What should I play for my baby in the womb?

All parents want the best for their child — even before that child is born. That's human (or human parent) nature. But in trying to supply your baby-to-be with the best, it's important to keep some perspective — and keep your motives in mind before switching on the Mozart.

As you know, the fetus's ability to hear begins to develop during the second trimester. But, whether an in-utero concerto gives the baby a head start in education (or on a musical career) hasn't been proven.

Some experts even worry that it can be harmful if it signals the beginning of a very premature pushy-parent, which places too much emphasis on achievement at a too-early age. Babyhood (including fetushood) and childhood should be a time of simple pleasures, they say. There's also the theoretical risk that parents may unwittingly disrupt the natural sleep patterns of their fetus as they attempt to turn the womb into a classroom — actually hampering development instead of nurturing it.

That said, there's probably nothing wrong with providing a uterine environment that's rich in music and language, and it's an easy way for parents to bond with their baby-to-be. Speaking or reading to your baby while he or she's in the womb (no amplification necessary) will guarantee that your baby will know your voice at birth. (Of course, such recognition is probable even if you just spend a lot of time talking in general.)

Playing classical music may increase the likelihood that your newborn will appreciate, and even be soothed by, these sounds — though it's been shown that exposure to music and literature has a much more significant effect once your baby is actually born than it does prenatally (so keep the Mozart handy once baby's arrived).

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And don't underestimate the power of touch. Since this sense also begins to develop in utero, stroking your abdomen may also help strengthen the bond between you and your baby.

So turn on the Mozart, bring on the Bach — pull out those dusty Shakespeare sonnets and read away to your belly if you like. Just make sure you're doing it all to get closer to your baby — not to get your baby closer to an Ivy League degree.

Hoping you and your baby make beautiful music together!

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If you love music, you're probably excited to share it with your baby – and starting in the second trimester, you can! Hearing music in the womb may help your little one's hearing development, but it isn't proven to make your baby any smarter. When listening, protect your baby's delicate ears by keeping the volume down – and never put headphones or ear buds directly on your belly.

Starting in the second trimester, around 23 weeks, your baby will be able to hear the music you're listening to. Find out how music affects your baby's hearing development – and how to play it safely for babies in the womb.

Does music affect my baby's brain development in the womb?

Possibly. Sounds in general – including music, voices, and the gentle gurgle of your stomach and beating of your heart – all contribute to the development of your baby's hearing, which involves neural connections and processing in the brain. Evidence suggests sounds from the environment also help babies' memory and emotions develop.

That doesn't mean music is essential to hearing and brain development before birth, it's just one kind of sound that may contribute. Just being in your womb and around the sounds of your various organs gives your baby plenty to listen to. Your voice is another source of sound for your baby, because it reverberates through your body when you speak.

Some studies indicate that fetuses can hear and react to sound by moving. But no one really knows what those movements mean because experts can't observe an unborn baby as easily as a baby that has already been born.

How to play music for your baby in the womb

Your best option is to play music at a modest volume (about the level of a normal conversation) as you go about your day. Or you can sing songs or hum melodies to your baby yourself.

Don't place ear buds or headphones directly on your belly. The sound will amplify as it travels through the amniotic fluid to your baby and could reach dangerous levels that damage your baby's delicate ears.

And don't bother buying a "music belt" for playing music to your baby. One study determined these aren't effective, and that singing to your baby is probably a much more effective way of supporting your baby's hearing development through music.

There's some evidence that long-term exposure (like 8 hours a day, every day) to very loud noise while you're pregnant can damage your baby's hearing. It's best to avoid routinely playing music at a loud volume (about 115 dB, or as loud as a chainsaw) while pregnant. Skip loud events such as rock concerts once you're in the second trimester.

When playing music, don't turn the volume any higher than 65 decibels (dB) – about as loud as background music at the store – because that may hurt or startle your baby. And if you're listening to music for prolonged periods, it's best to keep the volume below 50 dB (the level of a quiet conversation).

Decibel levels of common sounds are:

• 30 dB Soft whisper
• 40 dB Refrigerator hum
• 60 dB Normal conversation, air conditioner
• 70 dB Washing machine, dishwasher
• 80 - 85 dB City traffic (from inside the car), gas-powered leaf blower
• 94 - 110 dB Sporting events
• 95 - 115 dB Rock concert
• 110 - 129 dB Sirens
• 140 - 160 dB Fireworks

Does playing music make my baby smarter?

No research supports the idea that playing music when your baby is in the womb makes them smarter.

One small study found that babies whose parents played a melodic version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star repeatedly during the third trimester recognized the melody for several months after they were born. But becoming familiar with a melody isn't the same as developing smarts.

Studies of older children do show that music can help with math and spatial reasoning skills (the ability to understand three-dimensional space). Some experts think that if music has this profound effect on older kids, babies and even fetuses may benefit from it the same way. But there isn't evidence to support this.

The bottom line: It's wonderful to play music or sing to your baby while you're pregnant, but don't expect it to make your baby smarter – there's no evidence to support that.

And if you don't play music to your baby in the womb, that's fine too. Your baby's ears and brain will get plenty of stimulation from other types of sounds in your body and the everyday environment.

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