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I grew up on this song as a baby and toddler, “If you are happy and you know it clap your hands”. Perhaps most of you would share the similar experience as me. All moms would surely have sung this song to their babies to cheer them up and bring a smile on their faces. Perhaps you would have even tried fun activities such as making faces, playing peek-a-boo, tearing a paper, and so many more. But did you ever reflect deeply on what kind of songs or music actually make babies happy? Let me tell you that there is a scientifically proven solution to making babies happy. Elated, are you? Well, here’s a song that makes babies happy. Watch it
Significant studies (1) were done on babies at prenatal stage to observe the effect of music on babies. It was seen that babies can hear music and remember it from when they were in the womb. Babies have clear inclination for harmonious music instead of discord and they like the voice of females, more so when it is the kind of tone that mothers use while talking in high pitch.
Taking it a level beyond, the C&G baby club approached music psychologist Lauren Stewart to create a song that scientifically proves to make babies happy.
Some scientific studies are creativily amazing and it comes as a great life saver to moms. A study (2) involved a unique team of Dr. Casper Addyman Baby Psychologist and Dr. Lauren Steward music psychologist along with the singer Imogen Heap, the Grammy award winner.
Over 1,000 parents were interviewed to understand the kind of sounds that made babies happy. It was seen that animal sounds, kiss and sneeze sounds, and the word ‘boo’ were popular with babies.
The study suggested that babies respond better to peppy sound with simple repeating lyrics.
With the inputs from the psychologists and parents, Heap composed a song that made babies happy.
The song had all the elements such as the beep of a car accompanied with the high pitched talk of the parents.
The baby milk brand Cow & Gate (C&G) together with ad agency BETC released the ‘Happy song for babies’ for their online community of Baby Club.
The song was trial tested on some babies. Subsequently, Heap composed four numbers using various tempos, chords, rhythms, pitches, and musical instruments.
The four tracks were played at university’s InfantLab to over 50 babies in the age group of six months to two years. The reactions (movements, facial expressions, heart rate, and vocalizations) to the music were monitored to see their reaction to the song and it made them happy.
So, the next time your baby is cranky or weepy, you know what to do. Don’t you? Just play the Happy song for your baby, and it is sure to make him happy.
Can’t wait to try this out on your baby? Go ahead without further ado. We would love to know your baby’s reaction.
