Music for babies
My mother has a number of wonderful French and Hebrew songs that she sings to Daisy, and she seems to like them so much that I’ve learned a few of them to sing to her, too. But I was gratified to learn that this educational process is NOT a one-way street: yesterday, from the living room, I heard Mom singing “Come Sail Away” to Daisy as she changed her diaper.
I have said this before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t know why music intended for babies has to be so sad. The thin-sounding, tinny classical music that her swing and vibrating chair play makes me feel completely depressed. And I have a CD of music intended for “baby’s quiet time,” not all of which is traditional lullabye music, but anyway, it makes me cry every time I listen to it. I suppose the question is, then, why do I keep listening to it?
I must try to be jolly. Everyone prefers a jolly autumnal Sarah to a morose autumnal Sarah.
Next time, I want to write about my parents and infants group.
I have said this before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t know why music intended for babies has to be so sad. The thin-sounding, tinny classical music that her swing and vibrating chair play makes me feel completely depressed. And I have a CD of music intended for “baby’s quiet time,” not all of which is traditional lullabye music, but anyway, it makes me cry every time I listen to it. I suppose the question is, then, why do I keep listening to it?
I must try to be jolly. Everyone prefers a jolly autumnal Sarah to a morose autumnal Sarah.
Next time, I want to write about my parents and infants group.
posted by Sarah Goss at 11:31 AM
9 Comments:
Sarah,
Check out "No!" by They Might Be Giants. A children's cd we love. Nothing sad about it!
Hon, how much sleep are you getting?
Probably most of TMBG's catalog would be pretty good. They've been making increasing forays into children's music, and their ordinary stuff is light and poppy, even when the subject matter turns toward the disturbing (Example:
"Your Racist Friend".....)
Not much sleep :-(
But the culprit is my brain, not the baby. She slept from 8 pm to 3 am yesterday!! (For the non-baby-initiated, this is actually a really long stretch for a 2-month old, despite how horrible it sounds to have to wake up at 3 am.) The problem is that I feel too stressed out to sleep well even when she's sleeping. And, of course, it's hard to go to bed at 8 pm. I've been trying to get her to stay up a little later, but it's hard-- she starts to get really cranky around 7, and wants to be asleep by 8. Just seems too cruel (and difficult) to keep her awake longer. Any ideas??
Amy, I really want that CD! My mom's been talking about it and saying how great it is. I think she got it for my cousin's kids a few years ago, prior to the existence of Daisy.
Keeping the baby awake longer won't get her to sleep any later. Her clock is set for right now. I recommend, just for a week or so, giving yourself permission to go to bed when she goes to bed. Get her and yourself into comfy jammies at 7. Do something sleepy and soothing together. Rock her with low lights and sleepy music. You don't have to play lullabies. Baroque pieces do just fine (rhythmical, mathematical, low sturm und drang).
Then when she goes down, you put yourself to bed. You are allowed to do this. (If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of Baby.) It's fall, the best weather ever for going to bed! Television will wait. Grown-up thoughts will wait. Curl up underneath the covers with a good book and some Motrin. Lights out before 9.
And a very big hug.
Thank you for the comfort, the hugs and tips, Marguerite! I am grateful for the tip about her clock, b/c it would have been a shame to keep her awake for no reason. You are so right about going to bed earlier, too (as I sit here awake at 10 pm, the baby asleep already for 2 hours). It's self-destruction, what I am doing...and I am totally exhausted. I need to change my frame of mind about going to bed or I am going to go nuts!
Okay...so I think I'll go right now
:-)
I second everyone else's comments on TMBG. I just made a mix for someone's baby shower we're hosting this weekend, and put TMBG's "Alphabet of Nations" on it.
I also recommend Moxy Fruvous -- not only for babies, but for all humans generally. (Also on that mix: their version of "Green Eggs and Ham.")
I think Styx (and other forms of rock) is not only acceptable, but should be mandatory for kids. You gotta school 'em in the classics. I was playing the Beatles for my kids as soon as they could hear.
I don't know about anyone else, but I'll take whichever autumnal Sarah happens to come down the pike.
Thank you, Matt! :-) It's a pretty deranged, sleep-deprived Sarah who's been coming down the pike lately. But I am feeling better. I love the fall.
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