Research
Babies can cry a lot and this is tough for so many parents and carers. Around the globe - and throughout history - parents have turned to music to help. They try humming or singing lullabies, or play music to their babies, or listen to their favourite music. These are just a few examples. Much of this music is used by parents who wouldn't describe themselves as singers or musicians. Turning to music seems like a natural thing to do.
FirstMusic is running two research studies to explore how music can support parental mental wellbeing and the parent-baby relationship - both are part of a PhD at the Royal College of Music in London.
Research study 1 hopes to find out what music parents are using with their crying babies and what difference, if any, it makes.
Research study 2 works with parents and carers with lived experience of baby crying as co-researchers. Parents take the lead to explore what music might be needed to best support real families on the ground.
More details about the studies can be found below including the references which back up our site's content.
Please feel free to get in touch HERE for more information.
Study 1
Study 1 is the first study to use parents' and carers' own words to shine a light on music and baby crying. It involves around 8 parents with babies under 1 year. Parents will be trying music to help settle their babies (eg. singing or humming lullabies, playing or listening to music on phones, or any other kinds of music). No musical skill, experience, or training is needed and interpreters will be available to help parents take part in their preferred language. Parents' and babies' names are all being changed and we've been meeting up to 3 times to chat. FirstMusic is there every step of the way to help with everything!
The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the Royal College of Music (certificate number: 221108OMA). Goody bags for parents show our appreciation of the time given to the research. Yes, we send chocolate brownies in the post!!
Crying can be really hard and lonely for parents even though it usually stops by itself. Hopefully talking about it honestly (and confidentially) with a kind and experienced researcher will help. Research Study 2 (please see below) involves parents helping to design musical support for baby crying. Parents helping parents!
Please click HERE to get in touch
about study 1!
Study 2
Study 2 involves parents (also known as super-humans!) in relaxed discussion groups (a participatory approach). We call it the "FirstMusic Research Roadshow"! As lived experience experts, parents are helping suggest and discuss musical support for families experiencing challenging baby crying and linked challenges like loneliness and isolation. Parents helping parents! This study was approved by the Royal College of Music's Research Ethics Committee on 25 May 2024 (certificate number: 240501).
A goody bag with £10 voucher, lovely soft toy, and other nice things show parents our appreciation for their time given to the research.
Discussion groups are taking place up and down the land and aim to capture a wide range of parents' views, thoughts, and recommendations.
Please click HERE to get in touch
about study 2!
References
FirstMusic was born (see what we did there?!) from a Phd at the Royal College of Music in London entitled "Hush-a-bye baby": Music to support parental mental wellbeing during persistent infant crying at home".
Everything on this website is linked to peer-reviewed academic and practitioner research evidence published in journals and other reputable sources (eg. government white papers).
For the full (and growing!) list of references, please click HERE. Brace yourself, it's a very very long list!!
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