preemies benefit from the sound of music

A new study performed by the Department of Music Therapy at Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC, and published in the Daily Mail, UK, concluded that preemies can benefit from hearing music.

Using three different types of sound: parents singing, an ocean disc, and a gato box which simulates the sound of a heartbeat, an improvement was found in the babies ability to suck, as well as breathing more easily and sleeping better.

This study refutes earlier studies that suggested music is too stimulating for preemies. This new finding also indicated an increase in bonding between parent and child, along with a reduction in stress for the parents of a pre-term baby.