Singing and mother-infant relationships

What is it about?

This article gives an overview of what studies say about singing in mother-infant relationships (how it promotes intimacy, strengthens their bond and nurtures their relationship) and contributes with insights from our research, proposing that mothers communicate genuineness and unconditional acceptance while singing, develop a musical ritual, facilitating intimacy and mutual understanding; experience being heard; express and give of themselves, cultivating a healthy relationship through “hugging their child with song”.

Featured Image

Photo by Ethan Hu on Unsplash

Photo by Ethan Hu on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Maternal singing is an invaluable means of cultivating proximity and intimacy in a phase when – with the infant’s limited verbal comprehension - affections and intentions serve as the relationship’s essential ingredient. Singing can be an added help in situations when parents are not able to give their infant the desired care, when physical contact is limited or in situations of social vulnerability.