Dear Tunester, today you’re going to learn a way to make diaper changing go from struggle to smooth sailing.
I bet you didn’t realize how deep in shit you would be as a parent, in more ways than one. But today let’s focus on the literal.
How many times a day do you deal POOP? Checking, smelling, changing, and cleaning…A LOT.
Now if you’ve got a pre-crawler diaper changing might still be somewhat chill. But if your baby is on the move it may have already turned into a wrestling match.
So what do you do? It’s simple.
Use a Diaper-Changing Song.
Yup, sing while you wipe. It can be about pee, poop, diapers or anything really. A Diaper-Changing Song is part-reminder, part-timer.
Here’s why it will work:
1. It lets your baby know that changing is about to happen.
If you start to sing your diaper-changing song as you are bringing the diaper and as you start to undress the baby, then your baby will know it’s coming. Part of what they hate so much is that you are interrupting their play. It’s like my kids protesting when I call them to dinner – “Wait a minute! I’m in the middle!” A song can let your baby know that they’re about to be changed.
2. It can be a time keeper.
Babies are intuitively musical. Whithin a few times of singing your song, your baby will start to recognize it. Not only that, they’ll understand know the beginning, the middle and the end. Babies seem to understand song structure. Often in my groups, babies as young as eight months old start to clap toward the end of the song because they know it’s about to end. Use the song as a way to tell your baby how long the diaper changing will take. It will behave like a sand timer and your baby will feel a bit more in control.
Don’t have a Diaper-Changing Song? Let’s make it happen.
It’s possible that you already have a song but you don’t think about it as one. Do you ever find yourself singing silly ditties about poop, not peeing in your face or staying still? That’s all I’m talking about.
Don’t overthink it. You can write a silly ditty on your own. Start by noticing what you say as you’re changing your baby’s diaper. If you usually say, “Please don’t pee on me” or “You are a poopy head,” then put that in the song. It could look something like this:
“You’re my little poopy head
Let’s go get you clean
But baby hold still –
And please don’t pee on me”
I am sure you can come up something better than that. It’s really about noticing the melody you already use in your speech when you’re speaking to your baby.
Imagine how you would say – “Come here stinky pants.” Probably with a little sing-song in your voice. Use that for your ditty!
Remember – it doesn’t have to win a Grammy. But if you’re able to write a short song that you sing every time you go to change your baby’s diaper, the task will become so much easier. Not only that, you’ll be one step ahead and ready for the squirmy stage.
So dear Tunester, what song makes your life easier at the changing table? COMMENT below and let me know.
Can it top: “Wipe wipe wipe your butt / gently wipe the stream”? Do tell. I love to hear what little ones respond to. Comment below.
Did you catch last week’s post in which I shared the 5 things I would never do as a therapist of babies and parents? Check it out here.
Before your next diaper change … Share this Tuesday Tune-In.
Be the person who gives another parent this useful idea. Forward this email their way and tell them to sign up for more below.
You know by now that music-making with your baby doesn’t require any instruments. You’ve got it all in your body, voice, and hands.
That said, instruments can be a great way to get your baby excited about music. It can be surprisingly delightful to blow into a harmonica and hear a chord, or tap with a mallet on a xylophone and hear a bell tone. Your baby’s delight in hearing these sounds can inspire more and that’s what we want.
Below is a list of some of my favorite instruments for babies and toddlers.
Important tips to keep in mind:
Your baby will love music if YOU enjoy music with them and in front of them.
There’s no wrong way to play instruments! And you want to also convey to your baby that all music is “experimental.”
Try not to get cheap stuff that sounds bad and falls apart easily. If it makes you want ot sit and play with it, it will probably do the same for your baby.
All of these instruments will say 3+ on them. That doesn’t mean that your baby can’t use them, it just means that she/he should be supervised when they do.
What instruments to buy for your baby:
*I am not affiliated with any of these brands.
1. Shakers
This a great first instrument for your baby. As soon as your baby starts to grasp, and doesn’t seem jarred by the sound, you can hand them one of these. Most likely they’ll end up in their mouths at first and that’s totally fine.
There are very cheap shakers out there that don’t sound great to me and can bust open, spreading small beads everywhere. Avoid those.
My favorites are these wooden shakers. They are slightly bigger than the plastic ones which makes them harder to put into little mouths. That said, never give your baby a shaker if you’re not around to watch.
If you’ve been in a Baby in Tune class for older babies, you know that we often dive into drum circles and learn drumming rhythms and styles from other cultures. For years I’ve been looking for drums that don’t take up too much space and still sound good. I finally found them! These nested Frame Drums are perfect for pulling out and having a family drum circle and then being able to store them away.
As another option – these Djembes sound great and come in different sizes.
It’s really fun to play drums along to your baby’s favorite songs. Try Peekaboo, Little Bit Tough, and You Are My Sunshine for some fun songs of mine to play drums with.
3. Harmonicas
Harmonicas are a great first instrument for your baby. They’re are built in one key, so if you are playing a song on the speakers or on the guitar, you can easily play a song in the key of your harmonica.
Showing your baby how to play a harmonica can be a great motivator for them to learn how to blow. Sometimes it helps to blow on their cheek or to blow bubbles and then blow into the harmonica in order to illustrate the concept.
I used to recommend these colorful, plastic Harmonicas, which can take a beating and have a decent sound. But there is a risk of the screws coming out and being a choking hazard.
I love this one which is made fully baby safe (I actually haven’t had a chance to try it yet so please let me know how it sounds if you do.
4. Glockenspiels
This is an arrangement of metal bars laid out in a scale (often in C) that sound like bells. It resembles a piano or small xylophone.
You can find some very cheap ukuleles out there and they sound pretty awful and fall apart in a day. I’m sure you’ve had that experience already. So it’s worth investing a bit more to get something that will last a bit longer. These Kala Waterman Ukes come in different colors and sound great. I enjoy playing my daughter’s even more than she does.
So there is your list, dear Tunie.
Now, make me a promise: When you buy instruments for your baby, sit with them, play with them, make music together. Let them feel that the magic of music comes when instruments , voices, and ears interact.
Which instrument have you tried and loved or hated? COMMENT below and let me know.
Who’s your most (or least) musical parent friend? Share this Tuesday Tune-In with them and tell them to sign up for more below.
Today let’s talk about the best ways to get your baby moving and to develop their fine and gross motor movement.
My second kid was a physical child from day 1. From the minute he could roll over, he was on a mission to MOVE. My first wasn’t that way at all. He was quite content to sit in one spot and pull the Playmobil captain in and out of the boat. While my second was focused on developing his gross motor movement, my first was all about his fine motor movement.
But guess what – they need both! And you know what the best way to get your baby moving both with their fingers and their body is? Can you guess what my answer will be?
Yup – through songs.
It’s a no brainer really. Think about yourself when you’re doing exercise or when you’re dancing. You’re probably a million times more motivated to move when Stevie Wonder is playing his harmonica.
This morning I was so UNmotivated to do my workout until I heard my latest favorite song. And then I was rearing to go.
Before we go into WHICH movement songs to do with your baby, let’s talk WHY.
Benefits of movement songs with your baby:
Fine AND gross motor skills.
You might just be favoring one depending on the gender of your baby. This study found that parents of male babies often encourage play that promotes more gross motor movement like walking, running and jumping and parents of female babies encourage fine motor movements like grasping and reaching. We want to do both!
Increase cooperation. Moving together, to the rhythm of the song, teaches your baby that there is a sequence and that you both do it together. Meaning, your baby learns that there are social rules to the game. And that’s an important lesson!
Hand eye coordination. Every time you do the Itsy Bitsy Spider or Flying Hands with your baby they’re learning how to control their movements
Listening skills. You might not have considered this benefit but when you do movement and gesture songs with your baby you’re teaching them to listen closely and follow instructions. I know you want your baby to learn that 🙂
Ok so now let’s get some ideas for which songs to do and how:
Movement activities to do with your baby TODAY:
Go on a Bikeride! This song and others like it such as Head Shoulders Knees and Toes or Rocking in the Boat encourage moving and stretching your baby which develop awareness of their body and increases their flexibility.
Focus on Tummy Time! Tummy time has been shown to be so important for your baby’s gross motor movement and acquisition of sitting, standing and walking. To encourage your baby to stay longer in tummy time by making the floor more interesting, Try this song.
Take an Airplane ride!
If you’ve learned one thing from my posts it’s how much our babies mirror us. When your baby sees you being active physically, they will be too! Engage in songs in which you both move together, like Open Shut Them It or this Airplane song.
Jump around!
To encourage gross motor movement sing songs that involve big motions like jumping, running, and clapping. Another example is If You’re Happy and You Know it.
Excercise those fingers!
Do songs that involve finger and hand control such as Flying Hands, Itsy Bitsy Spider and New Words.
Other ideas to encourage movement that don’t involve songs:
Create an Indoor Obstacle Course.
Put down an enticing spread of pillows and blankets for your baby to crawl in and out of. When they get older you can do obstacle courses in the field by saying something like – run to that pole, spin around it, then jump over that stick, clap three times…
Outside Play.
Going outside has been shown to increase your baby’s movements because they have more space. So get out there! To the park, to the playground, or just outside the door.
What movement songs do you do with your baby? Comment below and let me know!
Do you have a friend who’d like to help her baby start moving and grooving? Send them this post and tell them to sign up for more below.
Today we’re going to talk about whether your child can develop musical talent or if it’s hopless if they weren’t born with it.
My son came out of my belly singing. He could follow a tune by the time he was a year old. My second was the same and seemed to have a knack for rhythm. My daughter, however, was NOT.
What?! We thought. How could it be that our child isn’t musical?! How will we harmonize on road trips?
But it was undeniable. When she sang it sounded sort of monotone, as if her voice was cutting corners and moving only slightly higher or lower from her speaking voice.
We wondered – could she hear the difference in notes but wasn’t putting in the effort to match them? Or maybe she couldn’t hear the contours of the melody and was singing what she heard?
Was she simply not born with the music gene? We hadn’t changed our behavior from one kid to the next as far as we knew. In fact, if anything, we sang even more because of the other two.
The question this week is this: Is musical talent innate or not? And – Can musical talent be learned?
Many parents who don’t feel musical wonder about this question. I remember a couple in one of my classes saying – we’re not musical and can’t sing. Is it hopeless for our baby?
Let’s dive into the research and see what we can find.
Is musical talent innate or can it be learned?
First of all, we’re ALL MUSICAL, especially your baby
Music is innate for ALL humans. We all respond to rhythm, melody, and pitch and have always done so through history. Here’s how we know.
Research shows that infants are born with a wide range of musical capacities. For instance, they prefer listening to music that is harmonic rather than dissonant, they can recognize the omission of a downbeat in a simple rhythm, and they prefer bouncing to the rhythm of the song they are hearing rather than out of rhythm. They also have a memory for music that is stored long term.
What about musical talent? Is that innate too?
The short answer is yes. But that’s not the full answer.
The growing consensus among scientists seems to be that people are born with varying degrees of musical sensitivity and proclivity.
But that’s just the beginning. It all comes down to who STICKS with it.
It’s true that those who are born with a greater aptitude toward music may have an easier time learning how to play an instrument or how to sing. That ease and comfort may encourage them to continue.
But ALL kids can get to the same point if they put the work in. We now know how plastic the brain is. This study showed that with long term and repeated rehearsal of a musical instrument we can alter the brain’s gray matter.
Think of it like a marathon – imagine all kids standing at the start line. They are all about to run the same track. The kids born with musical sensitivity are given a head start. For them, playing an instrument will be easier at first. But throughout the race, some may drop out and some may persevere. And it doesn’t always have to do with musical talent. It may even be more related to GRIT (to learn more about that check out this post.)
So what is the biggest factor in my baby becoming musical?
The fact is, whether your baby learns and sticks with music largely depends on YOU.
This study of 257 children showed that the successful music learners were the ones with musically involved parents.
Why? Because musical development is a result of genes interacting with environmental stimulation.
I’ve got the proof to go with all this. Let’s go back to my daughter.
We’ve been working hard with her. When I sing to her I accentuate the melody and her brothers sometimes do too. A few months ago we were singing You Are My Sunshine and she had the rhythm down but wasn’t matching the pitches of the melody.
When she didn’t make it to a note of the song I’d repeat that note with gusto a few times patiently letting her try it. Eventually, she started catching on. And then she started singing full melodies on key!
The other day she sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow and was able to sing all the hard notes on her own.
It all came down to the fact that we kept rooting her on in the marathon, no matter where she started and how far she had to go.
Now, she can run on her own and she’s in line with all the other marathon runners.
So what should you do to give your baby the nurture to compliment their nature?
Keep making music – singing, drumming, playing instruments together. The more you do it the more your baby will associate music with fun and togetherness and will start to develop that head start that the musically talented had.
Listen to music – lots of it. In the car, at home, sing with it, dance to it. Let music be a part of your baby’s every fiber. And if you’re looking for easy to sing along to music, listen to mine!
