Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each of their milestones will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to interact with them to stimulate their awakening.
Children and music have a great love story... Even before birth, babies are sensitive to the sounds around them. Then, from an early age and throughout their development, music is a source of pleasure and sensory awakening. Discover with us how the world of sound can foster your little one's development!
The awakening of hearing in utero
Still nestled comfortably in your womb, your baby is already very sensitive to sounds and music: indeed, hearing is the most developed sense in a fetus. From the 16th week of pregnancy, they can react to the sounds reaching them, and from the 30th week, their ear is mature. Low frequencies are their preference, such as your heartbeat, their dad's voice, or the sound of waves on a beach: place your hand on your belly, and you might feel them move slowly, as if lulled by these soothing sounds. Conversely, high frequencies and sudden noises can make them jump.
Music also affects them: when you listen to it, their heart rate changes, and they start to move. Babies seem to prefer soft melodies and particularly enjoy the sound of the piano: try, for example, a Chopin nocturne or a Bach prelude!
The musical ear of a newborn
From birth, your baby is sensitive to music. If you regularly listened to the same songs during your pregnancy, play them again: they will recognize them easily, and you will immediately see them show interest. These songs will also be invaluable when your baby has trouble falling asleep or cries uncontrollably: the soothing effect of familiar music is very pronounced in many children, as it brings them back to the positive emotions felt before birth, thus providing them with a strong sense of security and calm.
From an early age, your baby also loves it when you sing to them: even if you don't have the soul of an opera singer, no voice can compare to yours for their little ears! Nursery rhymes and lullabies stimulate their listening ability, concentration, artistic sense, language acquisition... Music thus becomes a true means of awakening and emotional communication between you.
When your baby becomes a musician
Your baby's interest in music grows with them. From 4 to 6 months, you can offer them rattles with bells or maraca-type toys, which they will happily shake (more or less) in rhythm. A little later, sound picture books and toys that produce music when buttons are pressed will be a great success.
As soon as your baby can sit up well, you can also start offering them small musical instruments, becoming increasingly complex as they develop: start with a drum, maracas, or a keyboard, which are very easy to use. A little later, they can try the harmonica, guitar, or even the xylophone. In any case, the joy of playing with sounds and producing them as they wish will be present! These instruments will also allow them toexercise their fine motor skills, listening, and musicality.
If your baby enjoys all these sound games, finally consider enrolling them in musical awakening sessions. Often accessible from 1 year old, these workshops offer a multitude of activities around music: songs, dance, vocal games, instrument recognition or experimentation, rhythm work... Enough to satisfy all budding musicians!
