Background music
We often don't notice background music but it's used a great deal from hold music when we're waiting in a queue on our phones, to music playing in shops and shopping centres, to takeaways and restaurants, nail bars, and spas. The retail and service industries have known for a long time that our mood and behaviour can be influenced by background music. If they want us to slow down, slower music is played, and if they need to make us shop faster during busy periods, then upbeat faster music is played. Wouldn't it be great to transfer this into supporting parents' mental wellbeing? See HERE for a research paper on the impact of background music in retail.
So, maybe we can harnass the power of background music for parents and the practitioners who support them. We hope you like some of the ideas here and that they will spark other ideas. Faster happier music to help the kids get ready more quickly in the morning?! Or popping some calming background music on for when parents are arriving at parent-baby groups and feeling a bit anxious or stressed?
White noise!
Your baby is crying (again)
You pop on the white noise track in the background - fingers crossed it might help!
Click HERE for a link to 8 hours of uninterrupted white noise!
The science-y blurb!
In 2 recent research studies, white noise helped babies to stop crying quicker than just rocking them. The researchers said to place phones or speakers a metre or so away from our babies’ ears with the volume the same as a soft shower.
Or the hoover suddenly becomes
your friend!!
My favourite playlist
Do you have a favourite group or
music artist?
Maybe you love the latest chart-topping music?
Maybe you love to sing along with your favourite anthems?
Maybe you love alternative music, gospel, folk, classical, reggae, so much to
choose from!
How about having a playlist on your phone that helps you feel better, especially on a tough day?
The science-y blurb!
The latest music research shows that listening to music is really helping parents and carers with their sense of mental wellbeing. Pop music seems to be listened to most although lots of different types of music work too. Music reduces anxiety, helps lift our mood, and even lowers blood pressure. Who knew?!
Right-and-left brain music
Our baby's crying can be very distressing
for us and we can find it very difficult to cope at times. This distress can grow and grow as we get more and more tired
Some people find a special type of music helpful to play in the background. It's known as bi-lateral music stimulation.
This music can help reduce feelings of distress and stress. Search for bi-lateral music or click HERE for an example - happy listening!
The science-y blurb!
The science on bi-lateral music stimulation is still new but many people report feeling much calmer after listening to it and there are no reported harmful effects at the moment. Maybe it's worth a (careful) try because even if it just distracts us from the crying, that in itself might be a help.
Music to bust stress hormones!
2 hours of uninterrupted baby sleep music inspired by the sights and sounds of the African savanna. We can try playing it in the background, to comfort us and our babies, and hopefully lull everyone to sleep eventually! Please click HERE!
The science-y blurb!
Music triggers the release of dopamine which can boost feelings of wellbeing (it may also help manage pain!) Music also decreases levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Try relaxing or slow music (around 60-80 beats per minute) to help everyone sleep. Play at the volume of a soft shower with speakers at least a metre from babies' little ears.
Sounds of the sea
(alternative to white noise)
In our research with lovely parents, many were happy to try white noise to help their babies to settle and stay asleep.
However, some parents didn't like it for themselves and this really matters.
For an alternative, perhaps try the sounds of the sea or other nature sounds? For an example 3-hour track from Norweigian composer, Peder B. Helland (with over 10.7 million subscribers), please click HERE!
The science-y blurb!
Several recent studies have suggested that the sounds of nature can reduce stress hormones, boost positive mindset, lower negative mood, and make us feel more comfortable and relaxed. The nature sounds studied included the sounds of the ocean, rain falling, and even the tweets of birds in the forest. There were no reports of any harms in listening to these types of tracks, but you'll know if it works for you (and your little one) or not.
Do you have a favourite album?
Music is really personal and one person's tastes are so different to another's. Encouraging parents to listen to their favourite music can really help with their mental wellbeing. Everywhere we look, on buses, trains, bikes, planes, people jogging, studying, working on building sites, working out in the gym, etc, etc, folks are listening to their favourite music whilst they get on with their day. We can encourage parents to give it a go if they'd like to.
The science-y blurb!
There's lots of research on the potential benefits of having music on in the background. However, we still don't know how often we can use background music for best impact or if there are any negative effects. Perhaps, we can just try it a little bit and see how it works for us. HERE is a really interesting article on how our choice of background music might help sell our house when buyers come to have a look!!
Background music
Have you ever noticed music playing in the background when you are out and about? Maybe during a shopping trip, or in a waiting room. Some of us might put music on when we work or exercise. Music even plays when we're put on hold during a call!
The science-y blurb!
A recent research review in 2022 found that background music generally reduces the anxiety levels of patients in doctors' and hospital waiting rooms. Many of the studies recommend music of 60-72 beats per minute, with no lyrics, and a consistent rhythm. We reckon it might be worth a try at home, especially if we can't get out easily with little ones. That speed sounds very much like an average heart rate!
Background Music
(running time 20 mins and license-free)
Playing background music has been shown to reduce anxiety in those attending GPs, hospitals, clinics, etc. How about popping this playlist on before a parent group or family event starts? See what parents think of it. When the session is due to begin, fade out the music and welcome the group. A nice containing musical routine.
License-free music by Oleksandr Stepanov of PenguinMusic. Thank you!
The science-y blurb!
Using background music to help emotion and behaviour regulation is not well-known in the early years' and parenting sector. Perhaps it's because of the association of music and singing with baby and child development rather than parental mental wellbeing? Here's a really nice article about parents picking background music for their baby's delivery.
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