So how about you dear Tunie? Do you feel musical? Are you concerned that your baby might not end up musical if you aren’t? COMMENT below and let us know.
Do you have a friend who’s always been afraid to sing at the campfire and is now wondering about whether her baby will to? Send her this post and tell her to sign up for more Tuesday Tune ins.
I often get the question of whether singing to your baby is more beneficial than playing music on speakers. It’s time to look into this quandary.
Here’s what you tell me – you’re on a long drive on the highway, your baby starts to fuss, the fussing escalates to crying. Your baby doesn’t want a bottle, you can’t pull over to feed, your baby throws away paci and toys. You put on music and your baby is instantly soothed. Eventually they fall asleep.
(In your stories it’s always my music but it’s magical soothing powers have yet to be scientifically proven.)
There is no doubt that music has the power to soothe our babies, and US!
But I wonder –Before you put on the music, did you try to sing to your baby? Would that have worked as well? Or better?
Or when you put your baby to sleep, does it work as well to play a lullaby as it does to sing it?
The question for today is –
Is live singing more effective than playing recorded music?
Let’s break it down. Here’s what we know.
Music has lots of benefits for your baby:
Physical Benefits;
The most comprehensive studies have been done with babies in the NICU. Recordings of parents singing, live music played by a music therapist, and recorded music have all been shown to have great benefits for babies in the NICU.
Soothing Powers:
We also know that when babies heard a recording of music, they remained calm for twice the amount of time than when they heard a recording of speech.
Bonding Boost:
This study found that musical interactions between parents and babies held more positive emotion and more synchronization than simply play interactions. The interactions with music encouraged more connection and were more meaningful.
SINGING a lullaby has huge benefits
This one is not a comparison with recorded music, but does show that the babies who parents consistently sang their lullaby had significantly decreased crying.
So it’s clear: music does a whole lot for your baby’s emotional state and your connection.
Now let’s go a step further to see if we can figure out whether live SINGING is the winner over RECORDED music. These two studies can help.
Babies prefer unaccompanied singing to accompanied
This isn’t quite the answer to our question, but the idea here is that babies prefer to hear you sing acapella, without accompanied by instruments. That means they prefer your voice alone to your voice with other sounds. Probably because it is more intimate. This is significant to our question because often recorded music has lots of instruments.
Babies prefer live singing over recorded
This study is the only one that actually tested for what we are asking. They did show a SLIGHT difference in live singing vs recorded music and found that the live singing resulted in deeper sleep for preterm infants.
Why might this be? This study has an answer to that question
You sing differently to your baby than in the shower
This study (1997) shows that when parents sing directly to their babies their singing is slower, more energetic, has more pitch variability and exaggerated rhythm. Why do we do this? Because we want to attract our baby’s attention and communicate different emotional messages.
That means that when we sing we alter our voice to fit our baby’s mood, physical state, and age. We change subtle things in our voice and rhythm to match our baby in that particular moment.
Does recorded music do that? NOPE.
So who is our winner?
I think you knew the answer all along. LIVE SINGING.
But not by a ton. Which means that if you don’t want to sing that’s ok. However you should definitely be playing music for soothing and play with your baby.
So what should you do? Three things:
Come to our class, we’ll help you get over any insecurities you have related to your voice, we’ll get you singing in a group and feeling great about it.
Sing to your baby. Today. Anything. Your baby doesn’t care. She just wants to hear YOU sing.
Put on some tunes today. Ella Fitzgerald, Arianna Grande, Bach, Bruno Mars, whoever.
Do you have a friend who’s been wondering if she should sing or play music to her baby? Send her this post and tell her to sign up for more Tuesday Tune-Ins.
today you’re going to get six fresh baby music activities. Let’s do this!
If someone asked you –
How important is music in your day to day life with your baby, which of these would you answer?
Its what gets me through the day.
Once in a while I’ll put something on but I’m not a singer.
I would love to do more, I just need to know how and what.
Music? I totally forgot about that.
What was your answer? Email me and let me know!
Last year I put this survey out into the ether and 1368 parents answered it. I found out something amazing.
44% of you said its what gets you through the day!
WOW! (You can check out the graph at the end of the post to see the exact breakdown.)
I guess we’re on to something with Baby in Tune.
33% of you said you’d love to do more but need to know HOW and WHAT.
And that’s what I’m here for, my friend.
Today you’re going to get some new HOWs and WHATs to do with your baby.
You may be stuck at home because of Covid or simply hiding from the cold. Whatever the reason, you probably need some fresh activities to do ASAP. So let’s do this.
6 fresh music activities to do with your baby TODAY:
Pre talkers:
Activity #1 – BODY LOVE
Touch your baby’s body parts and sing a simple song about them. You can use a melody that exists or come up with your own. Doesn’t have to win a Grammy!
For instance, if you want to use a melody that exists – for instance, to the tune of “This Land is Your Land,” – I love your belly, I love your nose, I love your eyes, I love your thighs…”
Make sure you touch and squeeze each part you’re singing about.
Want to see a Body Love song I just wrote with my daughter? Find it on my Instagram page.
Activity #2 – BABY LANGUAGE
Sing a song using only ta ta ta or ba ba ba. Use a melody from an existing song or make one up! Those of you who take my classes know that we always do a song like this after doing rhythm with the shakers.
As you sing this song, bounce your baby to the rhythm. You’ll see their delight in hearing their own sounds in sync with your rhythm.
Activity #3 – MODERN DANCER
Put on a song that you love and that makes you feel strong emotions. You know what I mean, that song from highschool or the one that always makes you cry a little, not because you’re sad, but because it brings out all the feels.
Lie down next to your baby and raise your arms and legs, and move them to the music so your baby can watch you. Imagine you’re a modern dancer in a show. Let your baby see your legs up, your feet rolling around, your hands in the air!
Talkers and Walkers:
Activity #1 – LEAVE THE BLANKS
Sing a song that your baby knows and leave out words every now and then for them to fill in. For instance – “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me ____”.
Or, even better, make up a song by switching off lines. Your baby sings a line they make up and then you sing a line. This will probably be easier for your baby to do than you think. Doesn’t have to be complicated! A two word line is all you need.
Activity #2 – ALVIN AILEY DANCER
Put on a fun song and move around as if you are an Alvin Ailey dancer. As my daughter says, think of it as “gymnastics and ballet put together.” Go wild! Let your body lead. And then – as your baby starts to pick up on it, let your baby lead.
Here’s some inspiration. I love this video of professional dancers following their baby’s lead.
Activity #3 – FREEZE DANCE
Who says we can only do this at parties? Make the party happen in your home! It’s so easy these days with music playing from our phones. Play a song your baby loves and teach them how to stop every time the music stops. Your baby will LOVE this. I guarantee it.
Let’s get back to the stats.
77% of you said that music is VERY IMPORTANT to your day to day life with your baby!
That’s great news. Now all you need to do is experiment with these baby music activities and keep the music flowing.
For even more ideas – come join us in class or check out our online class. You can also check out this post which has a bunch of other ideas.
Do you have a friend who’s pulling her hair out right about now and needs some fresh activity ideas to do with her baby? Send her this post and tell her to sign up for more.
Did you know that balls are one of the best toys for your baby? Here’s why…
You know I’m all about connection right? Helping you find joyful and peaceful moments during your day to bond with your baby.
Well today let’s talk about a much neglected toy in your home that can actually be a connection-maker/brain-enhancer/ body-developer.
Know what it is? BALLS.
Here’s what playing with balls can do for your baby:
Develop their physical skills.
Develop awareness of their surroundings.
Develop their social skills.
Develop language skills.
Wow! In the words of my friend Mindy from one of our favorite podcasts “Wow in the World,” that’s Bonker Balls!
There are so many ways to play with balls that your baby will surely learn when they are school age. But playing with balls can start as early as now and will have much of the same benefits.
Ball Activity to do With Your Baby:
Roll a ball between you and your baby, or around your baby while singing the song below.
Pre-Sitting Babies:
Roll the ball around your baby, bringing it close to them and then close to you.
Sitting and Standing Babies:
Sit with your legs open creating an enclosed rolling area and roll the ball back and forth to each other.
Have a few balls around in case your baby wants to explore the texture and shape of the ball through their mouth.
Benefits of playing ball with this song:
Gross and fine motor skills:
Let’s start with the simple act of rolling. When you give your baby balls of different sizes they learn how to manipulate large and small objects. They use their fingers to push and pick up a small ball, which develops their fine motor skills, and they use their full arms and sometimes whole body to pick up and roll larger balls. That develops their gross motor skills.
Develops hand-eye coordination
This one seems like a no brainer – moving an object entails hand eye coordination. But there is another aspect to this. When you play together with a ball with your baby, you are both focusing on the movement of the object. And this is crucial. Studies show when your baby develops the ability to look and manipulate an object, they elicit YOUR joint attention to that object. And that, dear Tunie, elicits joint play=CONNECTION.
Spacial awareness
Simply rolling and throwing a ball develops spacial awareness because it teaches them concepts of direction, distance and location.
Object Permanence
It was once thought that object permanence develops at 8 months but now we know that it actually starts to develop around 4-7 months. Basically it is your baby’s ability to know that something exists even when it disappears. Playing games to help your baby understand this is great for their development. And a ball, that comes and goes, is a perfect toy for the job.
Language Skills
If you are using the song below while you roll the ball back and forth then you are teaching your baby your name and their name. The ball is acting like a pointer, explaining to your baby that that when the ball is near them you say their name, and when it is near you you sing your name. By using the space you are illustrating the idea of labels to your baby.
Social Skills
This game is so simple and yet teaches your baby so much. It is the beginning of teaching them the concept of sharing. By having a joint toy that is being passed back and forth you are teaching your baby that it is ok to release it because it wil come back to them,.
Connection and Bonding
Simply by taking at moment to have a joint focus with your baby while doing something playful and open ended, you are engaging in some high quality bonding time 🙂
Looking for more musical activities to do with your baby to get through the winter? Try these.
Ok Tunie, go forth and play ball! And let me know how it goes.
Do you have a friend who needs some more fun in their day with their baby? Send them this post and tell them to sign up for more.
Today I’m going to explain the importance of your voice for your baby, and how you can alter your voice to be more effective.
As a kid I had a raspy voice. When I sang with my cousins it was clear that they had the “prettier” voices – smooth, light, clear. Mine was a lawn mower.
As I got older I grew to like my voice, or at least fully accept it, and how it always sounded like a whisper, as if I was always telling a secret.
Your voice is our invisible calling card. Its a huge part of how you communicate with your baby. And yet, it’s an aspect of ourselves we don’t often think about.
We tend to focus on clothing, behavior, and facial expressions when we talk about someone’s personality. But studies show that we listen to the sound and tone of voices twice as much as what’s being said.
Your voice communicates your feelings, temperament and identity.
Men tend to feel how poignantly intertwined their voice is with their identity when they go through puberty. Suddenly, songs they once sung seem too high, and people respond differently to them on the phone. Women’s voices often become lower as they age or after they give birth. Joni Mitchell is a perfect example of this.
When this happens, it can take a while for the identity to catch up to the new voice.
It’s the reason recent science has developed new ways to provide those who need a mechanical voice with one that will be more nuanced and specific to who they are. Now, a 6 year old girl doesn’t need to have the “Perfect Paul” (Stephen Hawkings) or the “Beautiful Better” (Siri) which used to be all that existed.
Now let’s think about your baby. Your baby is ONLY listening to the tone of your voice. It is paramount to how you are communicating with your baby.
With a little awareness and intention, you can alter your voice to be more effective with your baby so that you convey exactly what you want to convey.
Here are some exercises to alter your voice in order to be more effective in your communication with your baby:
1. Gain Awareness Often we’re not aware of how our voice sounds to our kids, not only because we’re used to it but because it sounds lower in our heads than outside in the world. Recording your voice when you are speaking can give you great insight. We often think we know but it can surprise you. Part of this exercise is not to judge! You’re just listening curiously.
2. Travel in Your Body Your voice can change vastly simply focusing on different areas in your body as you speak. We sometimes experiment with this in our classes. Try speaking from your diaphragm, from your throat, or from your nose. See how your tone and energy change. This awareness can help you be more intentional with your baby.
For instance, when I record songs, I usually imagine that my mouth is on my belly. It helps me sing from a deeper place.
3. Embody Others This one might be the most effective of all the techniques I use when working to alter my voice, especially when it comes to speaking to your baby in stressful situations. Conjure up a voice that you WISH you had, or someone with a voice you admire, and imagine that you have their voice. Let your entire tone, cadence and melody change to be that person. I actually do this a lot when I am singing a song at home or at the mic. I imagine I am someone else who I think would sound perfect singing my song – Sara Bareilles, Sam Cooke, Ed Sheeran, and I sing like they would. It often gets me out of overthinking it and into a more calm place.
