Making music – Baby

Babies enjoy listening to and delight in making music from a very young age.

Did you know?

Babies have a fascination for sound and respond to music very early on. Infants respond to the melody, rhythm and tempo of music.

Add language

Babies often babble musically and sound like they are singing long before they are using real word. When they are physically able they will bang or tap a beat.

Babies learn to communicate through face to face interactions. Music making is a great way to start and keep an interaction going. Watch your baby – when they make a musical like noise or bang a beat, copy them, then pause and wait for them to take a turn. Keep taking turns but stop just before they get tired of the game.

Other development

Movement is a natural part of music and babies love movement. Dancing with them to music or patting them rhythmically to a song helps babies link what they are hearing with physical sensations. This helps develop body awareness.

Grasping things to shake or bang to make music encourages your baby’s fine motor skills and coordination.

Music can be used to help co-regulate your baby’s emotion and attention levels e.g. using soothing music to calm an unsettled baby can help develop their self-regulation strategies when they are older.

Variations

As babies develop, they love making their own music by shaking things that rattle and banging things. Everyday household items can be musical instruments for babies e.g. a spoon and an upturned bowl or pot makes an excellent drum kit and some coloured rice or beads in a securely sealed empty drink bottle make fantastic maracas.

Across the ages

All the activities listed on our “Play Ideas” page can be applied across different age groups. Check out making music for toddlers, children and playgroups.

Activities listed under “baby” are suitable for children under 12 months. This age is largely about babies exploring their own bodies and the world around them from the safety of a close relationship with their caregiver.