Preemie's Weight Gain Supported by Music

Music Helps Preemies to Gain Weight

Watch any baby when you begin to sing a lovely lullaby, and you will note an instant relaxation and calm take over.  Babies are soothed by music, and especially their own mother's voice.  Here's more about a study done that showed the positive effect of music in the neonatal ICU. (This from the Los Angeles Times).

Preemies' weight gain: An Israeli study, published December in the journal Pediatrics, found that playing Mozart quietly in neonatal intensive care units supported the weight gain of premature infants by slowing their rate of energy expenditure. Babies exposed over two days to 30 minutes of music (drawn from, yes, an Israeli "Mozart for Baby" CD) slowed their metabolisms, helping to accelerate their growth.

If you would like to soothe your baby, please download my beautiful, award-winning lullabies from Land of Sleepytime….Lullabies for the Heart and Soul.

Singing To Your Baby

One of the most cherished memories from my childhood is remembering my mom singing me to sleep. If you're a soon-to-be, new, or seasoned parent, don't overlook the importance of singing to your child, even before birth!

Even if you think you can't sing, your baby will not only recognize, but IDOLIZE your voice. There are no 'American Idol' judges when it comes to the sound of your voice. To your baby, it's sweet music. A lullaby will soothe and calm a sick or agitated baby; distract a willful child, and redirect a fussy behavior.

Try making up a simple melody that you sing to your baby, that will be his/her unique song. It will become a familiar part of your day, and nightly routine.

And parents! If you want a good nights sleep for your child, AND yourself, put on a lovely lullaby CD at bedside and your baby will have a tranquil and restful sleep.....and what could be better than that?

Children's Article Featured!

I think a great thing for parents to do is sing lullabies to their children, no matter what you think your voice sounds like! To your kids, you sound like an Angel! My mom always sang to me as a child, and I never forgot it. My article "Lullabies Last A Lifetime" is featured this month in CITI HEALTH MAGAZINE - Raleigh Durham.

You can read it online at citihealth.com