4. Stay Hydrated The singers among you know this. Keeping your voice hydrated is paramount to keeping it healthy and flexible. Lots of water, tea, and a humidifier can help make your voice feel stronger and calmer.
Last Tip:
Skip the voice
Sometimes your body language and facial expressions can say it all. If you are feeling overwhelmed and know that you won’t be able to control your voice, try using your body language instead.
For instance open your body to a hug or to convey warmth. Or do what I often do when I’m pissed – simply use THE LOOK.
For a great way yo use your voice to SOOTHE your baby check out this post.
So, dear Tunester, do you wish you could alter your voice a bit? Or just be more aware of what you are conveying to your baby? COMMENT below and let us know!
Do you have a friend who would love to try some of these excercises? Send her this post and tell her to sign up for future Tuesday Tune-Ins.
Today I’m going to give you 3 holiday music activities to do with your baby including a brand new ditty and a holiday playlist! Let’s do this.
When you look back on your favorite holiday memories, what was going on? Where were you? Were you eating? What were you doing? Who were you with?
When we ask this question in class we often get the same answer. You tell us that many of the memories revolve around MUSIC – Listening in the kitchen, singing in church or around the tree, dancing at a holiday party, or pulling out the ol’ Christmas CDs.
Here’s why – music brings us TOGETHER. The rhythm makes us feel in sync with each other and melody makes us feel emotionally aligned.
Those who have taken our classes know that we use both of these elements, rhythm and melody, in order to soothe your baby.
Now that YOU are the parents you are also the tradition makers for your kids. It’s your job to bring in the music and singing that will stay in your kids’ memories and make the holiday season memorable.
Ok so now let’s get to it.
3 Holiday Music Activities To Do With Your Baby
Try this little ditty
When my babies were babies, I didn’t sleep either. Not one of them were good sleepers. But somehow no matter how crappy the night went, by morning, I forgave them completely (my song Forgive is all about that.)
I remember the feeling of going to get them from the crib in the morning. It kind of felt like I was a kid runing to discover a present. And I realized that every day felt a little bit like Christmas morning.
We’ve all heard songs like Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer so many times we barely register them playing in CVS. That’s exactly why they’re a great melody to use for your holiday ditties at home.
This season, see if you can take some of those melodies and make them your own. This will not only be fun but I assure you it will also help your baby be more cooperative.
For starters, let’s try the tune of We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Because it is a repetitive melody, it’s perfect for swapping in your own words. Here’s an example of what I mean:
Now let’s go and change your diaper
Now let’s go and change your diaper
Now let’s go and change your diaper
And you’ll be so clean.
Or – cus you’re stinky but sweet. Or whatever!
Or to the tune of Jingle Bells:
Time for bath
Time for bath
Let’s get in the tub
Let’s take off your dirty clothes
And give you a good scrub
Most important – Unleash your silly side!
It’s Time to Dance!
You know I love introducing you to the Kindie music out there that you may not know and that I really believe you’ll love. AND I believe wholeheartedly that dancing can get you through your toughest moments with your baby.
So here’s a playlist of songs I love for this season. I’m imagining you putting it on and dancing around the house with your babe. The image is making me smile 🙂
(I’m also imagining you a minute later with a fussy baby that won’t go to sleep. I know. There’s no perfect.)
You can find the playlist HERE.
So dear twinkly Tunesters, let’s start filling your home with some music this season. Let’s start making traditions your baby will remember forever.
Do you have a friend with a baby who needs some ideas for how to bring music into their home? Send them this post. Tell them to sign up for more.
It’s the witching hour. You’re so tired you’re practically bumbing into walls, your baby is fussy even though you’ve gone through the “what could be wrong?” checklist and can’t find a reason, you’re watching the door just waiting for relief to step in so you can STEP AWAY.
And your baby is still FUSSY.
I can’t come to your home and give you relief but I can help in another way. This week I’d like to give you a playlist for exactly those moments. With winter on its way, you might be spending a lot more time indoors, which means you could have more of these.
The playlist that will not only be enjoyable to listen to but will actually HELP you soothe.
When I was in your shoes I wanted someone to just do things for me – wash the bottles, make dinner, call the electrician, so that I could focus on my baby (and resting.)
So I’ve done it for you. I’ve made the playlist that hopefully will save you during the witching hour which always gets so much worse as it gets colder outside.
The musical process of soothing a baby
This playlist is going to take you from rhythm, to reggae, to vocals, to guitar, to soft piano, and hopefully to sleep.
When I was recording Soothing on Hello My Baby I remember my producer saying – are you sure you want it to be this fast if it’s a soothing song?
But he didn’t have kids. He didn’t know that when we soothe we bounce fairly quickly. And having a good bouncy beat to do that to is key.
So here’s your musical journey. Feel free to comment below and let me know which songs to take out or which you’d like me to add. This is a work in progress.
Your playlist starts with “Cry To Me”, a mid tempo swinging song that hopefully reminds you of Dirty Dancing and makes your hips sway as you bounce your baby around the house.
Babies love Reggae. It has to do with the accentuated upbeat. Think 1, and, 2, and, 3, and, 4 . Rock songs put the stress on the downbeats (1,2,3,4). Reggae stresses the AND which adds bounce. The second song on this playlist is one of the sweetest reggae songs out there by Marley the king – “Three Little Birds“.
I’m in a Taylor Swift mood. Aren’t we all these days? The third song is called “You Need to Calm Down“. Its got a groove with a tempo that takes it down a bit from the songs before.
Parents often tell me that their baby listens closely to the voices of other babies on my song “Ah Ah“. It’s also got an upbeat tempo that is still good for dancing/bouncing.
The next song is “New Soul“. In case your baby hasn’t calmed yet I’m hoping this one will remind you how new your baby is to the world and how much they have to work to get used to it. That could make anybody fussy!
We transition to taking it down a bit with the guitar of Paul Simon on “St. Judy’s Comet“. It’s a beautiful lullaby with a medium tempo. Paul Simon has a way of begging his kid to sleep that makes you feel like you’re not alone.
Babies love to hear our voice. At this point in the playlist I transition you both to songs that are vocals heavy. “Mr. Sandman” is the perfect blend of bounce and harmonious vocals.
My “Soothing” song to start bringing it home.
“You Were Born” is one of those gorgeous timeless songs that takes you somewhere else. I hope that at this point your baby’s eyes are starting to droop and you have a chance to sit and reflect. You’re doing great, mama and papa.
In case your baby needs more voice, more love, and gentleness here’s my friend Frances England making her magic with “Little By Little”.
“Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby” is the lullaby of all lullabies. Is your baby calm yet? I hope so.
To help your baby drift off with a slight smile at the corners of their mouth and make you both feel like you’re falling into a cloud, here’s my friend Kira Willey with “How to Be a Cloud.”
Need another excellent tip on how to get through the Witching Hour? Click here.
So how did it go? Did the playlist work? Let me know which songs did and which didn’t. COMMENT below.
And most importantly, if you have a friend who is heading into winter with their little baby and you want to send them some help during fussy moments, share this post with them.
And tell them to sign up for more just like this by adding their name to the list.
This week you are going to conduct a science experiment with your baby. Let’s see if they can learn a song in a week.
Think it’s possible? I do too.
The tools we’re going to use to make this happen are repetition, gestures, and connection.
REPETITION:
Your baby is constantly looking out for patterns. They compute a repetition and remember it. After they see something happen twice they already expect it to happen a third time. Repetition is a major key in your baby’s learning.
Songs take that a step even further. Because they always repeat the same way (as opposed to speech,) they are much easier for your baby to learn.
GESTURES:
Songs alone allow your baby to learn through their auditory sense. Adding gestures to a song allows your baby to learn through visual, tactile and kinesthetic modalities as well.
CONNECTION:
Your baby doesn’t necessarily need connection in order to learn. Little scientists, they are absorbing new information all the time regardless of your presence. However, adding connection, the feeling that you are both having fun together while you sing, will make your baby associate the song with pleasure, and that will increase their memory for it.
Sound good? Here’s what you’re going to do –
Pick a song with hand gestures. Even better if there is some touching involved. You can use my songs, like Bikeride, Galloping Horse, Flying Hands,Rocking in the Boat, New Words.) Or an old fave like Itsy Bitsy, Open Shut Them, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes.
Sing it every day, twice through in the morning and twice through in the afternoon. These songs are literally 15 seconds long so this may sound like a lot but its not. You can even do it first thing in the morning and right before your bedtime routine.
Accentuate the words, go big with the hand gesture, let your voice go with the melody, really go for it. This is key. Your baby learns through dynamics. Show them highs and lows in your gestures and with your voice.
Look into your baby’s eyes. Let this be a moment of connection. As you are singing, enjoy your moment together. Even if they are little and aren’t smiling yet, know that your baby is watching you and listening to you intently. And if they are on the move, do it during a moment when they are steady, like when they’re in the highchair.
That’s it!
Now – how will you know if you’re baby LEARNED the song?
If they are old enough, they may start singing with you and doing the gestures with you. Please do comment below when/if this happens. Even better, post and tag me in a video of your baby singing the song along with you.
If they haven’t started gesturring yet, the telltale sign will be what they do right as you start to sing. If they immediately start smiling, kicking, looking into your eyes, then you know they’ve learned the song and are expecting the rest.
Sound good? Let’s do this experiment!
Comment below and let me know what song you’ll be doing with your baby this week.
Have a friend who just had a baby who might like to join our experiment? Send them this post! And tell them they should sign up to receive more just like it.
Today’s tip is a simple reminder. Your baby is learning how to be in the world by watching YOU. Let’s talk mornings.
You know how some people naturally wake up with a smile? And some wake up feeling like the sunlight is an annoying imposition?
I have a feeling you’d like your baby to be in the first category. You want them to grow into someone who wakes up with a bounce, ready to tackle the day with energy.
The good news is that you have a say in that.
It’s true that temperament, personality and circumstance play a part. But how we wake up has a lot to do with habit. We get used to behaving in certain ways, and our behavior is often a reflection of those around us.
So here’s what I’m proposing…
Despite the fact that you had to wake up to your baby 17 times last night, and that you never actually got out the door because your baby had a blowout just as you were stepping out and by the time you got them changed all over again it was raining, and that your to do list is longer than a Kmart receipt…
When your exhaustion level is so far beyond another cup of coffee and you start your morning fantasizing about a nap, smiling in the morning feels like the uncomfortable halloween costume your mother made and you can’t stand wearing.
But there’s a lot at stake here. If you manage to do this your baby learns something they will take with them for the rest of their lives:
That it’s up to us to start the day out right no matter what came before it. And often all it takes is raising the corners of our mouths and greeting those around us with a wink.
Obviously, sometimes we just can’t smile. We’re too overwhelmed. Life feels too heavy, too dark.
But I’m talking about those days when we just need a bit of a nudge.
Morning is an opportunity for a reset. You get to emotionally start over.
And your sweet baby is eagerly waiting for you like a super fan at a Harry Styles concert. All they want is for you to come to them. Your mere presence makes them happy!
So on those days when you just don’t feel like smiling, take a breath, move a slower, remember that your morning smile teaches your baby so much more than what they see in that very moment.
And here’s the best part – when you smile at your baby in the morning they’re going to smile back even bigger, and that smile is going to give you a boost, and then its a neverending feedback loop.
Until the meltdown. Or the blowout. But no matter what the day brings you had your morning smiles 🙂
So what do you think – are you cursing me right now for even assuming you might be able to smile when you’re so darn exhausted? Or is this something you try to do with your baby? Comment below and let me know.
Do you know someone who needs a short and sweet weekly tip? Send them this one and tell them to sign up for more.
Did you know that your tone of voice can have a direct impact on your baby’s emotional state?
I’m going to show you a video that illustrates this in a surprising way. But first, let’s talk TONE.
Tell me if this has ever happened to you – You meet someone new and something about the tone of their voice or the musicality of how they speak makes you feel uneasy. You find yourself clawing for an escape or an alibi.
Maybe you also have a distant aunt who yell/speaks in a high pitched voice about the rugellah? (Or maybe it’s just me?)
So what is tone? It’s the way the air flows through our vocal chords. It is the COLOR of our voice. And Intonation is the MELODY in our voice.
Our babies don’t speak our language yet, so all of the information they are getting is through our tone, intonation, and rhythm (the syncopation that naturally occurs in our words and sentences.)
Those of you who have taken Baby in Tune classes know that we spend quite a bit of time learning how to make your tone of voice more resonant and more soothing for your baby.
We do this in a few ways:
By taking deep breaths between phrases.
By using the muscles at the bottom of our abdomen.
By making the voice deeper and creating more vibration.
By relaxing other parts of the body like shoulders, neck, hips.
By letting the jaw fall open.
Try this tonight: As you are singing your lullaby notice how your body feels. Try taking in deeper breaths from the bottom of your lungs, filling the sides as well. Relax your jaw, relax your shoulders. See if you feel a difference as you are singing. See if your body relaxes and if your baby calms more easily.
