Question
I have a three-month-old daughter who shows a strong interest in music. When she cries, soft music can make her smile and seem very happy. What kind of music should we choose for her? Where can we download it? Thank you!
Answer
Listening to music has two benefits for infants. First, it helps to cultivate their stable and pleasant emotions, and can be played before bedtime or when they cry. Secondly, it is part of auditory training. Listening to music should not replace the sound of an adult’s voice, and music should not be played continuously. It should be played a few times a day at fixed times to avoid the continuous stimulation losing its meaning. For lullabies, the music should be consistent to form a conditioned response. The melodies should match the baby’s activities. Light and pleasant nursery rhymes can be chosen. You can download them from relevant websites, or purchase related CDs.