Rocking Babies... To Sleep

A poll published by The Baby Website has revealed that pop and rock songs have overtaken traditional lullabies as many parents' favoured way of singing their babies to sleep. Modern classics such as Oasis' "Wonderwall" and Robbie Williams favourite, "Angels" were among the most popular songs in the poll of 2,000 mothers. The questionnaire revealed that nearly two-thirds thought pop ballads were more effective for sending babies to sleep than traditional lullabies like Twinkle Twinkle or Rock-a-Bye Baby.

Spokeswoman Kathryn Crawford suggested mothers were being influenced by the music they listen to during the day. "We were really surprised to find that mums would rather sing modern pop tunes than traditional lullabies. I expect most mums put the radio on when at home with the baby and the catchy lyrics make it impossible to sing anything else at bedtime."

Nearly half of those polled said they sang to their little ones to calm them when they were upset, while a third always lulled their baby off to sleep with a song. The poll also revealed 13% of mothers thought lullabies were too old-fashioned, while one in 10 said they could not remember the words to any of them.

Take That's chart-topper Patience was named as the most popular song in the questionnaire; if you'd like a version of the track which has been specially designed for babies, check out our Babies Go Take That page or for lots of pop songs that have been specially produced for babies, visit our website .

www.babies-go.co.uk

Babies Go on Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Elton John

We were happy to hear Babies Go on the Chris Evans Breakfast Show again this week, this time accompanying an interview with singer, football fanatic and national treasure, Elton John. The interview was quite eventful, including a bit of controversy, with Elton's famously loose lips getting the better of him, letting out a "f'***ing hell" mid-interview. Apart from swearing a mildly blue-streak, the singer also (rather ironically) was in town to promote new kids movie, "Gnomeo & Juliet", for which he's credited as executive producer. We've included a video clip of some of the interview (listen out for Babies Go playing in the background). You can also check out audio clips of the interview below.

www.babies-go.co.uk

Babies Go Take That on Chris Evans Breakfast Show

Gary Barlow dropped into the Chris Evans breakfast show this morning to let everyone know about his 40th birthday which he'll be celebrating at the Shepherds Bush Empire tomorrow evening with a very exclusive party. He and Chris talked gigs, songwriting and the band among many other topics but we couldn't help notice the music playing in the background during the interview. We were chuffed (to say the least) when we realised that it was our very own Babies Go Take That CD playing, and if we say so ourselves, it sounded great on the radio! We've included some clips below or you can listen to the whole interview here.

www.babies-go.co.uk

Waaah! More London bring-a-baby concerts

We read this at the weekend and thought it would be worth passing along...

from Time Out:

By Jonathan Lennie

Something weird is happening. I am in the stalls of Wigmore Hall enjoying the aeolian strains of a wind trio, while my companion is chewing his hand and dribbling on my trousers; meanwhile, the person in front is standing backwards in their seat and staring at me intently. And if that wasn't disconcerting enough, a chorus of wailing is gathering momentum across the room. And never mind the clapping between movements, here there is constant movement, including one audience member who is enjoying an impromptu promenade, standing at the side of the stage eating a biscuit.

The reason for this unusual behaviour might be explained by the fact that half the audience is under one year old. We are at the sporadic 'For Crying Out Loud' concert series - my son, Reuben, making his first foray into the concert hall. Well, he is five months old and I didn't want to leave it too long.

The series, run by Wigmore Hall, is part of its education programme. And what a great idea! For while there are regular family concerts and activity workshops for infants across the city, there are few opportunities for parents with babies to attend live classical music events. And this is definitely one for the parents - today there are about 100 of them, mostly mums, some accompanied by dads, and a handful of grandparents.

Now I understand why, on entering the building with half an hour to kick-off, the ushers looked so nervous. For 15 minutes later the onslaught began, as mothers stormed the foyer with their offspring in prams and slings, and bags bulging with baby accoutrement.

The musicians today are the Fortuna Trio, whose combination of flute, clarinet and bassoon is clearly conducive to small ears as there is a collective hush as they open with a Mozart divertimento. However, despite the wonderful sounds being created on stage, Reuben doesn't seem to notice, being far more interested in examining his feet, which have only recently come into his purview. But such distractions are welcome and he remains quiet until halfway through an arrangement of Bach's 'Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring', when a junior critic on stage right registers his displeasure (some people don't like Bach being messed about with); his cries are met by another on the other side, creating a Doppler effect, which sets the rest of the room off, including Reuben. read more......

www.babies-go.co.uk

Take That On Tour

Take That have been dominating the headlines recently amid a flurry of speculation over their lineup, the new Take That album,"Flood", their forthcoming live tour and quite a lot in-between. It all started a few months ago when news of a single co-written by Gary Barlow and Robbie Williams called "Shame" made the internet rounds and got fans salivating over a potential reunion of the band's original line-up. The single was released and promptly shot straight to No. 2 in the UK singles chart, also doing well in the European charts.