When we sing or speak without the support of our breath and abdomen we tend to feel tense, especially in our throat. And when that happens it doesn’t matter how many times we cycle through Twinkle Twinkle, our baby isn’t going to feel soothed.
There are research studies like this one or this one illustrating how babies listen closely and respond to tone.
But I also had my three subjects at home. In this video you’ll see something surprising that happened with my daughter when she was two months old.
It all began when I started singing a silly ditty I had made up:
“I could watch your eyebrows all day…”
I know. There’s a reason it never made it onto an album. But go with me because what happened next was the surprising part.
I started to sing an improvised melody with the vowel sounds Ah and Oo.
As she listened my daughter increasingly got VERY sad. She seemed to be responding directly to the shift in the music.
I wanted to be sure her mood shifts had to do with the music and not something else so I went back and forth between the eyebrow song and the haunting melody.
I was shocked to find that each time I sang the haunting melody my daughter’s lower lip jutted out, her eyes got red and wet, and her eyebrows went down. She was about to cry!
Elton John can only dream about such an attentive and responsive audience!
I was so intrigued by her response. Her mood seemed to shift as a result of the shift in the music:
So here’s what we can learn from this video and what I’m hoping you’ll take away from today’s post:
Our babies are listening to our tone, melody, rhythm very closely.
They are so sensitive to the EMOTION we convey in our tone.
We can change our tone to make them feel more calm, more soothed and happier.
Just as our baby is watching us closely, we can watch them closely and learn their preferences and behaviors.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the video. How do you interpret my daughter’s reactions? Obviously this is not a controlled science experiment so interpretation is up for grabs. Let me know!
Also, have you noticed your baby’s preferences for certain songs? Tone? Rhythm? Please COMMENT below and let me know.
Do you have a friend who would be interested in learning about how to make her tone, intonation and rhythm more soothing for her baby? Forward this post to her and tell her to join a Baby in Tune class ASAP!
I’m in the back of a brown Buick station wagon gazing out at the endless wheat fields outside my window. Did I have a seat belt on? Probably not. We’re on a road trip and it’s my dad’s turn to pick the music. Willie Nelson is crooning and I’m rolling my eyes. Another hour until I get to listen to the Muppet Show for the 56th time.
Now I’m on a road trip with my own kids traveling to the same Bryce and Zion playing that same Stardust album. I appreciate his nonchalant delivery and elegant productions but it’s more than that. My eyes tear while I listen to it.
I wonder – am I so moved because these songs encapsulate this journey, from child to mother, from one side of the US to the other? Or is it the music itself that I can now appreciate as an adult?
Probably both. Willie Nelson is Willie Nelson. AND my father instilled in me a connection to this music. He felt it strongly and he passed it down.
Now it’s my kids in the back asking- “do we have to hear that again?”
Wait till they’re older…
Music collapses time. It brings the past viscerally into the present. Because it’s stored in a different region of our brain than memories, it activates parts of our brain that bring back our sense-memory of an experience.
Have you ever heard a song from your childhood and feel like you are back on a swing with your cousin, or at that party in highschool with your friend, or in the delivery room with your new baby? Music brings back memories with all five senses. Suddenly we can smell the salty ocean, taste that margarita, feel the brand new skin of our baby.
Why do I bring this up now? Because this is the time to tap into this.
We’re in that magical time between the holidays that brings anticipation, excitement, and an unwinding of the year. And boy do we need it this year.
But this time it’s very different. We aren’t gathering, and that really sucks. But as always with Covid, there is a silver lining.
Because of the physical distance from our families we’re left to remember past years and cherish what we once took for granted. Have you been thinking back to last Christmas when everyone woke up together? Or a few years ago when your family sang Haunuka songs together?
We have more time to ponder what we really want holidays to look like for our young families. We can take a moment to recall the traditions that run in our family, be intentional about continuing the good ones, resurrecting others, and tossing some out completely.
This year is the perfect time to tap into our collective family musical memory for three reasons:
Our memories are being evoked.
We’re feeling more emotional this year.
You’re building your young family.
So I’ve been thinking…what if we use our awkward and contrived Zoom family get-togethers to explore the traditions of our family more deeply?
Have you ever asked your grandma or parent what music was sung to them when they were little? Or what songs they remember their parents singing at the holidays?
NOW is the time to conjure up these memories. Every moment that goes by is an opportunity for the older generation to forget. I don’t know about you but my “mom brain” is here to stay. My memory is about as useful as a Momaroo. So I can’t imagine what memories are still rattling around in our parents’ heads. We have to get to them asap!
For this year’s family Zoom get together I propose you take some time to explore your family playbook, remember your family traditions, and bring the past into your baby’s future.
You know I wouldn’t suggest this if I didn’t try it myself. This morning my cousins, aunt, mother and I got together on Zoom and reminisced about the music passed down through the generations of our family.
I found out that most of their family music memories weren’t from holidays rather from singing in the car. My grandfather had a knack for remembering (or making up, we’ll never know,) silly nonsensical songs that are etched into our memories like graffiti on a camp bunk bed.
I also found out that my cousin in law’s family sings Christmas carols together before their meal while drinking eggnog. And the best part? They have a playbook with all the lyrics!
So this year let’s make sticky lemonade out of rotten lemons and work on creating our family’s playbook.
Instead of letting that one family member monopolize your Zoom call while everyone else feels awkward, or only talking about what the kids are up to, why not seize the moment and have a conversation that will impact your baby’s future and holidays to come?
I’ve got a new offering for people who would like me to facilitate this exciting meeting(email me if you want to get more details on that.)But I want to give you a starter kit of questions to bring to your family.
Caution – as always when we dive into memories, this could bring up some STUFF. Along with the fuzzy images of family may also come the harsher ones. You or other family members may feel emotional during the conversation. That’s OK. Tread lightly. Go as far as your collective memory will allow without people spiraling into a dark place. Or, if you can, go there and come back together through song.
Here are some questions that you can ask your parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins, and siblings in your family Zoom meeting:
What songs were sung to you when you were a baby/kid?
What songs do you remember being played when you were a kid?
When you think of holidays with your family when you were a kid, what is a song you think of most?
What are your favorite holiday traditions that you used to do with your parents and family?
What traditions did you want to make sure to pass on to us?
And questions for you and your partner:
What songs do we want to bring to our baby’s holiday experience?
What family traditions do we want to pass on?
What family traditions do we want to toss?
I would love to know what you think about this idea, if you’ll do it, and how it goes when you do. Please COMMENT below.
And if you’d like to book a one time family session with me, I can’t wait. Email me here: info@babyintune.com.
Do you have a friend who needs some encouragement this holiday season? Send them this blog and tell them to sign up for more:
When we first started mapping out our year-long road trip, there was one place I felt we had to go despite the fact that it would mean a dip south before we head north – Nashville.
On our way there we prepared. We listened to John Denver as we went through the Blue Ridge Mountains, and Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Willie Nelson and Tammy Wynette through Tennessee.
We also listened to a podcast episode by Malcolm Gladwell in which he breaks down why he thinks country music makes us cry MORE than pop music. The secret ingredient, he says, is that the writers of country music aren’t afraid to sing about heavy topics. And when they do, they aren’t afraid to be specific.
They don’t just sing about suicide, divorce, murder, addiction, and betrayal. They do it by painting a DETAILED personal picture.
For instance check out this opening lyric by Kris Krisstoferson:
“Busted flat in Baton Rouge, headin’ for a train / Feelin’ nearly faded as my jeans”
We can almost see the guy sitting at the station.
Or how about these lyrics by Bobby Braddock in a song Gladwell talks about in the episode:
“He kept her picture on his wall, went half-crazy now and then He still loved her through it all, hoping she’d come back again Kept some letters by his bed dated nineteen sixty-two He had underlined in red every single “I love you””
Again, the lyrics are almost cinematic. And the reason we can see the picture so clearly is because of the details – the year, the underlined letters.
Gladwell compares the top country songs of all time to the top rock and roll songs which are not nearly as sad or specific. The saddest song on the list is “the tracks of my tears,” which is about a guy at a party who’s feeling sad. There’s no suicide, murder or divorce in those songs, just the general heartbreak.
Where am I going with all this? I think we can learn from it.
Those of you who have taken my class have already been in a songwriting workshop. You know that as parents of babies you are only a short step away from writing a song with your baby. The way you naturally speak to your baby is already so melodic. All that’s missing is some repetition, and voila! It’s a song!
(if you haven’t taken the class yet you’ll be shocked to find out how easy writing a song with your baby is. Come try it!)
But let’s take our songwriting skills a step further today by borrowing a page from country music.
I wonder if we can do two these things when we write our next ditty with our baby:
Let the emotions flow. I am talking all of it. You’re feeling frustrated? Put it in the song. You’re feeling sad? Put it in the song. Feeling angry at your baby? Sing it, baby.
Let’s be specific. Talk about the birth mark on your baby’s left cheek, or about the way your baby says the word Banana, or about the color of their poop. Paint a portrait of YOUR baby, and of YOUR relationship.
When I started writing songs in my 20s I quickly came to the same conclusion Gladwell does. I realized that the more personal songs were, the more universal they felt.
That became my mantra. I didn’t want to write general lines like “you make me feel sad,” I wanted to create a distinct picture with details. And every time I manage to do that (I’m not saying it’s easy), it surprises me how people actually DO identify.
Take this song for instance. Maybe the only song in the world with the word “computer” in it?
“When you go to sleep I go on the computer and just for a moment I am something other than a mom. On the weekends I try to go to a yoga class if by some miracle I’m Something other than a mom”
When I wrote that song I felt like I was the only one on the computer trying to feel like ME again. Or desperately racing away to go to a yoga class, on the way brushing my hand across my belly trying to feel for the body that was once there. But every time I sing this song in class, I pick up my head to find someone crying.
Now, I’m not saying you’re setting off to write the next country hit or Madison Square Garden anthem. But I am saying this:
If you give it a go, and try to write a song using details that only you, your baby, and your partner know, you may just come out with your own private masterpiece. It may be the song that lives on in the lore of your family, The song your son sings to his friends at college to illustrate how silly his folks were, and the song that your daughter sings lovingly to her baby, as she gets inspired to write her own.
And now, I’ll move this oven hot computer off my thighs, I’ll forgive myself for having had a lot more extra bites of that salted caramel ice cream, I’ll put on my mom cape, and read three SEPARATE books to three kids because they can’t all goddam agree on one.
See? Details 🙂
So what do you think? Will you try it? COMMENT and let us know if you’re inspired to croon about your baby’s freckle.
Do you have a friend who needs some inspiration for her next baby ditty? Send her this post! And tell her to sign up for more.
Guys, summer is finally here. And although Rona might not be going anywhere anytime soon, it’s time for us to move around a bit and get out there and explore. Safely, physically distanced, of course.
Grab your map and sunglasses, or rather your Waze, Cheddar Bunnies, apple slices, water bottle, sunscreen, lovey, paci, books, mask, and a whole lotta patience, and let’s do this.
In our family we torture our kids by making them sit in the car without any screens whatsoever. Can you imagine those poor tender youthlings with nothing to do but stare out the window?
I know. It’s modern day torture.
But gosh darnit the car is our time to sing together, listen together, learn and explore, and I’m not about to give that up.
So this week I’m solving for one part of your car ride equation. Behold the ultimate family road trip playlist.
It’s got Kindie, grown up, mine, and anything that I think feels like the top down and the wind in our hair.
Before you go ahead and listen, or maybe even while you listen, here is a quick recap of what you’ll find.
1.Movin’ Right Along from The Muppet Movie
When I was about 6 my parents took us on a road trip. I think we listened to the Muppet Movie Soundtrack 1,257 times. This song was our fave. There was no way I was about to do a road trip playlist without it.
2. Through the Woods by the Okee Dokee Brothers
These guys are the explorers of the Kindie (kid indie) scene. They explore nature like I explore family dynamics. Each of their albums takes you to a different nature landscape. And they’ve got a great vibe too. You might recognize Justin Lansing’s voice from my song More of a Baby.
3. Lovely Day by Bill Withers.
Something about Bill Withers has always touched me to the core. His effortless voice, no frills singing, and good vibe yet profound songs.
4. Unhurried Journey by Elena Moon Park
Elena was once a part of Dan Zane’s kids band before she went off to do her own thing. It’s a good thing she did because her music is beautiful. This is from her new album and Elizabeth Mitchell joins her on this title track.
5. It’s My Mother and My Father and My Sister and My Dog by Barry Louis Polisar
You probably know Barry from the song All I Want is You on the Juno Soundtrack. But besides writing a kick ass movie title track he is also a kindie pioneer and this song is pretty entertaining.
6. Coniferous Trees by Molly Ledford and Billy Kelly
I’ve told y’all about this album before. I love it. It’s all about trees and its done so tastefully with humor, educational details, and beautiful melodies and production by Dean Jones. I particularly love this one. It’s like we are in the studio with them as they sing it.
