Relaxation and sleeping
If only there was a magical way we could find some time to relax and rest. Or some ways we could help our babies sleep. Wouldn't that be amazing! Music shows real potential in both these areas although sadly we can't guarantee it will always work. However, we hope that these little ideas might help because small changes can make a big difference!
Breathing through crying
Your baby is crying
You notice yourself getting stressed
Take some deep breaths
Feel the breath going down into your tummy
Play some calm music on your phone
Walk around with your baby, breathing along to the music you love
If you need a break, put your baby down somewhere safe and walk away for a few minutes until you feel calmer.
The science-y blurb!
Breathing in our tummies along to some calm music can help our bodies settle down. It’s a similar type of breathing to when we’re asleep. Fast shallow breathing gets our bodies ready to fight or run – our survival mode. Not great if we are trying to be calm! Happy breathing!
White noise!
Your baby is crying (again)
You pop on the white noise track
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!!
Soundtrack of lullabies
Early evenings and the middle of the night can be very lonely times if you have a
crying baby. Maybe you have some tunes that you can hum or sing as you rock your baby (and yourself)? Or sing along to your favourite mellow music - using it as a backing track? Any tune can be a lullaby - just choose slow ones, use a soft voice, and combine it with rocking your baby side-to-side. Hopefully, the rhythm and the rocking will help you both feel better.
The science-y blurb!
Lullabies go back millenia - the first known one threatens a baby to go to sleep or the house god will get them - not much has changed since then!!
Lullabies are not just for babies, they are also to comfort and soothe parents
Some of the words of traditional lullabies are not pretty at all. Maybe the words can help soothe a worn-out parent and the tune soothe the baby?
Sleep music to bust stress hormones!
2 hours of uninterrupted baby sleep music inspired by the sights and sounds of the African savanna.
To comfort parents, carers, and babies, and hopefully lull everyone to sleep!
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.
A mother's lullaby
(Kenny G, 2023)
Grammy award-winning saxophonist, Kenny G, has released a new album called Innocence (December 2023). If you like smooth silky jazz, you might like these tracks which are his first collection of lullabies.
For the track called A mother's lullaby, please click HERE!
The science-y blurb!
A randomised controlled trial in 2022 found that listening to lullabies can help reduce anxiety in pregnant women and increase their feelings of bonding with their babies-in-waiting. Powerful stuff!
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.
Soul Sleep music channel
(R&B lullaby vibes)
In our research, many parents have told us that so-called "baby music" isn't what they really want or even like! There seems to be a gap between music to soothe parents as well as little ones, and the nursery rhymes and other songs aimed at baby development.
So we wanted to let you know about a very cool R&B music channel called "Sleep Soul" which aims to fill this gap with cool vibes for babies. We hope it might be worth a try!
Please find an offical 8-hour playlist HERE!
The science-y blurb!
The science suggests that music with a slow tempo, little change, and with no "surprises" turns off the pain receptors in babies' brains to prepare them for sleeping. Babies don't just hear the rhythm, they also feel it, especially if they are being held and rocked along to the music.
Lullabies of Circassian Grandmothers's lullaby
Marem Gökhan Şen has released a new album, "Lullabies of the Circassian Grandmother," sung in Circassian and Abkhaz, and passed down the generations in Circassia, Abkhazia, and the Turkish diaspora. What is especially lovely is the voice recordings of real villagers included in these songs. What traditional lullabies do we know? Particularly in the UK and US, there is evidence that parents don't feel they have a bank of traditional lullabies to draw on. We hope that FirstMusic might help a little with this as we gather some long-lost lullabies and songs of childhood together. Please watch this space!
The official album is HERE.
The science-y blurb!
A recent systematic review (2023) found that babies preferred listening to familiar songs sung by their mothers (other parents were not included in this particular review). Benefits included emotional regulation of babies, mothers feeling validated, and a sense of mothers feeling attuned with their babies. The review can be found HERE.
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
One of the most famous lullabies in Western music was composed by Brahms, and is everywhere from baby mobiles, music boxes, pull-string comforters, to musical toys. Known as "Wiegenlied", this piece was written for Brahm's friend, Bertha Faber, when her second son was born.
HERE is a very gentle long-running version
of Brahm's Lullaby (1.5 hours) to enjoy.
The science-y blurb!
Historical research suggests that Bertha was more to Brahms than just a friend, and that the two had become very close. The counter melody in Weigenlied is thought to be a favourite song that Bertha used to sing to Brahms. How romantic!
Article on the history of Brahm's Lullaby and his relationship with Bertha is HERE
Relaxation playlist
(running time 60 mins and license-free)
Nearly 60 mins of calm vibes for rest and relaxation. Great for relaxation exercises, body scans, relaxation stories, and just simply resting! Hope you might like some of the ideas on this page. If you (and hopefully) your baby fall asleep, sweet dreams!!
The science-y blurb!
Taking time to relax might seem like a bonkers suggestion when we are looking after our little one(s). Research suggests that listening to music to reduce stress is more effective and popular than going on social media, gaming, or even exercising.
Here is a really interesting article which tested 16 music tracks on 20 people to see which was the most relaxing. Adele, Enya, Mozart, Massive Attack, Air, and Moby all made the list. Please find the article HERE.
Body scan to music
A body scan to some calm music we like can help us quieten busy thoughts and our relentless "to-do" lists. Our relaxation music playlist above might help although it really doesn't suit everyone. Example body scan instructions are HERE
The science-y blurb!
It takes practice to quieten our minds down and to be fully in the here and now. The body scan idea can help give us a helpful focus. Gradually, we can become more aware of our bodies and how we are feeling without any judgement or needing to change anything. Literally just checking in and taking a moment or two. A paper on the positive effects of an 8-week body scan practice can be found HERE
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