Music to Stimulate Babies

You may have heard about the subject of playing certain types of music to stimulate the positive growth of babies (prenatal and newborn). The Make Way for Baby site states,

"Mothers who set aside time to relax daily by listening to music also help their babies feel calmer and happier. Pregnant women and babies share hormones, so there is a close connection between the emotional well-being of the mother and that of the child she carries."

Many experts use the music of Mozart and other classical composers as examples of the types of music that would produce such an effect. But, as I was thinking this morning, I wondered if other music might be more appropriate. For example, how cool would a kid be if his or her mother listened to Al Green while they were in the womb? Would a kid be more wimpy if the mother listened to the Goo Goo Dolls? Would the newborn be more inclined to join a gang if mom jammed to gangsta rap?

Maybe, if we really wanted to infect the next generation with peace, expectant moms should be listening to John Lennon's Imagine or Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World. Or maybe they could just invite them to get on the Love Train:

People all over the world (everybody)
Join hands (join)
Start a love train, love train
People all over the world (all the world, now)
Join hands (love ride)
Start a love train (love ride), love train

The next stop that we make will be soon
Tell all the folks in Russia, and China, too
Don't you know that it's time to get on board
And let this train keep on riding, riding on through
Well, well

People all over the world (you don't need no money)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train (don't need no ticket, come on)
People all over the world (Join in, ride this train)
Join in (Ride this train, y'all)
Start a love train (Come on, train), love train

All of you brothers over in Africa
Tell all the folks in Egypt, and Israel, too
Please don't miss this train at the station
'Cause if you miss it, I feel sorry, sorry for you
Well

People all over the world (Sisters and brothers)
Join hands (join, come on)
Start a love train (ride this train, y'all), love train (Come on)
People all over the world (Don't need no tickets)
Join hands (come on, ride)
Start a love train, love train

Ride, let it ride
Let it ride
Let it ride
People, ain't no war


People all over the world (on this train)
Join in (ride the train)
Start a love train, love train (ride the train, y'all)
People all over the world (come on)
Join hands (you can ride or stand, yeah)
Start a love train, love train (makin' love)
People all over the world ('round the world, y'all)
Join hands (come on)
Start a love train, love train

Lyrics by the O'Jays. Reprinted without permission.

What do YOU think about this?

By the way, I read a really cool article in USA Weekend. It's on NPR's This I Believe series. The essay is titled "I am not my body!". You can read it here.

Ciao for now,

Doug