Help Baby Sleep With Music |
By :
Patrice Cosier
Mothers have been singing lullabies to their babies since time immemorial. When I was a new mother attempting to help my baby sleep, I, too, attempted to sing lullabies. But I often forgot the lyrics, so I hummed whatever came into my head. Once I found myself singing a Led Zeppelin rock song, (which might explain my now grown son’s proclivity for heavy metal music).
Whatever the song, however, he always went to sleep peacefully in my arms.
Occasionally, when I didn’t have the time to sing to him, I put on some soft music, and he would happily nod off. This was the era of the LP, so there wasn’t much on the market in the way of formal lullabies, so I played classical music. I also experimented with playing the piano for and during his nap time and found that it worked like a charm.
Recent research has proven the efficacy of playing soothing music for the purpose of inducing sleep in subjects of all ages. Interestingly, when babies heard the voices of their own mothers, they fell asleep. When unfamiliar voices sang to them they became restless and wakeful. However, when they listened to soothing instrumental music, the babies fell asleep easily.
It would follow, therefore, that instrumental music is an effective addition to or substitute for mother’s sweet pipes. When the instrumental music is composed for and integrated into lullaby form, consisting of simple melodies and harmonies, gentle mood and triple meter, (which mimics the resting heartbeat), it results in a successful synthesis of art and science. Lullabies, therefore, which are composed specifically for the inducement of rest and sleep, would be the most suitable choice for baby’s dream time.
A wonderful technique to help baby sleep is to play the instrumental lullaby music while holding, rocking, or quietly sitting with the child. It might also be effective to softly hum along with the music. What a beautiful way to communicate a mother’s love to her precious child. Get comfortable, preferably in a rocking chair, and hold your baby while softly humming or playing beautiful instrumental music. Take slow, deep breaths to calm yourself. Your baby will intuit your calmness and relax even more. This has always worked for me, and not only did the baby get a good night’s sleep, so did I!
I composed the lullabies on “Good Night Lullabies” for my grandchildren. Drawing upon my experience as a young mother who enjoyed playing music for my son for his nap and/or bedtime, I endeavored, on some level, to recreate a similar atmosphere for his children. It has been a blessed experience to have held and rocked my grandchildren to sleep while listening to the lullabies I recorded just for them. And to my exquisite satisfaction. Lull your baby into a deep, peaceful sleep so you can get the rest you deserve. Compose Patrice Cosier has blended lullaby style and form with relaxation techniques in her uniquely beautiful CD of original lullabies, "Good Night Lullabies." Get two free lullabies at http://www.goodnightlullaby.com
Lull your baby into a deep, peaceful sleep so you can get the rest you deserve. Compose Patrice Cosier has blended lullaby style and form with relaxation techniques in her uniquely beautiful CD of original lullabies, "Good Night Lullabies." Get two free lullabies at http://www.goodnightlullaby.com
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Submitted on: 2008-12-08
Submitted on: 2008-12-08
