Music is good for the soul

Who would've guessed that reggae or Brahms could be good for your baby's soul? Music that soothes you or makes you happy just might have the same effect on your baby. Although there's evidence that music has cognitive benefits for preschoolers and older children, no one has studied this in infants. Still, you may find that music plays a useful role in your baby's life now in other ways:

Music as a soother. Works for you, doesn't it? When your baby is fussy or crying, try singing lullabies softly into her ear, like "Hush Little Baby" or "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." The repetitive sounds and your familiar voice may help her to feel more secure and relaxed.

Music as calming background noise. Instead of keeping the TV or radio on all day, consider switching to an all-music radio station you like. Or, if you have one, program your iPod with tunes that please both you and your baby.

Music as a source of strength. A study at Brigham Young University found that premature infants who were exposed to music gained more weight, had lower blood pressure, and had a stronger heartbeat than a comparable group of babies who weren't.

There's no evidence that any one kind of music is more effective than another, so pick what you like. Exception: Animal and plant studies show that the discordant notes and chaotic pace of rap, grunge, and head-banger rock seem to interfere with growth in both plants and animals and with brain structure in animals.

courtesy of Babycenter.com