It is very relaxing for both you and your baby when listening to music with your baby or when playing music to your baby during pregnancy. Whilst music tastes are very subjective, it is widely believed that listening to easy-listening and classical music can be very calming. It is also reported that it will give your baby a greater appreciation of music and improve their creative and cognitive skills. Obviously the jury is out regarding how intelligent it will make your baby!
If you are already a listener of easy-listening and classical music, then it may just be a matter for you to create a compilation of your favorite tracks. This can be as simple as creating a tape or burning a CD with your favorite tracks. However, it you do not have a great collection, or if burning a CD sounds a bit dangerous, there are many CDs available that offer compilations of classical music that are specifically for babies and during pregnancy.
We have attempted to consolidate our recommendations down to 5 (a hard task considering the hundreds of available titles.) We have found that the following CDs offer the best collection of music for both you and your baby. We have also tried to include a wide selection of styles. We have included links to the respective pages on Amazon where you can listen to track samples.
- Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics
- UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child
- Baby Einstein: Baby Mozart
- Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
- Beethoven for Babies
If you wish to look at other titles that are available, please follow the Baby Music
link.
There are 2 different types of CD compilations available. The first is a collection of traditionally orchestrated classical music, such as Mozart or Beethoven. The second is Baby Einstein. Baby Einstein offer a range of CDs that could be regarded as composing of simple versions of traditional classic music. They are analogous to the Baby Einstein DVDs, where the visual content is typically simple, allowing a baby to focus easier. The same is true of their CD range. By removing the complexity of the music, it can be easier for a baby to follow and concentrate on the music. Many people prefer the more simple music arrangement of Baby Einstein than the complexity that some classical music offers. However, they may not be CDs that you will be adding to your own music collection.
If you wish to look at other titles that are available, please follow the Baby Music link. For Baby Einstein CDs, please follow the Baby Einstein link.
1. Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics
Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics offers 17 tracks and over 35 minutes of classical music that will calm any restless baby. One of the important differences between this CD and the others is that the music is not orchestrated. There are differences of opinion on whether this makes the CD of less value. However, the main purpose of the CD is for calming and soothing a baby, and we think that this CD services this purpose faultlessly. Where other CD’s have flawlessly provided a compilation of orchestrated music, Baby Einstein have used their experience of developing DVDs to make a CD that is specifically created for babies. They have changed and enhanced the music to appeal more to a baby audience. Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics simplifies the music, removing some of the complexity, similar to the way that their DVDs and videos simplify the visual sensation. If you are a fan of the Baby Einstein series, then Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics is a must have. For those not yet addicted to the Baby Einstein series, this may be a simple (and cheap) entry into the Baby Einstein world.
2. UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child
Whilst UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child is targeted at expectant parents, it is equally valuable after your child has been born. The pre-natal cover and title may well keep it off your short-list, but you will be overlooking a real gem. I think that there are no real differences between the styles of music that are best played during pregnancy and when you are trying to calm, soothe and relax a baby in their first years. The tracks offered on UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child cover a wide range of composers, from Bach to Chopin, and are recorded to a high quality. A worthwhile addition to your collection.
3. Baby Einstein: Baby Mozart
From the same series as Baby Einstein: Lullaby Classics above, Baby Mozart provides the Baby Einstein perspective to the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. One commenter on Amazon described the CD as Mozart lite, and we would have to agree. Whilst not lite on quality, the music does not have the typical complexity of classical music. This may sound like it should be a negative comment, but it does mean that the music somehow feels better suited for babies. It is hard to explain unless you have heard the Baby Einstein range of CD’s. I would recommend taking a trip over to the Baby Mozart page at Amazon and listen to the free sample tracks that are offered.
4. Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child
Mozart for Mothers-To-Be: Tender Lullabies for Mother and Child is another CD that is targeted at the expectant parents. Like UltraSound - Music for the Unborn Child above, this CD could equally be used during your babies first years. Where Baby Mozart was described as Mozart lite, this CD includes full orchestral versions of Mozart classics. Where this CD offers benefits over the Baby Einstein CDs is that they can also be listened to by parents, as they include the full orchestral music. If you have a small or non-existent classic music collection (shame on you!) then this CD is a must have.
5. Beethoven for Babies
Beethoven for Babies is both our favorite Beethoven CD for playing to our baby and for playing for us. It includes such a good collection of Beethoven tracks that this CD is equally at home in your own CD collection. Whilst not a perfect rendition of Beethoven music (classical music fans will not be impressed), it does offer a very good cross-section of Beethoven music. If you will only have one Beethoven CD in your collection, this should be on your shortlist.
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