Photo by Alexander Grey on Unsplash
Research is revealing that something as simple as a parent’s voice can improve a premature baby’s vital signs, strengthen parent-child bonding, and even help babies leave the NICU sooner. And the healing doesn’t stop with baby. For parents navigating one of the most frightening and helpless experiences imaginable, singing offers mutual benefits along with a meaningful way to comfort and actively care for their child when so much else is out of their hands. Dr. Daisy Fancourt combines cutting-edge science with her own deeply personal experience as the mother of a premature daughter.
Guest
My guest today is Dr. Daisy Fancourt, one of the world’s leading researchers on this topic and on the connection between arts and health. We’re talking today about the remarkable science behind music’s impact on our most vulnerable newborns. We’ll also go beyond the science with a deeply human story of comfort, hope, and connection. Because Dr. Fancourt’s understanding of this topic became profoundly personal when her own daughter, Daphne, spent time in the NICU after being born prematurely. We’ll explore what happens when a baby hears a parent’s voice, and why music may be one of the most powerful—and underutilized—tools in modern healthcare.
Dr. Fancourt is Professor of Psychobiology and Epidemiology at University College London where she heads the Social Biobehavioural Research Group; and she’s Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Arts and Health. She is a multi-award-winning science communicator and one of the most highly cited scientists in the world. She was a recent guest on this show discussing her new book, Art Cure; and she graciously agreed to come back to speak specifically about this topic that she touches on in her book.
Notes
We discuss:
- Why a parent’s voice may be one of the most powerful tools for helping premature babies heal in the NICU.
- The fascinating research showing how singing can improve heart rate, breathing, oxygen levels, feeding, and other vital signs in premature infants.
- How music exposure may support healthy brain development and provide benefits that extend well beyond a baby’s hospital stay.
- Dr. Daisy Fancourt’s deeply personal story of singing to her own premature daughter, Daphne, during her time in the NICU.
- Why familiar songs and a parent’s voice are uniquely powerful – even if you don’t consider yourself a singer.
- How singing gives parents a meaningful way to comfort and care for their baby during one of the most helpless seasons of life.
- The surprising connection between music, stress regulation, and the nervous system – for both babies and their parents.
- What the latest research reveals about music’s role in strengthening parent-infant bonding, even when physical touch is limited.
- Why music in the NICU is more than a source of comfort – it may be an evidence-based healthcare intervention with benefits for families and hospitals alike.
- Practical encouragement for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals on using music to foster healing, connection, and hope from the very beginning of life.
Connect/Other Resources
- Dr. Fancourt’s book: Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Save Lives
Other episodes we mentioned or that you may enjoy:
- Ep. 228: Your Daily Dose of Art – The Science of Living Longer and Better; with Daisy Fancourt, PhD
- Ep. 232: A Breakthrough in Postnatal Depression – The Science (and Stunning Results) Behind Singing for Recovery; with Yvonne Farquharson
- Ep. 137: What makes a lullaby a lullaby, and what difference does it make? with Laurel Trainor, PhD
- Ep. 151: What are the benefits of singing for our health and wellbeing? with Dr. Diana Allan
- View all episodes related to Science & Health or Education & Community
In-Episode Promo
LIVING WELL WITH DR. MICHELLE: If you’ve listened to this podcast for long, you know that, in addition to being passionate about music, I am also passionate about natural health and wellbeing. So I was intrigued to learn about an all-natural toothpaste developed by a biologic, holistic dentist to effectively clean and protect teeth and strengthen enamel without fluoride or the many chemicals that are ubiquitous in the commercial toothpastes that I’ve always used without a second thought. What really caught my attention was that one of these dentist’s products was specially formulated for sensitive teeth, which I have thanks to gum recession. I was a little skeptical that an all-natural product would provide adequate sensitivity protection, but after trying it for several months, I am a fan. What clinched the deal was going to my 6-month dental cleaning and having my hygienist rave about the whiteness of my teeth. To learn more about the Living Well Sensitive Tooth Powder and other products – and get 10% off your order – check out the link in the show notes (or use Coupon Code: musicenhances10 at livingwellwithdrmichelle.com). (Or buy on Amazon.)
Coda
Daisy shares a tool related to the iso principle.
Closing Words
Thank you so much to Dr. Fancourt for this wonderful tool, for her cutting-edge research, for her book making that research accessible to all of us, and for sharing her personal story with this particular application of music with premature babies and parents. I had goosebumps so many times during this conversation and one thing that really stood out to me in Daisy’s personal experience was how singing to Daphne gave her words (through already-written lyrics) when she didn’t know what words to say and didn’t have the bandwidth to think about it – and even just humming provided the therapeutic benefit to both her and Daphne.
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Thank you so much for joining me today. Until next time, may your life be enhanced with music.
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