A groundbreaking new study co-led by researchers from the University of Auckland and Yale has found something simple yet powerful—singing to your baby really does lift their spirits.

Over four weeks, Kiwi and US parents took part in a randomised controlled trial through the Music Lab, a joint research initiative based in Auckland and the US.

The results?

Regular singing at home led to happier babies.

In fact, babies whose parents sang frequently were rated as being in better moods than those in the control group.

And here’s the beautiful part—parents weren’t told when to sing, yet many instinctively reached for music during fussy moments.

“They intuitively used music to manage their infants’ emotions,” said Auckland-based researcher Dr Samuel Mehr, who led the study.

“It’s one of those natural, cross-cultural behaviours that turns out to have real emotional benefits.”

Dr Samuel Mehr.

The study didn’t show a change in caregivers’ moods over the short term, but the researchers believe the flow-on effects could be significant.

“A calmer, happier baby changes the tone of the whole household,” says Mehr.

Closer to home, it’s an encouraging reminder for Coasties raising little ones.

Whether it’s lullabies at bedtime or singing along in the car, the act of singing can become a daily mood-booster—not just for baby, but for family life in general.

With so many young families on the Hibiscus Coast, this low-cost, feel-good activity could easily become part of the local parenting toolkit.

The Music Lab team is now expanding their research.

Their follow-up project, Together We Grow, will explore how singing affects sleep, stress levels, and even symptoms of postnatal depression over a longer eight-month period.

They’re currently inviting more families to take part.

Previous work by the same team has shown that lullabies are recognised across cultures—even in languages people don’t speak—suggesting a universal human connection to infant-directed song.

As Mehr puts it, “When parents sing lullabies, they’re sending a powerful message: ‘I’m here, I hear you, and you’re safe.’”

Apparently, babies really are listening.

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