Music Play Guide for Babies
Music is highly effective for your baby's brain development. Enjoy quality time with your baby through songs, rhythms, and instrument play.
Benefits of Music Play
- Brain Development: Balanced development of left and right brain hemispheres
- Language Development: Improves rhythm perception, intonation, and vocabulary
- Emotional Development: Encourages emotional expression and provides comfort
- Social Skills: Interaction through singing and dancing together
- Physical Development: Moving to rhythm builds coordination
- Mathematical Thinking: Pattern and rhythm recognition
Music Activities by Age
0-3 Months
- Singing Lullabies: Mom's voice is the best music
- Heartbeat Sounds, White Noise: Similar to the womb environment
- Gentle Classical Music: Mozart, Vivaldi, etc.
- Humming While Holding: Gentle rhythmic rocking
4-6 Months
- Nursery Rhymes: Repetitive, rhythmic songs
- Rattles: Toys that make sounds when shaken
- Clapping Games: Parent claps to the rhythm
- Gentle Movement: Gently move baby to music
7-9 Months
- Instrument Exploration: Touching maracas, tambourines
- Clapping Along: Clapping hands to the beat
- Singing Along: Babbling to follow songs
- Dancing: Dancing while holding baby
10-12 Months
- Playing Instruments: Tapping, shaking
- Action Songs: "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
- Body Movement: "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes"
- Music Preferences: Expressing favorite songs
13-24 Months
- Singing Along: Simple words and choruses
- Choosing Instruments: Playing favorite instruments
- Movement Activities: Following dance moves
- Music Recognition: Distinguishing fast vs. slow music
Recommended Instruments
| Instrument | Recommended Age | Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Rattle | 3 months+ | Grasping and shaking, cause-and-effect learning |
| Maracas | 6 months+ | Rhythm sense, bilateral coordination |
| Tambourine | 8 months+ | Tapping and shaking |
| Drum | 10 months+ | Tapping, gross motor skills |
| Xylophone | 12 months+ | Pitch recognition, fine motor development |
| Toy Piano | 12 months+ | Key pressing, finger coordination |
Recommended Songs
0-12 Months
- Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
- Rock-a-Bye Baby
- The Itsy Bitsy Spider
- Row, Row, Row Your Boat
- Wheels on the Bus
- If You're Happy and You Know It
12-24 Months
- Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
- Baby Shark
- Old MacDonald Had a Farm
- The Hokey Pokey
- Five Little Ducks
- Pat-a-Cake
Music Play Ideas
Singing Together
- Make eye contact while singing
- Insert baby's name into songs
- Repeat favorite songs
- Vary tempo and pitch
Rhythm Activities
- Clapping hands, patting knees
- Stomping feet to music
- Keeping the beat with instruments
- Play with "fast" and "slow" tempos
Dancing Together
- Dance while holding baby
- Sway while holding hands
- Jump and spin to music
- Dance in front of a mirror
Tips for Playing Music
- Expose baby to various genres (classical, nursery rhymes, jazz, etc.)
- Keep volume at conversation level (below 60dB)
- Never use earphones or headphones on babies
- Live singing is more effective than background music
- Prefer live music over TV/smartphone music
DIY Instruments at Home
- Maracas: Empty plastic bottle + rice or beans
- Drum: Empty can or box + wooden spoon
- Shaker: Container with bells inside
- Guitar: Empty box + rubber bands
* Make sure small parts are securely attached and always supervise play.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
Zero to Three, National Association for Music Education