7. You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Micheal Buble
Obviously this is a Randy Newman song and we all know and love it from Toy Story. But I felt compelled to add this version. Michael Buble is just so ridiculously perfect in his vocals. As much as I try to hate him, I really do love him. He always sounds easy going and upbeat and his singing makes me smile.
8. Rosie Darling by Joanie Leeds
If you make it all the way to the end without a bathroom accident, trantrum, fight with partner, or wrong turn I want to hear about it. I’ll send you a Vered shirt. Seriously. But if you do you’ll make it to this lovely song by my friend Joanie Leeds. This is from her new album produced by friend Lucy Kalantari.
So let’s do this. Let’s pile into the car, even if just to head from one side of town to the other, and play some tunes that will inspire, tickle, move, and groove.
HAPPY SUMMER!!
What are your favorite road trip tunes? Please share them below.
Do you know someone in need of a good road trip playlist? Share this with them and they will be forever grateful. And tell them to sign up for future Tune Ins too.
It’s been a week to end all weeks. I know we all feel raw, emotional, fragile, and scared. For ourselves. For our children. For the future. But I can feel change on the horizon. Can’t you? It keeps my hope alive.
It’s taken a lot to shake our country to its core: a pandemic that sent us into our homes indefinitely, caused financial insecurity for so many, and disproportionately affected the black community. And on top of that, another tragic, unnecessary death of a black American.
We don’t have our regular trips to the market, days at work or pick-ups from daycare, to distract us from what is bubbling up in our country and in ourselves. And we get it (most of us). We feel it deeply.
This country needs to change NOW.
In today’s post I’m not going to give you a list of books for kids, or ways to educate yours. I know you can find that stuff elsewhere and you should.
What I can offer you is a new song to help you open the conversation with your kids.
It wasn’t easy to write it. It’s not perfect. But we’re all learning how to talk about this, how to understand the experience of our black neighbors, and most of all: how to take action.
The other day I opened the topic of race with my 11 year old. He said “I’m afraid to talk about it with friends because I’m scared I’ll say something racist.”
Oh man. That hit me hard. Not just because it is sad to hear that he doesn’t feel he can talk about it but because I identified. I know he is expressing what so many of us feel all the time: What’s the right thing to say to be supportive but not accidentally offend?
A couple of days later he told me a story I had never heard: a few years earlier he had said the “N” word at school. He didn’t know what it meant and was using it out of context. I’m not sure where he had even heard it to begin with. His teacher immediately reacted, brought the vice principal who spoke to the whole class about the matter. My son understood the gravity of it. He also felt ashamed to the point where he didn’t even tell me about it later.
So there you have point A leading to point B.
Here’s a kid who was curious, did not harbor judgment, and was misinformed. Immediately, due to the systemic issues in our country he got the feeling that he should never broach the topic.
My son did not set out to discriminate. He was aware of our family value and the school value of acceptance. He just didn’t know the word or how loaded it was.
I wonder now if the school could have handled it differently, opening the conversation, gently telling a child what words are offensive, and welcoming curiosity and questions about difference.
That’s our job with our kids. Let’s teach them non-judgment and encourage curiosity. Let’s teach them words and phrases that might be offensive. And let’s teach them to ask their black neighbor if what they said is offensive in any way.
That’s actually what I did yesterday after I wrote the song. I called a black friend and asked her to listen. I asked her if anything was triggering. I had never done that before about a song I wrote and I felt that was a big step in the right direction for me.
So that’s what I mean when I say change is on the horizon. I find it very encouraging. But we need to go through lots of growing pains before we get there.
So how have you broached the topic with your kids? Please comment below and let us know. We all need some support on this.
Do you have a friend who could use a song to illustrate the predicament we are in? Send them the Tuesday Tune In and tell them to sign up below so they’ll get the next one too.
Yeah, many parts of this period of our lives has sucked big time. BUT I wonder if one day we will look back on this time as a sweet one for our families too. A moment in which there wasn’t a feeling that time was limited and someone was always rushing out, to work, to drinks, to see friends. Rather there was a feeling of togetherness—you could even call it stickiness.
I don’t know about you but I’ve been feeling clingier to my kids and husband. I mean, it’s ridiculous, because we’re with each other ALL the time, but I still didn’t want my husband to take a necessary 3 hour drive to get our stuff. As much as I need space, I want them to stay near me.
The beauty of this pandemic epoch is that there’s a little bubble that’s been built around our families that disconnects us from the world, and binds us closer to each other.
Of course, this might not be the case for everyone. I’m sure parents who are also essential workers are having a completely different experience.
But regardless of the situation, we could all use this moment for art.
Instead of having just stories and photos from this time, we can make a simple song that you’ll sing to your kids and they’ll sing to their kids to bring back the feeling of togetherness that we had during this time.
And I’m here to help you make it.
Here’s how to make your family’s quarantine song:
Tip: Since documenting the songwriting process is so easy these days on our phones, I suggest you take advantage and have the camera ready for each one of these.
The improv approach:
This approach is good for kids who want to fly by the musical seat of their pants. It entails letting your kid riff and you following along. This can be done with any age.
With babies and little kids start, with a melody. Nothing complicated. See if they take the lead and you can follow. Repeat any words that emerge and add on.
With the bigger kids who are able to come up with full sentences, go with their themes. It doesn’t totally need to make sense. Just go with it! It can be gibberish with only some real words.
Here’s some inspiration: You know how Elton John and Bernie Taupin write songs? Elton John comes up with a melody and chord progression while mumbling vocalizations into a recorder. Bernie then takes the recording and turns it into comprehensible words and ideas. He plays off the jibberish sounds Elton John makes and also finds his own.
You can do that with your kid! Themes you didn’t know were there might emerge later on second listening.
Tip: Get physically relaxed. Feeling lazy and comfy is key to letting creative juices flow without judgment. My daughter and I often do this lying down in bed holding the phone over us.
Here is an example I did today with my daughter. She is probably older than most of your kids, so yours may have shorter sentences or even one word verses. That’s ok!
The Pen to paper approach:
This one is all about lyrics first. If your kid is old enough, brainstorm with them. If not, do it with your partner or even on your own. Come up with some lines to describe how you’re feeling these days.
For instance, the other day in class one of the moms (shout out to Kristen!) said this period felt like she was “cramming for finals and pulling overnighters, with no finals in sight. How long can it last?” I loved that line, jotted it down and it made it into this song (with her permission of course.)
Here is a tip: Think about how you have been describing your feelings and days to your family and friends. Most likely you’ve been using some of the same phrases. Go with those!
The movement approach:
Writing a song with movement means that you are bringing rhythm in with your body. You can do this while you walk outside, jumping over pillows, or running around the house. It is similar to the improv approach but you are just saying one or two words per movement. This strategy is good for the kids who need to be on the move while they think and create.
The storytelling approach:
Use a character to tell a story. The character can be your kid’s favorite stuffy, a character from a show or book they like, or made up on the spot. For instance, if your kid has a favorite panda stuffy, ask them: What does panda do in the morning? How does her quarantine day look? Tell your family’s story through panda. You can use a melody from a song that exists, for instance the ABC song, or you can make up your own.
The facilitator approach:
This one’s my favorite because I get to be involved! I propose we put aside a half hour in which I sit virtually with you and your family and help you write your quarantine song. I’ll help you brainstorm and then shape your lyrics and melody into a song. Then I’ll send you a video of how it all turned out.
Saturday night family activity: CHECK.
Do any of you remember when I did a kickstarter for my second album Hello My Baby? One of the prizes was writing a song with me and many of you signed up to do it. It ended up being one of the most delightful experiences of the whole album making process. We wrote some great songs! I’m fantasizing about that experience with you all.
Last week my talented friend Amelia Robinson from Mil’s Trills invited my daughter and I to her songwriting show to write a song with her for a nurse. The experience reminded me how wonderful it is to have a facilitator during the songwriting process. (Here’s what we came up with. No, my daughter did not let us get a word in edge wise. Yes, it seems she is the daughter of a diva songwriter.)
I’d love to offer that to you! If you’re interested email us at info@babyintune.com to book a time and find out the details.
Ok dear quarantunies, I hope you are inspired to start your quarantune songbook with your kid. What an album it will be! Sure, photo albums are great. But this is an album you and your family can take with you everywhere.
Have you written any quarantine songs with your kids? We want to hear them! Please post below! Do you have songwriting techniques? Comment below!
Do your friends need some inspiration? Are they in a puzzle making rut? Send them this post to ignite their inner Elton John.
It’s looking like this new reality of Zoom grandpa hugs and Facetime grandma kisses is going to last a while. But the problem is, our kids are kind of over it. So this week, let’s talk about something that’s become essential to our living these days—how to keep our little ones engaged with family members on the screen.
Here’s the thing. When quarantine started, we rushed to the computers. Hell, we were on a Facetime high for those first few weeks. We met with friends on Zoom left and right, the kids were excited to have extra time with the grandparents. It actually even felt a little better than normal; we were connecting with our loved ones even more than usual.
And then the energy tanked. The kids crawled away or hid from the screen. They got tired of it and we understood. And that meant disappointed grandparents, some who even took it a littler personally. And It was a loss for us too. We came to rely on those convos as the next best thing to a babysitter. We could do the dishes, straighten up, or even take a work call as they were happening. Plus we loved them for helping maintain the connection between our kids and loved ones.
So before we figure out how we can breathe new life into our kids’ relationship with extended family through the screen, let’s talk about why our kids might not be fans of connecting through video.
Why your kids are not a fan of Facetime
The obvious reason is that there is no substitute for the actual snuggles and kisses that relatives give. Kids need tactile stimulation. We all do. Not being able to curl up into grandpa’s lap for a story is a huge loss.
But there’s more to it.
Connecting visually through the screen can be confusing. When we are face to face with someone we learn to pick up on many tiny cues constantly happening: a twitch around the mouth, a slight smile in the eyes, a face slightly turned away, the body leaning in, the eyebrows in a slight scowl. These cues are extremely subtle and we react to them just as unconsciously as they were expressed.
Facetime eliminates a lot of those extra cues because the picture isn’t clear enough, there’s often a delay, and because we don’t see the full body. We have much less information to go on and that means it is harder to connect.
Not only that, the technical issues of video chatting make our emotional experience tiring. A recent New York Times article explained that because the image we are watching is out of sync with the speech, delayed, or frozen for a second, “we perceive it as a prediction error that needs to be fixed…we’re having to do more work because aspects of our predictions are not being confirmed, and that can get exhausting.” (Paula Niedenthal, professor or psychology at the University of Wisconsin.)
Meaning, we aren’t able to make a logical match between the speech and the picture. We need to fill in the gaps to make sense of the emotion expressed. And that’s alot of work.
Why it’s worth it nonetheless
That said, the benefits of Facetime with grandparents, especially right now, outweigh the costs. Our kids (and us) need connection. They’ve got us at home all the time now but they also see us working more than ever, on our computers, cleaning, etc. Having family members who are exclusively focused on them repairs that a bit.
Also, believe it or not, this type of screen time is not only NOT harmful, it is beneficial. The American Academy of Pediatrics say that interactive facetime with a relative (or in a music class!!) is in a different category than normal screen time. It makes all the difference when your baby is fully engaged and when each side is reacting to each other.
So we know why it may be challenging, and we know why it’s worth fighting for nonetheless. So now let’s talk a few tips and tricks so your kids don’t go on hating them. Facetime that is, not the grandparents.
So here are a few tips that YOU’VE told me have worked for you.
1. Story Time
No matter what age the child, this is a winner strategy. The family members can read board books and story books to the little ones and chapter books to the older kids. My daughter’s interest in grandma screen time was reignited when grandma started reading Charlotte’s Web. Now she is excited to tune in.
2. Lunch Date
Lots of parents have told me that their babies and kids are happier talking to family members when it’s over a meal. The kids are busy with the food and have something tactile to work on. The grandparents can tell them a story, just hang out, or have their own meal at the same time.
3. Facetime Song
I’m sure you’re not surprised to see this on the list. That’s because it works! Ask your family members to have a hello song, and goodbye song, songs that help structure the call. If they can throw in some hand gestures and movement songs, even better.
4. Busy Bee
Before you make the call, set your kid up with an engaging activity – drawing, play dough, cutting, painting, building, sticking, whatever. That way your kid can be busy with something they love and the grandparents can chime in and feel like they are involved.
My daughter’s other grandmother is very crafty. She’s been leading them in art projects over the screen.
5. Puppet Play
Looking at 2D faces is not that interesting. You know what is? PUPPETS. The kids in my classes love when we do our puppets songs. They add color, fun, and imagination. Even the disengaged babies seem to tune in during the puppet song. Here is one of the songs we do in class. Send this to the grandparents. Send them a puppet in the mail. It’s super simple and is sure to be a hit.
