There’s no doubt about the fact that the right music can help us clear our minds, wind down, and fall asleep at the end of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calming music<\/a> has been shown to decrease production of the stress hormone cortisol and increase production of the pleasure hormone dopamine, according to Grammy-winning producer Barry Goldstein<\/a>, who has long recommended that people incorporate soothing music into their nighttime routines. Lullabies, after all, have been part of bedtime routines for children<\/a> across the globe for generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But when it comes to using music to help children sleep, it’s not as simple as queuing up a playlist and closing the door. How parents incorporate music into their children’s evening routines and what type of music makes all the difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s where things get tricky: Though playing a certain song or singing your child to sleep may be a truly connective, beautiful experience, it can potentially have a negative impact on their sleep routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMusic can help a child feel calm and soothed, but if it is part of their regular bedtime routine, it can begin to ‘cue’ sleepiness for a child,” explains Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD, fellow of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and author of Become Your Child’s Sleep Coach<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of Pavlov’s dog; in time, music and sleep become \u201cpaired,” and your child becomes dependent on hearing that music to feel sleepy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf a parent leaves music on at bedtime to help a child fall asleep and then turns the music off later after the child is asleep, the child may need the music to be turned on again to get back to sleep if they wake up in the night,” Schneeberg says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Basically, you land yourself with a child who can no longer fall asleep without music\u2014which can be a serious problem if travel interrupts your routine or you want your child to grow more independent in their bedtime routine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, you can still incorporate music and\/or singing into your child’s nighttime routine\u2014you just have to go about it the right way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt’s OK to use music in the evening to signal that the household is moving into a quieter, sleepier time of night,” says Schneeberg. \u201cMany parents begin dimming the lights and turning on soft, relaxing music at the beginning of the bedtime routine, while others sing a final song to their child just before they leave their bedroom.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n When used in this way, music can be a useful and soothing part of bedtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, it’s best not<\/em> to sing to or play music for your child in the moments that they’re actually falling asleep. According to Schneeberg, this is what conditions children to need singing or music in order to fall asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “It’s best to leave a child’s room while they are still awake so that they learn how to make the transition from wake to sleep on their own,” she explains. This way, you can have your lullabies and protect your child’s independent ability to fall asleep too.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe pros and cons of using music to help your kids sleep<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The right way to incorporate music into your child’s bedtime routine<\/h2>\n\n\n\n