How Singing to Your Baby Boosts Their Brain

Have you ever wondered if singing nursery rhymes and lullabies does more than just entertain your baby? According to new research from Yale, singing to your child can make them happier and support their overall well-being.

Worried that you're not a good singer? Your baby doesn't care. "For your child, your voice is the safest and most familiar sound, and is far better than any recorded music," writes music teacher Jen Teh on the website for her music school, Hush Little Baby in Australia.

Ahead, we'll explain how researchers uncovered these benefits and what the results mean for parents, as well as share practical ways to incorporate singing into your daily routine.

The science behind music for babies and child development

Music impacts infant development in many ways, says Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo, senior director of education at Orlando Family Stage, a theatre for young audiences and families. As Adams-Carrasquillo explains, singing is an invaluable way to help get babies used to the patterns of language: "When a caregiver sings a song that repeats sounds or uses exaggerated pitch, babies begin to recognize and mimic those sounds," she says. "This is one of the ways babies learn to talk, as it helps their brains build early neural pathways for language development."

In addition to supporting language skills, music has a positive impact on many other aspects of a child's life. Judy Krause, executive director of early childhood programs at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, suggests that music plays a significant role in supporting your child's overall growth.

"Ninety percent of our brains are developed in the first five years of life," Krause says. "Research confirms that when babies are listening to music—especially when the caretaker is singing with the baby—they are paying attention to our faces. First, the adult’s whole face, and then at about six months [of age], paying close attention to the caretaker’s mouth. This helps to build the child’s attention span, memory and brain development."

Music is also a powerful tool for fostering emotional connections between babies and their caregivers. "Singing with a baby, whether it is singing lullabies, nursery rhymes, or even a silly song, offers a moment of connection where the focus is fully on each other," explains Adams-Carrasquillo. "Through music, caregivers can soothe, play and attune to their baby’s mood and needs."

A closer look at the recent study on music and infant mood

The recent study from Yale involved 110 parents and their infants—most younger than four months—randomly divided into two groups. One group was encouraged to sing to their babies more often, with support that included new songs, karaoke-style instructional videos, infant-friendly songbooks and weekly newsletters offering tips for weaving music into daily routines.

The study indicated that when parents sang to their babies more frequently, the children showed noticeable improvements in mood, benefits that continued even after the program ended. Interestingly, parents often turned to singing to comfort their fussy babies on their own, without any prompting from researchers. While their babies' moods improved, the parents' moods did not change.

Most families remained actively involved throughout the study and consistently completed the required surveys. The study's findings were summed up like this:

• An infant music enrichment program got parents singing to their babies more often.
• Babies whose parents sang more had better moods, with these effects lasting even after the program.
• Parents used singing to soothe their babies when they were fussy, even without being instructed to do so.
• Only babies' moods improved; parents' moods stayed the same.

Singing is a universally accessible, easy, low-cost practice that requires no special equipment or training and has great impacts on infant development. In addition to boosting mood, singing also helps strengthen the bond between caregivers and infants and supports healthy social-emotional development as children grow.

Practical ways to include singing in your baby's routine

Singing plays an important role in your baby’s development. It helps build language skills, strengthens attention spans and supports hearing and social growth. Practical ways to support parent-infant bonding through music in your daily routine include:

• Sing during routine activities like diaper changes, bath time and getting dressed.

• Sing during soothing moments such as bedtime and cuddles. "Creating a bedtime routine which includes music helps the baby calm, and get into a sleep routine that is soothing, relaxing and safe," says Krause.

• Use different types of songs, including traditional lullabies, nursery rhymes and even simple made-up tunes.

• Focus on interaction, make eye contact, use facial expressions and rock gently. Holding your baby as you sing enhances the sense of security and connection.

• Explore different musical styles or tempos to see what your baby responds to.

Understanding the study's limitations and future research

The study had limitations: The participants were mostly white, well-educated and economically advantaged, which may affect how widely the results can be applied. Additionally, the study relied on caregivers to report on infants’ moods, which may introduce some reporting bias. Since music was already a common part of families’ routines at the start, the impact of the intervention might have appeared smaller than it actually was.

The researchers plan to continue this work with future studies to further explore these findings.

Other potential benefits of music for babies

Music offers a wide range of benefits for babies, supporting growth in several important areas. Harry Kappen, a musician and music therapist, emphasizes that music can soothe babies, boost brain development, foster language skills and encourage social interaction.

Stimulation of brain development

"Music helps stimulate the auditory cortex, a brain area involved in processing sound and speech," Kappen says. "Early exposure to music can promote the development of music-related pathways in the brain."

Language development

Music also plays a crucial role in language development. According to Kappen, "Listening to music, especially nursery rhymes, helps babies learn new sounds, rhythms and words. This exposure helps them build a foundation for language and supports the development of their speech skills."

Social skills

In addition to cognitive and language benefits, music also helps improve babies' social skills. As Kappen points out, "Playing music in a group setting can help babies learn to work together, listen to each other and pay attention to others. Music can help develop emotional and social skills."

Other benefits

Beyond these areas, Kappen suggests that music can also support motor skills and encourage creativity. "Moving along to the beat helps babies develop coordination, while engaging with music encourages imagination and creative thinking," he says.

Experts

• Jennifer Adams-Carrasquillo is the senior director of education at Orlando Stage, a professional theater for young audiences and families.
• Judy Krause, Ed.D., is the executive director of early childhood programs at Pacific Oaks College.
• Harry Kappen is a musician and music therapist.