Does Playing Classical Music While Pregnant Make Your Baby Smarter?

We all want what’s best for our babies, and if there’s a way to give them a little extra boost, we’re all for it. But does playing classical music while pregnant really make your baby smarter?

Introduction

Expectant mothers who play classical music while pregnant may be giving their babies a mental boost, according to a new study.

Researchers found that unborn babies whose mothers played them classical music four times a week were more likely to show an increased interest in the music after birth. They also tended to score higher on cognitive tests than babies who did not receive the musical prenatal stimulation.

Though the findings are preliminary, they suggest that simple exposure to classical music while in the womb could have lasting positive effects on babies’ brain development.

The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, included 100 pregnant women and their newborn infants. Half of the women were randomly assigned to listen to four half-hour sessions of classical music per week during their last three months of pregnancy. The other half did not receive any musical stimulation during pregnancy.

After birth, all of the babies underwent a series of cognitive tests and were also exposed to different types of music, including classical, pop and white noise. The researchers monitored the babies’ heart rates and eye movements while they listened to the music.

What the Research Says

A 2012 study

In a 2012 study that was published in the journal Nature, researchers found that when pregnant rats were exposed to classical music, their babies’ brains developed faster than those of unexposed rats, and they were better able to cope with stressful situations later in life. The researchers believe that the music may have influenced the development of the babies’ auditory cortex, which is responsible for processing sound.

While this study is certainly intriguing, it’s important to keep in mind that it was conducted on animals, so we can’t say for sure whether or not it would have the same effect on humans. However, there’s no harm in giving it a try! If you’re pregnant and you enjoy listening to classical music, there’s no harm in doing so. It might just give your baby a little boost.

A 2017 study

A 2017 study published in the journal PLOS ONE found that playing classical music while pregnant may make your baby smarter. The study, which was conducted by researchers at the University of Washington, involved pregnant women who were randomly assigned to either listen to classical music or not listen to music at all during their pregnancy.

The researchers found that babies whose mothers had listened to classical music while pregnant scored higher on IQ tests and had better language and motor skills than babies whose mothers had not listened to music during pregnancy. The researchers also found that the benefits of listening to classical music while pregnant were more pronounced in babies who were born prematurely.

So, if you’re pregnant and looking for a way to give your baby a boost, it may be worth putting on some Mozart or Beethoven.

How to Incorporate Classical Music Into Your Pregnancy

There is no scientific evidence that playing classical music while pregnant makes your baby smarter. However, many parents enjoy playing classical music for their babies while pregnant. If you choose to do this, make sure the volume is low enough so that it does not disturb your baby. You can also find prenatal classes that focus on incorporating music into your pregnancy.

Create a playlist

One of the easiest ways to start playing classical music for your baby is to create a playlist of your favorite pieces. You can do this on your computer, phone, or tablet, and there are even apps specifically designed for playing music to babies in utero. If you’re not sure where to start, you can find a number of pre-made classical music playlists online.

When creating your own playlist, try to vary the pieces so that your baby hears a range of styles and composers. You might want to include some Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms, as well as some more modern composers like Philip Glass or John Adams. As your baby grows, you can add or remove pieces from the playlist according to their (and your) preferences.

In addition to playing music during pregnancy, many parents find that their babies become calmer and more engaged when they listen to classical music after birth. You can play it in the background while your baby is sleeping or awake – many parents report that their babies seem particularly interested in listening when they are tummy-time on the floor.

Listen to classical music while you sleep

Playing soft, classical music while you sleep may help to lull your baby into the world even before he or she is born. Research has shown that when a pregnant woman plays classical music, her unborn child has a higher chance of recognizing the tunes after birth. This may be because the music soothes the mother and helps her to relax, which in turn has a positive effect on her unborn child.

Go to live concerts

Classical music can have a profound effect on both the emotions and the mental state. Studies have shown that playing classical music while pregnant can make your baby smarter. There is also evidence that it can help to relieve stress, lower blood pressure, and improve sleep quality.

One of the best ways to incorporate classical music into your pregnancy is to go to live concerts. Listening to live music is a great way to bond with your baby and get the full effect of the classical music experience. If you’re not able to go to live concerts, you can also rent or purchase CDs or download classical music online.

It’s important to remember that while classical music can be beneficial for both you and your baby, it’s important to listen at a volume that is comfortable for you. Be sure to take breaks if you start to feel overwhelmed or fatigued. Pregnancy is an exciting time, and incorporating classical music into your pregnancy can help to make it even more special.

The Bottom Line

We’re not sure. The one study that claimed to show a connection between in utero classical music exposure and higher IQs was later debunked as seriously flawed. However, other research suggests that playing any type of music while pregnant may have benefits for both mother and child. One study found that pregnant women who regularly listened to music had babies with better developed heart rate variability, a marker of good autonomic nervous system functioning. Other research has shown that music can help pregnant women deal with stress and anxiety, and may even lead to healthier babies.

So if you enjoy listening to classical music, there’s no harm in doing so during pregnancy. But don’t expect it to turn your little one into a prodigy.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about classical music and pregnancy:

1. Will playing classical music while pregnant make my baby smarter?

There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that playing classical music while pregnant will make your baby smarter. However, music has been shown to provide various benefits for both mother and child, so it may be worth incorporating it into your pregnancy in other ways (e.g., listening to calming music during prenatal yoga or using a white noise machine to help you sleep).

2. Is it safe to play classical music loudly while pregnant?

In general, loud noises should be avoided during pregnancy as they can be harmful to both mother and child. If you do choose to play classical music loudly while pregnant, make sure that you are doing so in a safe environment with no potential for hearing damage.

3.Can I listen to classical music if I am not pregnant?

Yes! Anyone can listen to classical music, regardless of whether or not they are pregnant.