Types of good baby soothing sounds

The sound of a baby crying elicits an emotional reaction from parents, especially as you run through a mental list of reasons why your baby might be crying in the hope that you can find a way to make him or her feel better.

One of the oldest ways to calm a young baby is with soothing sounds. Parents have been using calming noises with their children for as long as anyone can remember – even if it was done by accident! Today, parents have even more options and products at their disposal as they look for ways to create a soothing environment for their little one.

For those without children, it might seem counter-intuitive that seemingly loud noises such as the sound of the vacuum cleaner or the washing machine can be calming and soothing to infants. However, it actually makes a great deal of sense.

While in the womb, the baby could hear the sound of his or her mother’s heart beating and the blood rushing through her veins. This noise was constant and comforting on its own and also buffered potentially jarring noises. White noise, whether from a CD or an appliance, accomplishes both things for an infant now that he or she is outside the womb.

While an infant was growing and developing inside the mother’s womb, he or she could hear the voice of their mother while she spoke to others. Now that the baby is surrounded by new and unfamiliar sounds, the mother’s voice provides a great deal of comfort. Whether a mother is talking to the baby, reading aloud, or even humming, the baby finds these sounds soothing.

Everyone remembers the songs they heard as a child, whether it was “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” or “Rock-a-bye Baby.” More than being pleasant, silly songs to entertain children, lullabies are very soothing to infants as well. The repetitive lyrics and simple musical structure are enjoyable for young babies and easy to learn.

As a parent, you will find your own set of soothing sounds for your little one. Each baby is different, so what works for you might be something completely different than any of these suggestions!

• Learn more about how music can soothe infants