Between birth and two years old, your baby will develop at an extraordinary rate, and each milestone will be a new source of wonder for you. Discover with us the major stages of their development and how to communicate with them to help stimulate their learning.
Children and music share a great love story… Even before birth, babies are sensitive to the sounds that reach them. Then, from a very young 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: in fact, hearing is the most developed sense in the fetus. From the 16th week of During pregnancy , the baby can react to sounds, and from the 30th week onward, its hearing is mature. It prefers low frequencies, such as your heartbeat, its father's voice, or the sound of waves on a beach: place your hand on your belly and you might feel it move slowly, as if soothed by these calming sounds. Conversely, high frequencies and sudden noises can startle it.
Music already has an effect on him: when you listen to it, his heart rate changes and he starts to move. It seems that babies prefer soft melodies and particularly love the sound of the piano: try, for example, a Chopin nocturne or a Bach prelude!
The musical ear of the newborn
From birth, your baby is sensitive to music. If you listened to the same songs regularly during your pregnancy, play them again: your baby will recognize them easily and you'll see their interest immediately. These songs will also be invaluable when your baby has trouble falling asleep or cries incessantly: the soothing effect of familiar music is very pronounced in many children, as it evokes the positive emotions they felt before birth, thus providing them with a strong sense of security and calm.
From a very young 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 skills, concentration, artistic sense, language learning… 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 your baby rattles with bells or maracas, which they will enjoy shaking (more or less) in rhythm. A little later, sound books and toys that make music when buttons are pressed will be a big hit.
As soon as your baby can sit up well, you can start offering them small musical instruments, becoming increasingly complex as they develop: begin with a drum, maracas, or a keyboard, which are very easy to use. A little later, they can try the harmonica, guitar, or xylophone. In any case, the joy of playing with sounds and producing them as they please will be guaranteed! These instruments will also allow them to develop their fine motor skills , listening skills, and musicality.
If your baby enjoys all these sound-based games, consider enrolling them in music classes. Often available from age 1, these workshops offer a multitude of activities centered around music: songs, dance, vocal games, instrument recognition and experimentation, rhythm work… Enough to delight all budding musicians!
