28-05-2025
Singing to babies boosts their mood and wellbeing, study shows
The study was between the University of Auckland and the US University of Yale.
Photo:
Copyright (c) 2022 eggeegg/Shutterstock.
It's a universal practice, parents and caregivers singing to babies.
But now research proves that singing to babies really does have benefits.
A joint study between the Universities of Auckland and Yale, in the US, shows singing can help to lift their moods and boost their wellbeing.
Psychologist and director of the Music Lab in Auckland Dr Samuel Mehr - and led the research - told
Morning Report
it was quite a hard topic to study.
He said the study texted parents a few times a day to ask: has the baby been crying, are they feeling good, or what's going on with the infant
Photo:
Samuel Mehr
The answers were measured over a multi-week study, showing the effects of singing on infants.
"It's a general effect, so it's not just that infants are happier when the singing is going on, but it's that their mood is better in general.
"But I think communication with infants from parents is always a positive thing."
It doesn't even matter if the singing is in tune or not.
"Infants are very chill about the quality of the vocal input they are getting, they really like to hear their parents voices," he said.
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