My daughter joined me on this one… a fave of hers too.
6. Bubble Bash
It’s never the wrong time for bubbles. Someone just mentioned this in one of my classes today and I love it. So simple. Have grandma grab a bottle of bubbles. That will definitely make the screen more interesting. And to make the party even more spectacular, you can blow bubbles on your side too.
7. Peace Out
Sometimes our kids get turned off by an activity that they feel they can’t get out of. Your daughter might have had a great time talking to grandma last week but it went on longer than she could handle. She ended up being tired of it and didn’t know how to end it. To avoid this, decide on a sign, gesture, word, song, that your kid uses to say “I’m done”. They don’t always know how to say it and that could be part of their hesitation. Give them a way to get out of it elegantly.
8. Ipad is best
When possible, use an ipad instead of a computer or phone – this is just a technical adjustment. The phone is too small and also trains our kids to stare at our phones (like we do all day). Better to avoid that. The computer has way too many enticing buttons on it. I’m sure you’ve already experienced that issue and are still trying to find that file that’s now vanished from your desktop.
The main gist of all of these is this: Take the focus off the screen in and of itself.
Have the grandparents bring in an activity or set your kid up with an activity. That way they can share in the experience.
But there’s something important we need to remember:
This is going to go in phases. It is natural for our kids to be very into something for a while and then tired of it the next. We go through the same phases ourselves! It means that grandparents and family members need to accept this and not take it personally.
Mostly they know this and accept all push and pull their grandchild hits them with. But these times are different. Right now the older generation may be feeling scared, threatened, lonely and emotional. Connection to the grandkids is mostly everything.
You know what else they need right now? You guys.
So even if your kids aren’t in the mood to connect with family members right now, you can make the effort to do so. Chances are, you need it just as much as they do.
In fact, that’s how I ended this song called “Grandparents.” I realized it was really me who needed the hug most of all.
Do you have other tricks you use to get your kids excited about Skyping with the family? COMMENT below and let us know! We need your tips!
Do you have a friend who needs a Facetime cheerleader? Send them this post. Have them join our Tune-iverse.
Do you have a baby 0-12 months old right now and are thinking—what the F**k? And HELPPP?
I mean, it’s hard enough to have kids of any age during this time. Mine won’t let me finish a thought without coming in to ask me to cut a rainbow, make a sandwich, play a game, or just to whine.
Parenting during the Corona virus FEELS like that period of having a newborn for most of us. But you all actually HAVE one.
Which means, on top of dealing with the insane reality we’re living in and being cooped up inside, you are just trying to figure out how to get through the day with no sleep, and a creature who needs tending to 24/7.
So Tunie, I can’t do your laundry or babysit right now, but I can give you some ideas on what to do with your baby to feel more connected, more at ease, and help you better speak your baby’s language.
These 6 little gems will help you fill your day with giggles and restful naps. You might remember them from the Baby in Tune class. If you have taken it, use this as a refresher to help during those trying days.
1. The Mirroring Technique – Mirror your baby’s vocal sounds. Our babies register when we speak THEIR language. You can do this with older babies using instruments or vocals. This is the building block of connecting to your baby, making them feel heard and understood. If you’ve taken the class you remember how this technique can spur on a full back and forth conversation. In fact, this is usually the activity that gets dads feeling like – “yeah! we can hang!”
2. Passively Present Play – It takes focus to truly let your baby take the lead. Put aside your thinking self and join your baby with your sensing self. Try the exercise we did in class at home for at least 3 minutes each day. Get on the floor in the position your baby is in. Let your baby teach you how to be fully present and explore like a scientist.
3. Hand Gesture Songs – Your baby LOVES hand gesture songs. Remember the three types we talked about? 1. Just using hands, 2. Using hands + body, and 3. Using full body. Try these different types this week. Which ones does your baby like? (need a list? Email me.)
4. Rhythm Play – In our class we use rhythm in various ways. For this exercise, pat by their ears so they feel and hear the rhythm in stereo, and see if your baby becomes more alert or calm. Babies LOVE rhythm. Use the songs we did in class to drum on the rug or on pots and pans. Use dynamics (loud, soft, slow, fast), to keep your baby engaged.
5. The Songwriting Method – If you’ve taken a Baby in Tune class, hopefully you left feeling like anyone can write a good ditty, even the sleep-deprived parent. In fact, only you can write the PERFECT song for your baby. Using the steps we use in class it takes less than 5 minutes to write a whole song. Try to write your own each day. Go silly, go nonsensical, go poopy and pee-pee if you must. And when you remember the song you wrote the next day, that’s your hit.
6. Dance Party – Your baby loves to be in SYNC. And so do we! Dance parties are the perfect way. The best time to do it? Right when you can’t take it any longer. When you’ve been pushed to your limits and can’t change another diaper, bounce, shush, or sway for another second. Yup – around 5:00pm. Need a playlist? Here is mine.
Here’s the thing. Caring for a baby, especially right now when you can’t leave the house, is draining. It’s ok to sometimes feel angry at your baby for needing SO MUCH. It’s ok to not feel in love with your baby all the time and need some time alone.
Activities like these can help us feel more in tune with our baby, and more attuned to our baby. When we start speaking our baby’s language through music, we start to understand our baby’s needs a whole lot more.
And that leads to more sleep, more peace, more joy, more snuggles, more smiles, more cooing, and less crying.
You know – that moment when you are both gazing into each other’s eyes and suddenly who cares if they woke you up every hour and a half? Connecting means shedding some of those indoor blues that we are all feeling right now.
And before doing these activities, try our “Three Breaths Technique” to bring you fully into the moment. Take in a breath and on every exhale think of something you are grateful for.
So let’s do this. Put the laundry pile aside, forget about the apple sauce crusted on the floor, put your phone in another room, and just be with your baby.
Do you know a parent of a baby who can’t sing Twinkle Twinkle one more time and needs some SOS activity help right NOW? Send them this.
AND – guys, I’ve got a big surprise coming to you THIS WEEK. Stay tuned.
COMMENT and let me know what your baby’s favorite activities are.
It’s day 1,298 of being home and your kids are driving you insane. I get it. But you’ve also told us in our classes that your kids are also what is keeping you SANE.
They are keeping you distracted from the news, busy with meal prep, frazzled with keeping them out of danger, occupied with keeping them clean, rested and calm.
And all of those tasks mean they are keeping you right here. In this moment.
We don’t have time to gaze out the window and zone out on what-ifs. We don’t have space to lie in bed staring at the ceiling wondering when this will end. We barely have time to shower for chrissake.
You are taking it day by day because that is all your baby allows you to do. So let’s let them teach us how to be fully present in this moment as they are.
Here are 6 ways to feel present with your baby amidst all the craziness going on right now.
1. Schedule time in your day to BE with your baby.
Whether you are working an outside job or not, you’ve got your hands full right now. But if we schedule time in our day when we plan to be fully present with our baby we might not fight it during the day. I bet you spend a lot of your day feeling guilty that you are not actually spending time with your baby. Especially now that you are with each other all day. But being near and being WITH is different. So now that we are all cooped up let’s pencil in some special time, even if it is just a few minutes a day.
2. Make a quarantine music video journal with them
We often think that taking pics or videos pulls us out the moment but I find that this activity brings you in. Lie on your bed together and take a selfie video of yourselves singing a song. Doesn’t matter which, you can even make one up. Try to do it every few days. Let the camera be witness to your present moment together. Doing so may invite your observer self to join which can add another layer to feeling present.
Here’s some inspiration. A video I made with my daughter.
3. Let your baby lead the play. You follow.
In this one you can relax. Your job is to just follow your baby around and surrender to their whims. Are they stopping to examine the remote control? Examine it with them. Are they grabbing at the play mat? Are they walking from room to room picking stuff up and throwing it down? Follow them. FIgure out what they are drawn to, what they want to touch, hold, and put in their mouth.
4. Put on music.
You guys. This just does the trick. It’s powerful. It brings us instantly into the moment. It takes us out of our thinking self and into our FEELING self. And that means we pause to explore through our senses. When we aren’t consumed with thoughts we open ourselves to the sounds, smells, sights, and textures around us. Remember that time you put aside to be with your baby? Enhance it with some good music in the background.
5. Pick up the corners of your mouth. Simple enough, just shift the corners of your mouth into a slight Mona Lisa smile and notice if your ‘tude shifted a little along with it.
6. TOUCH your baby
Doing these remote classes has made me realize how much I normally touch your babies in class – on their toes, their head, their bellies. I’ve been missing it desperately and have really identified with grandparents everywhere who can’t right now. So touch your sweet babies for all of us. Hold their squishy sweet bodies close. If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook you know I’ve written a song about this recently. I’m about done with it. Come find out how it ends up.
Here are two more ways Baby in Tune can help you feel more PRESENT, less guilty, more WITH, less near.
Remote classes:
We are now offering 6-packs to be used anytime within 6 weeks. You can come to one class a week or 5 a week. Your choice. Go here to sign up for a remote class a la carte or for a 6-pack at a reduced rate.
Free intro class:
This is for any of your friends who have never taken a Baby in Tune class before . This Friday at 11:00am I’ll be doing a FREE remote into class. They can sign up HERE.
So now tell us – did any of these bring you into the moment with your baby? Which one? What exactly were you doing? Be specific so we can jump into the moment with you. COMMENT BELOW.
Have a friend who could use some de-guilting? Send them this post and tell them to sign up for more.
“Hello, 911? Yes it’s an emergency. My kids and I are stuck inside the house. I’m about to lose my sh*t.
Why yes, I’d love some Emergency Music Entertainment ideas. Like, NOW? “
Let’s do this.
IDEA #1: The Human Piano
Set up pillows on the floor in a circle around your child. As you jump from pillow to pillow, sing a different note. Doesn’t matter if it is in one scale or not, aka in tune or on melody! Your baby will quickly catch on.
If your baby is not mobile yet she will watch with delight as you jump from one pillow to the next singing a song. If your kiddo is mobile, she will join your jumping immediately, no doubt.
Get jiggy with it. Challenge yourself to jump further and remember the note that is associated with each pillow. It just might entertain you as much as it will them!
Pull ‘em all out. Go ahead. This is not a time to worry about mess. We’ve got some entertainment to pull off here! Plus, pots are pretty easy to put back once you’re done. Bring out the tupperware too while you’re at it.
And wooden spoons? Yep, them too. Do NOT take out the metal spoons because they’ll bust your ears and no one needs that.
Now, go nuts on your drums. Get tribal. Experiment with the sounds. Notice the different tones each pot and container has. And more than that, notice the sounds that different parts of the pot make. For instance, hitting the rim will sound different than hitting the side, or turning it over and hitting the bottom. Point this out to your child as you do it to help them learn.
The mere [not that chaotic] chaos of pots scattered around you both will be exciting for your baby.
Play like a Times Square subway master during rush hour. Bring down the house.
IDEA #3: Make up a song!
Here are two ways to try:
Body parts. This one is a no brainer. All of your kisses and squeezing of body parts lends itself to the lyrics already. In fact, you may have already written this one. But if not, go with a pattern. Say something about your baby’s thigh. Can be as simple as,“Here’s Jonah’s thigh!” Or “I can see your arm, it goes up and down.” And then go with it!
Do the same with all the other body parts you can think of. Bring in the limbs but also the smaller features like nose, ears, toes, etc.
Movement. I bet I can make a list of movements your baby likes to do: Run, jump, spin, crawl, roll, dance, squat and stand, sway upper body, and clap. Good list? Add your own and now let’s put them into a song. Doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, the simpler the better. “Lucy likes to run run run! Run run run! Run run run! Lucy likes to jump jump jump! Jump jump jump….” you get the idea. At a loss for a tune? Use a simple one you know, like “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”
IDEA #4: Give the ball a voice
If you’ve taken our classes, you know that we love to play with balls in a musical way. We usually do it with the older babies, but musical ball play can work with all ages. In fact, today in class a mama said that her son’s first giggle came that day when she had thrown up a ball and caught it. He thought it was hysterical.
So what do you do? As you throw up a ball, make the sound effect of the ball. I have a feeling it is some sort of a high pitched “Whooooo!”
If you have different balls, you can make different sounds for each ball. And if your baby is older, you can pass it back and forth and both of you can make your sounds.
Ball play is so much more fun when the ball has a voice!
IDEA #5: Make up a dance
I admit it, I can’t help but be inspired by the Tic Toc dances teenagers are doing these days. So what do you do? Become the choreographer of your baby’s dreams.
Put on your favorite song and pretend you are a DJ on a cruise ship. Teach your baby the line dance of your favorite song. Make it up! Use the motions your baby knows how to do.
Hands up! Head bob! Tushie shake! Shoulder shimmy!
You know what? You and your baby may remember this dance forever and may just perform it at a family reunion in 25 years, ala Moira and David from Schitt’s Creek. (Google it. I promise it’s good.)
If you’ve got a baby, hold them as if they are your Frank Sinatra dancing across the room.
