Comfort Your Baby From The Womb (and find it easier when they are out.)

It is frequently argued as to how much a child can hear and experience when still in the womb but there is a lot to be said for getting them to know you before they are born. With the availability of 3D and 4D scans researchers have found that babies respond to and are familiar with their parents and the sounds of their house before they are born.

They are most responsive to the sound of voices and the mother has the best opportunity as her voice is channeled into the womb.  The father can become very familiar as his voice will penetrate the womb from the outside when he is close if he uses the deeper tones. Moods and outside activities can be sensed from the womb so a calm and happy environment is important here.  

Songs and a simple lullaby can be very soothing in the later stages of pregnancy  and humming low tones also works very well. These simple things are remembered by your baby and are very effective in soothing your child even as a toddler and young child. I did not use these techniques with my first child but I did use them with my second child and there is a noticeable difference in my effectiveness to comfort them when they are distressed. When my youngest was still in the womb I would sit close to him and hum in a deep tone and talk in a low comforting voice. After he was born I found I was very effective at soothing and comforting him and putting him to sleep was easy.

When he was born our second son was diagnosed with Craniosynostosis and would have to have a full skull reconstruction when he was 6 months old. We were told that we should prepare him for after the operation as he would loose his sight for a few days as his face would swell up over his eyes. This is where the pre birth crooning came into it's own. Sure enough, for 3 days our poor little boy was blind and he could only hear and feel us. Even his smell was not developed and we could tell he was frightened.

The medical and nursing staff where amazed at how well he managed without his sight and they could see a difference when I entered the room as he would stop crying immediately and even smile. He is now 4 and I can stop him from crying just by talking to him in a deep calm voice or by cuddling him and humming in his ear. It is possible more surgery may be needed for him and we are always making sure there is an easy way to comfort him because it is hard to watch your child suffer but relieving to know you can make things a little better for him.

So while your bubs is still in the womb start getting close with humming, crooning, singing and talking calmly and nicely as often as you can.