To most new moms and dads, singing to your baby comes naturally even to parents who are always out of tune. Its interesting babies are born pre-programmed to pay attention to rhythms and melodies. Quiet often, they prefer high pitch voices to low pitch voices. Therefore, it comes natural to most parents around the world to put on a silly voice when talking to their bubs.
For me, lullabies are a great link between being a child and being a parent. They take me straight to childhood, a soft – focus kind of memory in which feelings and profound moments are strongly connected to the lyrics and the tune. When mum and dad sang to me, I felt loved, protected, valued and snuggled in their warm, soft voice.
Lullabies takes various forms and plays a pivotal role in the journey of parenthood. It is a lifesaver for me since raising a baby comes with no manual. Being goofy with singing in an instinct that automatically kicks in. I am pretty sure most first – time parents concur with this.
Lullabies have a lot of benefits for the baby. It can be a soothing tune that communicates to the baby that, “hey, you don’t know me yet, but I am someone very important in your life.” They help babies to sleep, strengthen parent – baby bond, learning language ability and are perceived to be a form of interaction. In addition, lullabies enhances brain development, helps establish a routine and produces a calm effect.
It is a form of communication indeed that initiates conversation between a parent and a baby. For instance, “You are my sunshine,” an oldie but goodie which works a treat all the time. Lullabies are timeless and very universal no matter where you are. Some of my favourites are “Twinkle Twinkle Little Stars” and “Incy Wincy Spider” amongst others.
6 Ways A Lullaby Is Refreshing For a Parent.
1. Establishes A Strong Bond Between A Baby And The Parent
Lullabies produces a calming and seductive effects that helps create a strong bond with your little bub. When you sing to your baby, its soothing, helps to establish eye contact thereby creating a strong mum – baby, dad – baby relationship than normal. Singing creates the same bonding effects as nursing and is a great way for dads to create a strong bond with their infant. For a more secure attachment, sing lullabies during bath time, rocking in a chair and at bedtime.
2. Provides Emotional Strength To Parents
As a first-time parent, quiet often you experience anxiety, fear emotional stress and feel overwhelmed. Lullabies produces a soothing effect to your mind to help overcome those negative emotions. That soulful tone when you sing helps drain out negative feelings leaving you calm and relaxed. Next time you are stressed, take your baby into your arms and start singing lullabies. This will improve your emotional state as well as your baby’s.
3. Improves Sleep Quality
Most of the times when I sing lullabies, I end up being lured to sleep. Lullabies are low – pitched music with stable rhythms and 60 – 80 beats per minute tempos. Some of their effects are slowing down heart rate and producing a calming effect. Research has shown that secretion of the hormone oxytocin is stimulated when we listen to lullabies. The release of oxytocin has been proved to help people sleep. Next time when you sing lullabies to your baby, remember just as it helps your baby to sleep, you will also feel sleepy as your baby drift off to sleep.
4. Improves Parent’s Confidence
As mentioned before, lullabies have calming effects that helps reduce stress levels in parents. As a parent, you will be more tolerant to some but not all parenting frustrations. When my baby calms down after being restless or sleeps to my singing, it makes me feel competent as a parent. That smile when I sing to my little bub just melts my heart.
5. Improves Parent’s Communication With Their Baby
Singing to your baby fosters pleasurable times and nurtures effective communication between a parent and their little bub. When I sing lullabies to my baby girl, I feel attuned to her emotions. This helps me to feel confident in helping her regulate her feelings and emotions. Overall, I am continually learning to communicate effectively with my baby. At the end I feel happier and more satisfied as a parent.
6. It Makes You Happier
When you sing lullabies to your baby, endorphins are realised in your brain. These are known as “feel – good” chemical realise that leaves you jovial and uplifted. Scientists have also discovered an organ called saccules. This is a tiny organ in the ear that respond to frequencies produced by singing. This creates an instantaneous sensation of pleasure irrespective of what the singing sounds like.
Lullabies, however, can be so addictive. You might find yourself crooning a rock – a – bye – baby tune whilst doing shopping. You know that one lullaby that get stuck in your head. It sort of takes over your life so the best advice I can give you is to let it flow and ride on the waves of the melodies to tide you through every ups and downs. There is going to be highs and lows but the most important is to lullaby your way through it. If it works for other mums and dads, why can’t we right?
Tells in what way does singing a lullaby to your baby makes you feel?
