‘The sound of an instrument or parent singing can make a newborn sleep better and puts them in a quietly attentive state.’

An article from the Daily Mail reported on a new study examining the benefits of musical therapy on premature babies and babies with issues such as respiratory distress and sepsis.

The study was carried out by researchers at the Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York, across 11 American hospitals, on 272 premature babies that were born at least 32 weeks into the pregnancy. 

The study aimed to determine the effects of a lullaby, a gato box (type of wooden drum) and an ocean disc on a premature baby’s physiological and developmental functions. Findings have suggested that music therapy – especially lullabies sung by a parent – had a calming effect on the babies, resulting in calmer heartbeats, less laboured breathing and improved sleeping and feeding patterns.

To read the full article, visit the Daily Mail website.

Further reading:
NHS Choices
NY Times
Medical News Today