Music- Newborn to 18 months
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Music plays a key role in a child’s development.
From conception to eighteen months your baby is developing rapidly, including in the music realm of development.
The response to musical activity will not only be rewarding but highly beneficial to their general development.
Here we look closer into the newborn to 18 month age range.
Timeline for music and movement
- At birth babies can hear high-pitched noises, may be calmed by lower sounds and can locate sound in front of them. They will be startled by a loud or sudden sound.
- By 4 weeks they prefer high-pitched sounds and start to respond to the sound of your voice. They will recognise whether sound is coming from behind or in front.
- From 3 months they may respond actively to music by, for example, swaying and turning towards the sound and vocalising vowel sounds like “Aaah”, “Eee” and “Ooo”.
- By 6 months they start imitating sounds e.g. boo or la.
- By 9 months they respond to familiar songs. Their singing may follow a familiar melodic pattern.
- From one year they will begin to lose the capacity to hear high-pitched sounds but start to discover musical pulse, and create sounds by banging everyday objects.
Renae (Seriously Kids)
Renae is the founder & CEO of SK who has been working with families for decades. Her educational background and experience in the Early Childhood sector, as well as Social Science and Community Services has provided a broad base to her approach which focuses on balancing the informative but never at the expense of providing an entertaining read.
From working in the private setting, not for profit, as well as government agencies and at times combining her love of travel and work on a global scale, she is also a mum who has experienced the poo blowouts, the shopping tantrums and the sleepless nights.
