the effects of lullabies

Subject: the effects of lullabies
From: leeneia
Date: 17 Jan 21 - 11:56 PM

I've got a magazine article right here (The Week, Nov. 20, 2020) which says that UCLA did a study where 144 babies were monitored as they listened to lullabies from cultures not their own.

"Whether the youngsters heard a Hopi lullaby sung by a man or a soothing tune that the Ona people of Patagonia use to calm babies, the effect was the same:

slower heart rate
smaller pupils
electrical activity in skin declined
in other words, they chilled out.
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I find this interesting, but it's getting late. Discuss.

Subject: RE: the effects of lullabies
From: Monique
Date: 18 Jan 21 - 03:45 AM

The Harvard Gazette article and NYT article on the topic.

Subject: RE: the effects of lullabies
From: leeneia
Date: 18 Jan 21 - 11:54 AM

Thanks for the link. In the comments, a parent remarks that the daughter fell asleep to lullabies, but the son resisted them. He would fall asleep to loud, active music which apparently distracted him so much he forgot to fight sleep.

I watched my mother sing my nephew to sleep once. She sang 'Pony Boy,' not a song I would label a lullaby. She'd sing it, and he'd tug on her sleeve for her to sing it again. She would, but each time softer. When it was all but inaudible, he finally went to sleep.

Subject: RE: the effects of lullabies
From: Joe_F
Date: 19 Jan 21 - 06:26 PM

I once saw some enemy propaganda to the effect that using music to put babies to sleep makes it impossible for them to pay proper attention to music in later life. Is that a common belief? I regret to say that I am not a counterexample.

Subject: RE: the effects of lullabies
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Jan 21 - 04:09 PM

One of my wife's grandkids is best sent off with the Imperial March from Star Wars, which he can march round the house to and tire himself out.

Subject: RE: the effects of lullabies
From: leeneia
Date: 21 Jan 21 - 09:58 PM

No, Joe F., I don't think that is a common belief. I've never heard of that. It doesn't seem reasonable, since nobody remembers things that happened before age two.

Jack, I agree that letting kids get exercise helps them sleep at night. I remember sleeping beautifully through sweltering summer nights after an afternoon at the public swimming pool.