Research-backed
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You might think cooing to your baby while they’re still in the womb doesn’t do much, but it really does! Your maternal instinct is quite right. Your baby can hear you inside the womb and might even respond in more ways than one when you talk, sing, or read to them!
Even as an embryo, babies develop fast. By the time they’re in the 3rd trimester, they start developing sensory abilities — including hearing among taste, touch, sight, and smell (1).
What this means is that while as adults, you might not remember your fetal stage, a newborn will not only experience sights and sounds in utero but may even remember them after birth! It’s a great opportunity for parents to connect with their babies by talking to them when they’re still in the womb!
When Do Babies Begin To Hear In Utero?
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Though the time of the development of the ability to hear can vary, experts conclude that the structure of the inner ear begins to form right around 10 weeks of gestation. However, the ability to pick up sounds only develops once all the structures form a connection with the brain.
Some studies show (based on the response to sonic vibrations) that fetuses can start hearing at just about 14 weeks (2).
However, a definitive study carried out by the Queen’s University of Belfast in 1994 discovered that fetal hearing begins properly during or around the 19th week of gestation (3). According to this study, fetuses start reacting to sounds of around 500 Hz, which stands at the low end of the spectrum of adult hearing. However, by the time the fetus is 33 weeks old, the acoustic range of their hearing increases as they begin reacting to sounds in the range of 250 to 3000 Hz.
When Do They Start Understanding What They Hear?
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As you already know, hearing and listening are two very different things. While hearing can be done passively, listening calls for active participation. So when a fetus begins to hear sounds at 18 months of age, it doesn’t really mean they’re listening to what’s going on. Listening requires the development of the cognitive function.
A baby’s ability to listen to sounds actively, respond to them, and even remember them kicks in during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
In another recent study, researchers attempted to discover if babies could recall the sounds they heard when in the womb (4). To examine this, they studied two groups of pregnant mothers — one group was made to hear a jingle daily and the other wasn’t made to hear it at all. After examining each group, the researchers found that fetuses that had previously heard the jingle would physically react (in the form of movements) to the song in the later stages of pregnancy. No such effect was observed in fetuses that hadn’t heard the jingle.
What’s more, researchers also discovered that a couple of days after birth, the babies who had heard the jingle in utero continued to respond to it after birth. While those who hadn’t didn’t display any signs of recognition. This proves that infants can recall the sounds they hear in utero.
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That’s not all, though. A 2017 Dutch study proved that babies also develop the ability to learn and understand languages in utero (5). The study examined Dutch-speaking babies adopted from Korea and native Dutch babies to find out that the former group of babies were actually quicker to pick up Korean words when exposed to them since that’s the language they primarily heard when in the womb. What this basically means is that babies are capable of remembering their birth language.
What You Can Say To Your Baby In Utero
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What’s vital to note here is that your unborn baby is actually listening to whatever you say to them. And that, to be honest, is wonderful. It opens a whole new door for you to connect with your baby and form a stronger relationship with them even before they’re born!
However, don’t talk to your baby with the expectation that they’ll be born geniuses if you read to them. Take this as an opportunity for them to recognize you, your voice, and your tone after they’re born.
Both mothers and fathers should actively read to and talk to their unborn kids. The topic could be anything — from how your day was to what you’re eating or thinking about right now.
As parents, you can take turns reading stories or sing to your baby while in the womb so that they can identify the soothing sound of your voice after they’re born and relax into comfort. And possibly even sleep.
