Mozart and lullabies are among the music played to premature babies in hospital

Calmer babies and parents, faster weight gain and shorter hospital stays are all said to be benefits.
A Canadian team reviewed nine studies and found music helped reduce pain and encourage feeding and it even helped with physiological measures such as heart and respiratory rates.

Hospitals are increasingly playing music in their intensive care units for premature babies, from lullabies to Mozart.

Dr. Manoj Kumar, leader of the review, said, “While there is preliminary evidence for some therapeutic benefits of music for specific indications, these benefits need to be confirmed in well-designed, high quality trials.”

Others, such as Professor Andrew Shennan from the baby charity Tommy’s, welcomed the news.  “Preterm births have recently increased… sometimes resulting in many long-term health problems for the child in later life, including cerebral palsy, deafness, blindness, chronic lung disease, learning and behavioural difficulties,” he said. 

“The preliminary evidence that music played to preterm babies may have positive effects for behaviour and pain is very interesting and should be taken into consideration.  Although more research is still needed in this area, the study shows that there may be simple and cost-effective ways to provide health benefits to preterm births.”

Premature births (before 37 weeks) are responsible for 75 per cent of neonatal deaths, and there are several factors which may trigger it including the mother smoking, infections in the womb and multiple pregnancy.