Got a toddler? Teach them your dance moves because YES, you DO think you can dance.
Two tricks to make this a success:
1-Dynamics
With all of these activities and all the musical activities you do with your baby, there is one important trick. Dynamics.
Dynamics can make the difference between your baby losing interest in a second and staying with you throughout.
If you’ve taken our classes you know we use dynamics all the time. What does it mean?
Sing loud, and then soft.
Go fast, and then slow.
Sing with a silly voice, and then your own voice.
Sing high, sing low.
2-Rhythm
Every time I do this in class, it astounds me how well it works. When your baby starts to lose interest, or the music becomes overwhelming, (or heck, you just need a breather!), come back to a steady rhythm. Patting on your thighs is sufficient. Bring it back to consistency. It works.
Hey, J-Lo and Shakira are two mamas who recently proved that in a major way.
So, did these ideas help you Tune in to a toddler about to combust? Or to a baby about to blow? COMMENT below and let me know.
Do you have any of your own musical fun ideas to get the wiggles out when you’re stuck indoors? Save a fellow parent in need and let us know below!
Most importantly – send this to that friend at home with a baby that you love best. Because sharing is caring.
Deer petunias – It’s getting colder and that can only mean one thing: Layers.
All the endless layers to put on your baby. I know how frustrating it is.
First, you have to find all the pieces.
I’m talking the socks, the gloves, the sweaters, the hats, the snow suits.
Then, worst of all, you have to get them on your baby.
Music can come to your rescue whether you’re rushing or have some time to do it (that never seems to happen). My advice?
Have a song for getting your baby dressed.
(spoiler alert: I made up a couple to inspire you.)
This is going to be the song that you sing during the entire process of putting all the layers on. You’ll keep singing it even through the tears and here’s why:
Why You Need a Bundle-Up Song
The more you sing your song as you’re getting your baby dressed, the more your baby will associate the song with this activity. Eventually, your baby will know that the song will end as does the dressing – and it always leads to going outside.
Singing the song will relax you and your baby through the process. If it’s a song that’s fun to sing, then you might even enjoy singing it and that will help turn the activity into a positive one.
If your song involves listing the clothing parts, it’ll help you remember them. And if you’re anything like me, then you’re probably forgetting a whole lot right about now.
Now, what song are you going to sing?
My strongest preference is for you to write one on your own. In my classes, we spend a session on songwriting so that the parents feel more comfortable to start writing songs on their own.
You might already be writing little ditties about what you are doing with your baby. If you are, then the next time you start bundling your baby you can start to sing what you are doing. Try a few different melodies and eventually one will stick.
Another option is to use something that’s already out there. It doesn’t have to be about getting dressed; it can be any song. Or you can use a song that exists and change the lyrics a little bit. For instance: “This is how we put on our socks, put on our socks, put on our socks.”
And, to be a good sport, I just wrote 2 little ditties for you right now. Check them out here. They’re not going to win a Grammy but at least they’ll give you an idea for how simple it can be to write a short song that you can use.
Admittedly: A short song that you will sing for possibly a not-short amount of time until the fingers and toes are sufficiently covered, insulated and secured. But you’ll thank me when you’re out catching snowflakes on your tongue – instead of still in a standoff next to the shoe rack.
What wintergear do you usually forget to put on? For me, it’s gloves. No matter how many times I try. COMMENT below and tell me how you do it.
Been hearing bundling-up complaints from another mom or dad? Forward this to them because parents help parents get out of the house alive.
And if you’re still with me and want more, here is a vlog I did about getting out of the house with our babies.
Dear tuned-in parents – I talk a lot about having songs for your baby to transition from one thing to another. Diaper to new diaper. Clothes to pajamas. Awake to asleep.
Well, today’s Tuesday Tune-in is about a song for YOU to transition – from this year to next year.
Your theme song is powerful.
It can be an acknowledgement of where you are.
Example: Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to be Mine.” There was a time a couple of years ago when this was my theme song. Looking back on that time, I see that I was mourning a part of myself. The song helped me reconnect through some sadness and kindness to myself.
It can be a motivator to keep going.
Example: “Eye of the Tiger,” the Rocky theme song. In my twenties, I dated a grunge rocker/ snowboarder. He brought me to his home state of Vermont to learn how to snowboard myself and let’s just say I fell. A lot. On my head. But what I did have was a theme song. Every time I fell, I took a moment to absorb the pain and frustration. Then I found myself getting back up while singing quietly to myself, “Rising up, back on my feet…”
It can be anything that makes you feel like your truest self.
Theme songs have always gotten me going. Not to say that they’re always happy and upbeat. But they’re always honest. They always act as a reminder of what I need to grow.
The amazing part is that most likely your theme song is already playing in your head – as you go to sleep, take a pause in your day, do something that energizes you or something that you dread.
Our mind is like a jukebox with a playlist of its own. And every now and then one record keeps spinning because it is the one we need to hear.
For me, for the beginning of this year, two songs have been playing on repeat in my head. Interestingly, they seem contradictory. But dammit – so is life.
The first is an oldie, Otis Redding’s masterpiece – “Sitting on the Dock of the Bay”. It reminds me to take it slow, enjoy the breeze, notice the view, and breathe. I think this was actually spurred by one of my sweet students who requested that I play the song in class. Since then its been at the top of my mind and the tip of my tongue every time I pick up the guitar.
The second is by 2019’s queen of self-empowerment for women – Lizzo. Her song “Good as Hell” reminds me to locate that little often forgotten voice inside me screaming – “I am the shit!”
So dear Tunester, as you plunge into a new beginning, what’s your song?
We don’t need to pick out our theme song for the whole year because it will change many times.
I’m suggesting that we pick out our theme song for these next couple of months. The beginning of the year is a special time. We all feel just a little bit more motivated to do our best, to turn a new leaf, to start a project or to kick old habits.
So your homework this week is fun homework.
On your commute, at home with your babies or on the treadmill; search through new songs and old songs and see what resonates with you.
Having a theme song is like having a friend that reaches out of hand and picks you up when you need it or makes your step a little bit bouncier when it drags.
The best possible scenario is for us all to share our theme songs together. It’s like sharing the lullabies that we use with our babies. It gives us ideas and opens our mind to directions we haven’t thought of.
Please share it in the comments so that we can all get ideas.
These things are always more fun together. Forward this to your friends and tell them you’ll share yours if they share theirs.
I’ve got some big news for you all and it deserves its own Tune In, not even on a Tuesday.
Do you have non-New Yorker friends or family who you wish could have taken my class with you?
Do you work 9-to-5and wish you could have taken my class if time was limitless?
Now. Everyone. Can.
After almost 10 years of classes, I’ve finally gone and done it: I’ve created a digital class!
The Baby in Tune Online Class
WHAT IS IT? A downloadable, six-week video series that teaches parents and babies how music can help them connect more deeply and joyfully.
As each parent self-navigates the curriculum, they also log in for weekly live meetings with myself and the group so we all develop a class community.
Participants also receive supporting materials from PDF instructions to song videos.
WHO IS IT FOR? Moms or dads with babies 0 to 12 months.
WHY DID I DO THIS? Two reasons.
To give parents who would otherwise not be able to take this type of class, access to the incredible connective power that music can have on a family.
Also, candidly, for me to be less tied to one city and open up the opportunity to travel with my family while still growing my passion project/business.
HOW DO I JOIN? Attend a FREE online workshop that will give you a taste of what we’ll cover in The Baby in Tune Online Class.
Registration for the Online Class will open Nov 6. Make sure to subscribe to my email list so you’re first to hear.
I think you know this but it’s worth restating: I really believe in what I teach.
I know that music is the perfect modality through which to connect to our babies.
It makes us instantly more present and more connected. I’ve felt this firsthand with my three babies and in class with you and your babies.
It’s a language we all understand. Babies included. And it’s a tool we can use to help our little ones feel soothed, sleepy, safe and happy.
And it’s just a lot of good fun.
Now I can share all of this knowledge with more parents. Cue happy dance!
You helped me hone my craft. So I turn to you first with this big news.
Share this with your pregnant friends! Share this with your new-mom friends! Share this with your second-time dad friends! Share this with your cousin in Montana or your college friend in London. Share this with your doula! Share this with your prenatal yoga teacher!
I feel like you get the drift.
Share this with anyone who you think would appreciate the joy connecting to their baby with music. This is the perfect way to do it from the comfort of their own couch. Which is where this whole thing started anyway – with me singing to my first son on our little couch.
Today’s blog is about finding your musical creativity despite your limitations. You know, the self-diagnosed level of musical genius you do – or don’t – have.
Even more than that, today is about finding your musical creativity within and because of your limitations.
Many parents in my groups say that they are not musicians, that they don’t sing well, that they have a terrible voice, or that they can’t hold a note.
Here’s the thing: Your babies don’t care. And musicality is part nature – but it’s also part nurture. It can catch up with practice.
I know what it’s like to not think of yourself as a musician.
I’m not a musician if you ask me. I’m someone who brings music to families – my own and music in general, but I’ve got major imposter syndrome.
I feel this way partially because I got into music quite late.
I only picked up a guitar when I was 24 years old. I never got the classical training that others got in their childhood or the harmonic training that people got in college.
The truth is: I started to play guitar because I wanted to sing jazz songs. Okay, yea and because paying a jazz musician to accompany me was expensive.
And then I started to write songs because, well, jazz songs are really hard to play.
My music was born out of limitation.
That’s the secret to art in my opinion. All art and creativity are born out of some limitation. Creativity is making something out of what you’ve got. If we have too many options, then it’s overwhelming.
So it’s worthwhile to investigate what your limitations are and how you can play within them. Here are some common ones but ask yourself what your own limiting thoughts are. I bet they’ll come to you pretty easily.
Three Common Limitations
1. “I sing off key.” or “I can’t hold a note.”
If you feel you can’t sing in the melody of a song you may have heard songs sung off key growing up. Or, maybe more likely, you have not had enough practice doing it.
What’s required is to sing along with music – with others or alone, ALOT.
But you may have been told not to sing as a kid, which made you stop. Sadly, we often only need one person to tell us that we’re not a good singer to make us stop singing for good.
Either way, there’s a Snowball Effect. It just gets handed down through generations.
The kid becomes a parent and doesn’t sing to their kids and then those kids don’t get enough practice either.
Want to go a step further than singing along to Stevie Wonder? Get some singing lessons.
Sometimes it is about learning how to use certain muscles in our vocal cords so that we can match what we hear. Having someone else who can mirror back what we are singing in a supportive way can also help us become aware of the discrepancy between what our voice sounds like on the outside versus you’re hearing in our heads.
2. “I don’t have a good voice.”
Once again, this one has to do with what we were probably told as kids. Often it’s more related to the melody/key issue in the first limitation above.
But assuming you are singing on pitch and still believe you don’t have a good voice, then I give you all of these examples: Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, Elvis Costello, Bjork, Rickie Lee Jones, and ME.
My voice is a little raspy and always has been. When I was young I would sing with my cousin all the time. Her voice was smooth; she could hit all the high notes; and her singing seemed to flow like a cool stream of water.
Meanwhile, although I did have an ear for music and could sing harmonies, I got the message from those around me that my voice was not as pretty.
(In fact, when I remind my mother of this story now she cringes: When I was in sixth grade, I auditioned for a part in a musical. My mother suggested that I add some dance moves to my song because my voice “wasn’t my strong suit.”)
Here’s what I say to all of you who feel that your voice is not pretty – it’s exactly that “unprettiness” that makes it so unique. So please -continue singing.
3. “I’m not a musician.”
Okay, so this is a big one and I’ve already told you that I feel the same way. The good news is that it can be liberating. Knowing that you are not a musician means that you will not be trying to outdo any of the music out there that you love. It means that you’ve given yourself a pass.
Now let’s use that pass.
To you I would say: Why not try to pick up a ukulele or a guitar? All you need is three chords to play most songs out there. Since you are ‘not a musician’ you will never need to play them very well. You only need to play them well enough to have fun.
Have you spotted your limitation? Now, use it.
Get creative as if you only had a candle, a roll of tape and a hairbrush to make it out of a locked room, Macgyver style. You would probably figure it out and find your way.
Here’s how I use my limitation:
I write songs that are in my key and that I can sing easily. They don’t have a wide range, they don’t have fancy twists and turns.
I also write songs that are fairly easy to play. They don’t have a lot of chord changes. And, when I am inspired, I learn some fancier ways to play to push me to write a particular song.
I write lyrics that I can fully relate to – about my life, my feelings, what I imagine my kids to be feeling. I write about what I know.
How can you use your limitations? Assuming that most of you are not planning to become professional musicians our task today is not to dwell on whether you may have the talent that will bring you to Carnegie Hall.
Our task is to find just the right amount of musicality to bring to your baby that is inspired by your limitation.
When you say “I don’t have a nice voice” or “I can’t sing on key,” see if you can use that in your music with your baby.
