 32nd week

Why Do Lullabies Work Best In Putting Babies To Sleep?

Lullabies are rhymed and harmonious words that have melodious and repetitive singing pattern which is relaxing for the child. Most mothers sing the lullaby softly, while rocking her baby.

• There is a unique way in which a mother manages the tone, pitch and intensity of her voice as per the rhythm of the lullaby
• In this way she directs the baby with the tone of her voice and provides for a comfortable and compassionate condition in which her little one can fall asleep
• Lullabies have also known to have soothing effects on the baby, by establishing a soothing correlation between the baby's brain and the world outside. As one sings a lullaby while swaying the baby, babies get a blessed relief

How Do Lullabies Affect A Baby's Brain?

Lullabies have a very positive effect on the babies. They not only help foster a strong emotional bond between the primary care giver and the baby but also contribute in activation of the baby's brain. When a baby listens to his mother's voice, his favorite in the entire world in a series of harmonious melodies, he feels soothed, comforted and safe. All these factors together work to make a baby sleep without crying and fighting sleep.

Benefits Of Lullabies For Babies

No, it's not just tradition to sing lullabies to babies, but there are well-established facts that prove that singing lullabies benefit the babies in more than one way, and we have summed up 10:

1. Lullabies provide for a healthier period of growing up
2. The use of words in lullabies is simple, overall language is easy to comprehend and the background music is melodious and has rhythmic patterns. This makes it easy for the babies to also learn them rapidly over a period of time
3. As long as the mother keeps speaking or singing to the baby, the related auditory, visual and language centers of the brain keep getting stimulated
4. Some expressions taking place in lullabies transfer children lots of subjects about life
5. Lullabies soothe and calm down the babies providing comfort to their anxious and distressed body. This further relaxes the brain muscles and thus ease the baby's falling asleep
6. In some way lullabies sung assist children in forming a calmer personality
7. Most of the traditional lullabies comprise of words that convey wishes, desires, love and generally well-being of the child. Consequently, the words affect the child's subconscious positively
8. Lullabies sung before the restless hours of sleep give babies a feeling that they are being cared for. This helps develop feeling of trust and assurance in the baby
9. Over a period of time when the same set of lullabies is sung for the baby, it breeds familiarity for the baby. This impacts the brain nerves directly. The auditory nerves in the hemisphere get relaxed listening to familiar music
10. The entire process of singing lullabies and their soft and gentle music helps in relaxing the stressed and anxious parents, too

Therefore, learn up your favorite lullaby, or make one of your own, to make sleep time pleasant and relaxing. Take cues from your baby – what does he like, does he enjoy what you are singing? Is there a particular song or rhyme he enjoys? Does he coo and gurgle when you sing to him? Follow his lead, and you will be on the path to raise a music lover for life!

Did you find this blog on why lullabies are good for your baby, useful? Do you have any favorite lullabies that you both enjoy? Tell us in the comments section!