On several occasions we have brought to our pages studies that realized the benefits of music therapy in premature babies. But nevertheless, a new investigation that reviews the literature on the subject, doubts that music brings benefits to premature babies.
When reviewing nine studies on the subject, the team concluded that the majority were of poor quality, methodologically poor, and their validity is questioned. According to this, there is no evidence of good quality that music helps premature babies relieve pain, feed better and calm down.
Nine studies were identified: three on music to relieve the pain of circumcision; three to reduce pain during blood draws in the heel and three on the effect of music on crying and other indicators of stress, feeding frequency and other physiological measures.
Though the relaxing effects of music are undeniable, and if babies can hear, then some of that effect will benefit them. Another thing is that it is difficult to measure that benefit. Besides, I wonder how many more studies on the subject have not been reviewed.
In any case, I think it is important to follow these research paths that are intended to improve the stress conditions of premature babies that later influence their future life.
The study has been directed by Dr. Manoj Kumar, from the University of Alberta, in Edmonton (Canada), and published in "Archives of Disease in Childhood". The researchers concluded that High quality studies are needed on the potential benefits of music for newborns before making any recommendation about its use.
