The idea that listening to classical music while you're pregnant can help with newborn preparation is a popular rumor – so much so that you might see women walking around with headphones on their bellies. But is there any validity to this theory?
The short answer is no. There have been no conclusive studies that have shown that listening to a certain kind of music will help your child in some way when he or she is still in the womb. Classical music played during your child's infancy may help develop him or her into fans of Mozart, but it won't necessarily make your loved one smarter or more likely to succeed.
And the headphones on the baby bump have to stop. For one, if you can't bear what's being played to the point that you need headphones, don't play it for your baby. Music that's played too loudly for the fetus has been shown to correlate with low birth weight and hearing problems, so if you want to put on some tunes, put them on the stereo at a comfortable sound level.
What you can do is make a concerted effort to share the kind of music you like with your baby, as long as it's on the relaxing side. That way, you'll be able to have a calm moment with your unborn child, and it may help him or her appreciate your music later in life. Instant bonding!
Talk to your baby
While playing music might not necessarily do anything for your little one, talking to him or her might. Baby Center reported that a fetus can hear his or her carrier's voice because it travels through the mother's body. This will help your child adjust to your native language, especially during the final weeks of your pregnancy.
Not only is talking to your baby while he or she is in the womb potentially beneficial to your infant, but it might also help you relax and feel as though you're bonding with your child if you share a few words with him or her. On that same note, first time mothers should be careful to keep the conversations as even-tempered as possible during the final trimester. One outburst is unlikely to scar your child for life, but for your sake, you should try to remain calm.