Write songs that fit your “pitchless” voice perfectly.
Show your baby the uniqueness of your voice. Trust me. She will love it more than any Bob Dylan or Adele.
So now tell me – How do you get creative in singing with a limitation? Only sing folk music and not pitch-changing pop? Add your unique raspiness to a chorus? Comment here and share with all of us non-musicians.
Got a friend who’s definitely said one of these limiting statements? Send him/her this blog so they know they’re not alone. They can sign up for it here:
As you know, I’m sold on music as a way to communicate with our babies.
Let’s say I’m a 10 out 10.
This Tuesday Tune-in is for any of you who are floating around a 6 out of 10.
Basically this is for those of you who are saying: “I feel like my baby responds to music but how can I be sure that it is the most effective way to soothe, play, enrich, and communicate with my baby?”
Today, I want to break it down so you can see why I’m a 10 out of 10 all the way.
Let’s start with the research. If you know me, you know that my background in psychology makes me quite the research lover/nerd.
Studies show babies who hear music respond to it, notice its patterns, prefer to be in sync with it, like it more than spoken words, sleep better with it, feel soothed by it and increase their language development.
Now, don’t just take my word for it. Read on to see what happened when these studies were performed…
1. Babies respond to music even before they are born.
While you were pregnant, you may have read some blogs telling you to put music headphones on your belly because your baby was listening. How do they know that? Because studies like this one in 2013 have shown that little ones remember the music that was played for them in utero.
Their responses were shown through heightened alertness, lower heart rate and fewer movements when they heard the music again.
2. Musical patterns and changes can be detected by babies.
This study is so cool. Our babies are little maestors.
Neuro research has shown that newborns could detect when a downbeat was missing from a drum pattern. You can see this by the change in brain activity during this 2009 study.
It means that babies possess a cognitive skill called beat induction, a uniquely human trait that allows us to detect and follow rhythmic patterns.
3. It’s not just adults that like moving to the rhythm.
You can dance, but you wonder – can your baby?
You’ve seen her kicking her legs and you could have sworn it was to the beat. Well it turns out it was.
A 2014 study shows that our babies are listening closely to the music around them and that they have a preference for being in sync with what they hear.
Not only that, they can MODIFY their movements according to the beat. WOW!
Another take away from this one- Your baby prefers to be in sync with the external rhythm. So when you are bouncing your baby, she prefers you to bounce to the rhythm of a song .
4. Mama, dada: Don’t say it. Sing it.
Ever feel like your infant listens longer when you sing to her instead of speak to her? This 2017 study proves you’re right.
It was performed with 6 to 10-month-olds and speculated that the reason might be that song holds more emotion and babies are aware of that.
I’d add that babies prefer to hear the voices that they heard in utero, which are yours.
4. Music helps babies sleep.
Preemie babies in the NICU who are given music interventions have been found to sleep better, according to this 2016 study.
5. Babies feel soothed by music.
I don’t have to tell you that this is significant. This is what we spend much of our days doing in different ways: Soothing baby.
This 2003 study shows that a mother’s singing to her babies has the power to regulate her babies emotions – to calm and soothe them.
6. Music makes us – babies and parents – happier.
This happens through the release of endorphins, both for the baby and us.
7. Playing & interacting with music improves language development.
Finally, studies like this 2012 one show that babies’ brains benefit from music lessons, even before they can walk and talk.
(And I know of a pretty great music lesson for babies you might want to try 🙂
So let’s recap.
Our babies are born with a sensitivity to music. You could even say that music is innate. This is a uniquely human quality.
Our babies can and prefer to be in sync with the music they hear. You could say but our babies are born with an ability and a love to dance to music.
Our babies prefer hearing us sing rather than speak. This is matters If you are thinking about the best way to communicate with your baby it’s going to be through melody rather than speech.
Our babies feel happier when they hear music.
Our babies feel soothed when they are sung to.
Our babies improve language development through music.
That’s why I’m a 10 out of 10 when it comes to my confidence in music being the best way to connect with your baby.
But that’s not all!
The benefits that apply to your baby with music also apply to you.
We also feel regulated when we hear music. It can make us feel happier as well as calmer. And you already know that a happier and calmer parent makes for a happier and calmer baby.
I’ll leave you with this quick visualization:
Imagine you were saying to your baby, “I love you, now go to sleep.”
Now imagine you’re singing it: ” I love you, now go to sleep.”
Be honest. Is the second version more emotional? More soothing? More connected to your baby?
If the answer is yes, then you know exactly you are on the right path. That a musical journey with your baby is a beautiful way forward.
Play devil’s advocate for me. Why else do you feel less than 10 out of 10 in using music to connect with your baby? Comment so I don’t think everyone thinks like me!
Know another research lover/nerd? Send them this post and make their data-filled days.
They can sign up for the Tuesday Tune In right here:
Today’s post is a reminder to you that – even though it might not always seem this way – your music is within you. Now let’s figure out how to get it out.
Why? Because your baby wants to hear it. Pinky swear.
It might surprise you to hear this but I didn’t sing immediately with my first baby. As someone who teaches parents how to use music with their babies, I imagine you think I sang with my baby from Day One.
Perhaps you imagine me as Julie Andrews, walking around the house dancing and smiling while caring for my calm baby.
Well, guess what? For a while after I had my first baby, I didn’t sing a note.
I distinctly remember sitting on the bed with two breast pumps attached to me, feeling tired, frustrated, irritable and like a milk machine. We had trouble with the latch, which meant that I did a lot of pumping and when I tried to feed I was in excruciating pain.
I remember looking over to see my husband giving our baby a bottle. He sang a sweet song while he did it rocking gently. When the baby was done drinking, my husband picked him up and sang as he walked around the house trying to get him to burp.
Here I was, reduced to the most basic bodily function (that barely functioned) while my husband seemed to be sitting on a private magical cloud with our baby.
It was the sweetest scene. And it pissed me off.
It took me a while for my music to come out of me with my baby.
It’s surprising, I know. But it’s true. So, if you haven’t found your music yet with your baby, then I know how you feel. And I have faith that you will. Even now, I lose my music with my kids every now and then. That’s when you can find me walking around doing tasks far away from rainbows and sparkles.
Sing With Me onesie (Baby in Tune)
So how do we find the music within us?
Give it time.
As I watched my husband with my baby, I needed to know that I, too, would find my music with my son in my own time.
Connect to music that holds the most emotion for YOU.
Usually, that’s music you heard when you were a little younger – whether it’s from college, high school, grade school or younger. The music that holds emotion for us will reconnect us to the music that’s within us.
Start small and hum
Try humming softly to your baby. Maybe it’s a lullaby, a song that you love, or a song that you’re making up. Noone else needs to hear.
Notice the effect it has on your baby.
One day, I found that every time I started to sing with my daughter she immediately started to sing along. Even if she didn’t know the song or the lyrics, she sang along with me as if she did. She just wanted to sing with me. She didn’t care what.
Breathe deeply and use your full voice.
We try not to sing with that small insecure part of our voice that has listened to judgments from the past because that will make our body tense up even more. Now things are different. We have an unconditionally loving audience. Now we sing from our belly.
Put on music during moments we would normally forget to enjoy.
Like washing dishes, making dinner, soothing our baby, or cleaning the house. You may already be putting music on during moments you love, like morning or bathtime. But we need to remember to locate our music during those moments that we go a little zombie, too. That will remind us that music enlivens us.
Channel YOUR own inner Julie Andrews.
Try crooning in the shower or skipping to get a diaper while singing with a sly smile. Find the free and playful part of our voice because you’ll realize that now is the time not only to find your own music but to show your baby that she can find hers, too.
Take music classes with your baby & be reminded to sing together.
We can learn how best to use our voice and which rhythms our baby responds to in class. In this space, it’s easy to watch your baby respond naturally to the music. (I won’t say which I think is best for this exact task…)
Bring the music to your partner.
We imagine a day when the whole family will be sitting in the car singing a song together. Even though it’s in the future we can almost see it as a memory we cherish. Make it real by sharing your playlist with your partner today.
Believe me: You have inner music. It’s there. For all of us. Even if sometimes it feels like it’s not. It’s not silly to try these one at a time. Enjoy the experiment and I think you’ll surprise yourself when you start to find your groove.
What brings out your inner music most for you? Is it when you’re cooking, showering, lullabying or something else? Comment and share your experience. Was it like mine or completely different?
Know a parent with inner music? That was a trick question: Everyone has it. But it may take a little nudge to find it. So send this post to them all!
Hi, you! I see you doing the hard work of prioritizing tuning into your baby. With all the time you spend down on the floor with her gazing at her tiny lips and toes, you’ve probably cherished some of her tiny sounds, too. These tiny sounds turn into big babbles (and eventually, yes, demands for bananas or croissants).
That’s why I’ve dedicated this Tuesday Tune-In to taking a closer look at how babies learn to speak and what we can do to encourage it even more.
The short version? Add more music to your speech.
Now let’s figure out how to do that.
Breaking down language
Basically language is culturally agreed-upon sounds that symbolize concepts. An intricate part of these sounds is the syncopation and melody of them.
For instance: Think about how you say the word “computer.” We instinctively use this word all the time but we don’t think about all the musical elements but go into it. We put stress on the second syllable of the word. This creates a kind of melody. We start with a low note; we go up to a higher note; and we end on a note that is lower than the first. We also syncopate this word. Meaning we hold slightly longer on the middle syllable.
With our babies, we are even more musical with our speech.
It’s called parentese, baby.
Or motherese, depending on who you talk to. What is it? It’s how caregivers across cultures speak to their babies in a certain sing-songy speech that is reserved for their baby.
Don’t think you do it? Think again.
Parentese is a reality – even if we promised ourselves we would never use that high-pitched voice before we had kids, we still do it. That’s because when we use higher pitches in speech to our baby they become more alert and engaged. In fact, we often do it in the shape of a bell curve. We start lower go up higher and come back down. Think about how you might say “Hi” to your baby. It probably isn’t a deadpan “Hi.” It probably follows the shape mentioned above: “hiiiIIIiiii.”
Do you greet your partner when they come in the door like that? Hell no. But you do when you see your baby after not seeing her for a while.
Similarly, when we soothe our babies we are also sing-songy. Our voice tends to fall. It starts higher and goes slower. Think of how you say, “It’s okay.” Now think of that voice you use when you are pissed at your kid. That’s when we use a flat tone. Kind of robot like. As if to say, “I mean business kid.”
Words with melody are easier to learn
Speaking in our sing-songy way doesn’t only helps our babies be more engaged. It also helps our babies learn words faster than they might if we spoke to them the way we speak with other adults.
Case in point: My daughter’s first word was “Diaper.” That’s because whenever I said it I always started low and ended on a higher note. Think of the “die” in a low voice, and the “per” in almost a squeaky voice. I didn’t do it intentionally. It just came out that way every time I said “Should we go find your diaper?” or “Do we need to change your diaper?” it probably had a lot to do with the fact that I usually said it in the form of a question.
When she first said the word, she didn’t say it with the correct consonants. She first said it with the correct melody. In fact she even said, “ba ba?” I knew she was saying diaper because she used the same tones even if she didn’t use the same consonants.
My son’s first word was “Uh oh.” Same thing there. We tend to sing “Uh oh.” We start on a higher note and end on a lower note. It’s part of our language to sing that word.
Our babies, first and foremost, pick up on the musicality of language, according to a 2012 psychology report. There are a few reasons for this. First, it repeats in the the same way every time. Because we say “Uh oh” in the same melody each time, our babies can latch onto it and practice it. Second: Our babies are tuned in to dynamics. They are looking for contrast in melody and become more alert when we are more musical with our speech.
So what can we do to help our babies along with language acquisition? A few things:
How to encourage language acquisition
Keep doing what you’re doing. And talking how you’re talking.
You are already speaking to your baby in a sing songy way without even realizing it. Now that you are aware of it, you can accentuate that even more. You can also feel proud that you are tuned in to what your baby needs from you.
Reduce some of your sentences to one-or two-word sentences.
This will help your baby pick up on the melody of the words without complicating it with the whole sentence. For instance: You can say: “Eat food?” or just “Food?” when you are about to give your baby food or “Stroller” when you are about to put them into the stroller.
Use the same melody for certain words.
For many words, you are already doing this. Notice those. For some words you might be changing the melody of each time, see if you can decide on one melody and stick with it for a while. For instance, with the word “Bottle”.
This week, notice how your baby is tuned into music even when we think that there isn’t music involved. Like little musicians, their ears are picking up on subtle shifts in our melody.
See? You might already be singing much more than you think.
Tell me: Was your baby’s first word something you said a certain way? If your baby doesn’t talk yet, what word do you think might be their first based on how you say it? Comment below and let’s see what tops “Uh oh” and “Diaper”!
Know a parent who can’t help speak in parentese? Or one that swore not to? Send them both this blog! Tell them to sign up for more great tips below.
