Babies and music
Well, to answer this question let's take a look at what the experts say: Researchers at Appalachian State University believe that they've debunked what has been called the "Mozart Effect." So what is the "Mozart Effect" exactly? It is a temporary increase in intelligence experienced after listening to a piano sonata written by the famed composer.
And who came up with it? It was first reported in 1993 by scientists at the University of California at Irvine, and replicated by the same group in 1995. The study (which did not look at the effect of Mozart on babies) found that college students who listened to a Mozart sonata for a few minutes before taking a test that measured spatial relationship skills did better than students who took the test after listening to another musician or no music at all. The effect in the students was temporary (it lasted only 15 minutes) and has always been controversial.
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However, this lead to the idea that brain development in babies would begin increasing, or would speed up if babies listen to Mozart, or other classical musicians. Thus, parents began playing music of the classical variety to their babies in hopes of making little geniuses.
Today, the idea is much disputed, but the majority of experts say that while listening to classical music may calm a fussy child, or turn them into a classical lover in their later life, it certainly does not enhance their brain development or make them smart. More sophisticated tastes maybe, but a genius, no!
Many women still like the idea of playing music to their baby because they see results other than exceptionally smart children. For example, many women play soft classical music at night may get a child to sleep better. Any noise that is not disruptive would have the same effect. Babies in the womb are constantly bombarded with sounds while they sleep: sounds from outside the womb, sounds the body makes, sounds fluid makes etc. So, it is familiar, therefore comforting to the baby to have sounds rather than perfect silence.
If you want to play classical music to your baby in hopes that he or she will get smarter go for it! It is very difficult to prove or disprove the theory, but what do you have to lose? In fact you actually have a lot to gain.
Can listening to music benefit your child? Definitely. Think about how music affects you - how an upbeat tune fends off the blues and soft music helps you fall asleep. Your baby is no different. Lullabies have a proven track record for soothing infants - tons of parents resort to singing to their baby when they wake up at 2 o'clock in the morning.
There is even some evidence that music can strengthen babies. And, if you think about it, it makes sense. There are studies that show that music may even help strengthen premature babies. Researchers from Brigham Young University studied the effects of music on 33 premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo. Cassette players piped voices of men and women singing lullabies into each baby's isolette for 40 minutes a day for four days. When doctors examined the babies on the fourth day, they found that babies who were exposed to music gained more weight, and had lower blood pressure and a stronger heartbeat.
As you have probably noticed music can really benefit you. It has the power to lift your spirits, soothe your frayed nerves, and move you to dance. It can calm you down and slow your heart rate, therefore, one could say music helps you live longer.
Music can help, and it does, the actual benefits are still pretty much unknown. But, music doesn't harm your baby unless you play it too loud.
