- A recent survey found that the majority of parents play music to help their baby fall asleep.
- Most parents play white noise sounds, but some parents play lullabies to calm their newborns at night.
- For parents looking to incorporate music as part of their baby’s sleep routine, experts recommend picking one song and sticking with it.
Of all the concerns parents have when welcoming a new baby, ensuring that both parents and baby get enough sleep is likely at the top of the list. There’s a ton of information out there from doctors and fellow parents about proper swaddling, sleep training, and even room temperature and light levels. But as most parents of young children will tell you, sleep remains elusive.
One method that may be effective, according to new research, is to play soothing music to help calm your baby to sleep. Swaddle company Love to Dream gathered responses from parents using a survey posted on the brand’s Instagram Stories. According to the study, 77% of parents said playing music as part of their bedtime routine actually helped their baby sleep better.
Now, it may seem counterintuitive to play music to help your baby sleep. After all, wouldn’t extra noise in the bedroom make it difficult for your baby to sleep?However, the majority of parents (81%) who responded to the Love to Dream survey said they use music in their bedtime routine.
The type of music my parents relied on was different. 70% of parents reported that white noise (experts recommend white noise to create a calming environment in your baby’s room) was the most effective way to calm their baby, and a further 14% reported that lullabies were also helpful.
The brand also analyzed 894 playlists on Spotify that claim to promote sleep in babies and came up with some findings regarding the most popular types of music parents use in their bedtime routines. White noise was by far the most dominant choice, but lullabies, with their “soft, gentle tones,” as the press release notes, were also popular.
Love to Dream also spoke to Dr. Samuel Hytner, pediatrician and founder of Telebaby, to explain why music is a helpful tool in creating healthy sleep habits for your baby.
“Gentle, repetitive rhythms and familiar songs can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and encourage deeper, restorative sleep,” he said in a press release.
And while parents may be more inclined to experiment with different types of music to help their baby sleep, he recommends choosing one white noise song or style and sticking with it.
“Playing the same soothing song every night allows your baby to associate the music with relaxing, creating a clear sleep cue,” he said.
If you’re the parent of a toddler who struggles with sleep, it may be worth trying white noise or a lullaby before bed. Dr. Hytner says the first step is to choose a song or white noise machine that plays music at 60 and 100 beats per minute, which mimics a normal heartbeat. However, be sure to place speakers or sound machines at least 6 feet (or about 2 meters) away from the crib.
