You might feel a little bit self-conscious singing to your belly in pregnancy, but there are a lot of reasons to give it a go.
For a start, your baby can hear your voice from only a matter of weeks into pregnancy, which is pretty amazing.
Watch the short video below to find out all about the benefits of singing and talking to your bump.
Can you believe your little one starts learning even before they鈥檙e born?
At just four and a half months in the womb, they can already hear sound, which is why, from the moment they鈥檙e born, babies prefer the sound of their mother鈥檚 voice to one they鈥檝e never heard. So, it鈥檚 great to talk or sing to your bump!
Scientific studies show they鈥檒l move around less in the womb and have a slower heartbeat when they hear their mum鈥檚 voice. And singing doesn鈥檛 just calm them down. It鈥檚 also a great way to connect with your baby before they鈥檙e born. Once they鈥檙e born, they might even recognise your voice and the songs you sang during pregnancy!
After you鈥檝e had your baby, singing is a great way to teach them new words and speech sounds. It鈥檚 also a great opportunity for eye contact and touch.聽And it can even calm them down and help with feeding, which can鈥檛 be bad, right?
Scientists have shown that singing to your baby makes them move around less and pay more consistent attention. It鈥檚 the rhythm and repetition they respond to. That鈥檚 why nursery rhymes are so good!
So why not try singing to your little one, even before they鈥檙e born 鈥搃t鈥檚 a great habit to get into for when baby arrives and you can sing face to face.You don鈥檛 need to be a perfect singer and you can sing in any language. It鈥檚 all about connecting with your baby.
When can babies hear in the womb?
At just four and a half months in the womb, they can already hear sound. They may hear muted sounds from the outside world and any noises your digestive system makes, as well as the sound of your voice and heart.
By 18 weeks your baby's ears are beginning to send signals to the brain about the sounds that they can hear.
By 23 weeks they can hear the muffled sounds of their mum's voice and by 24 weeks they respond to that voice. Scientific studies show they鈥檒l move around less in the womb and have a slower heartbeat when they hear their mum鈥檚 voice.
This is why, from the moment they鈥檙e born, babies prefer the sound of their mother鈥檚 voice to one they鈥檝e never heard.
Why should you sing and talk to your baby in the womb?
Reading out loud, carrying out conversations and singing songs and rhymes to your baby will help them to get to know your voice and can help with early bonding.
It's not only great for baby but for you as well. Playing music can be a great way to relax and ease stress during pregnancy.
Music that mimics a heartbeat of around 60 beats per minute, such as lullabies, is useful. Wondering what to sing to your baby in the womb? Our selection of top nursery rhymes will inspire you.
After 32 weeks, your baby may start to recognise certain vowel sounds from your language. Some research suggests that very early language development may begin before birth.
Image caption, At just 4 1/2 months in the womb, your baby can already hear sounds.
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