Not long afterwards, the group, together with Robbie Williams, publicly announced that they would be releasing a studio album, the band's sixth, due in stores next month. They'll also be embarking on a European stadium tour next summer, taking in huge venues in the UK including Millennium Stadium, Hampden Park and Wembley Stadium as well as huge stadiums abroad like Milan's San Siro and Munich's Olympic Stadium.

All of this got us thinking here at Babies Go HQ (no need to look so worried) : amid all the hype and excitement surrounding the release and the Take That Flood Tour, how are the band members planning on taking care of the crop of rugrats that have sprouted since the last time the band were touring? It's all good and well partying like rockstars without dependants but what about when Mark Jr. needs to be in bed by 7 but he can't sleep?

We know that Howard will be able to rest assured in the knowledge that whilst he’s away, his children will be able to drift off to lullaby versions of Take That’s biggest hits. Howard recently picked up a copy of Babies Go Take That from Their Nibs, the rather stylish baby boutique in Notting Hill.

Keep an eye out for Take That concert tickets and concert ticket giveaways over the next few months for your chance to see the band live.

Not Over 'Til The Wee Baby Sings

We've covered a couple of festivals for the miniature pop and rock fans out there but what if your baby is a bit more discerning. If you live anywhere near Glasgow or Edinburgh then you should get yourself and the little ones down to Baby O, the opera that's made especially for babies. The events are put on by the Scottish Opera but don't worry if you're not from north of the border, Baby O takes their show on tour from time to time having been in London earlier this summer with plans to go back on the road towards the end of this year. Performed especially with babies in mind, Baby O is the perfect way to introduce your baby to opera. Whether you've got a baby Bach or a mini Mozart, you're unlikely to find a more child-friendly atmosphere to introduce your little ones to high culture.

Baby O use pieces that have been composed especially for the event focusing on tones more than words and allowing the babies to get excited about the sounds themselves. Organiser Jane Davidson explains, "We have three performers and the music is entirely vocal, using sounds and words that babies will recognise and understand, with these classically trained singers creating baby-friendly noises. The parents all comment on what it feels like to have their baby in their lap for 25 minutes watching the performance – though there is always the occasional slightly older or more adventurous child who will crawl over to join in – moving their arms, wiggling their feet.”

Visit their website for more details.

http://www.babies-go.co.uk

Top 10 Baby Sleeping Tips

1. Sleep Sounds

Music is a great way to help your baby drift off to sleep. Choose something that you and your baby both enjoy and play it at low volumes while drifting off. Light, relaxing music is preferable but it depends on your baby's taste.

2. Swing of Things

Babies are practically programmed to fall asleep when they experience motion. This mimics the sensation the baby had in the womb - Mummy moving around meant it was time to get some shut-eye; Mummy staying still meant it was time to exercise and have a party.

3. Dark Room/Light Room

Babies don't immediately understand the difference between day and night. As mentioned above, Babies are wired to relax during the day when Mummy's moving around, then get some exercise at night when Mummy's still and sleeping. Making sure it's dark during sleep time and light during waking hours should help the baby build up an association between the two.

4. Close To Your Chest

Consider using a sling to keep your little one close, especially during the day - a relaxing day is more likely to be followed by a relaxing night. Not only will the baby be able to see what you see, hear what you hear and smell what you smell, but you will be able to react quickly when your baby communicates with you.

5. White Noise

Although it may seem strange, monotonous soft noises, usually termed "white noise", is music to a baby's ears. The sound of a hair dryer or washing machine creates the perfect swirling soundscape for your baby, a convincing replacement for the sounds of the womb.

6. Just Right

Cold beds are bad news for a sleeping baby, especially during winter. Make sure that whatever surface you lay your baby on is not cold to the touch and make sure the room is around 21°C. It can also help to make sure the room is not too dry or too humid; a relative humidity of around 50% should do it.

7. Night Rider

This is more of a last resort but if all else fails it may be worth taking your wee one out for a late night drive. The change of scenery might be just what he needs and will give you a chance to get out of the house for a short while plus the movement should rock him off to sleep in no time. When you return home it may be worth bringing the car seat in to the house with baby still asleep inside. No point in ruining a good thing - if the baby is sleeping then that's what really counts.

8. Location, Location, Location

Despite what you may have read, there is no right or wrong place for a baby to sleep. If a baby is struggling to get to sleep , anywhere that helps the baby drift off is a good place for him or her to grab some Z's. If the baby can't sleep in a crib in their own room, maybe it's time to move the crib into the parents' room. Some might prefer it the other way round and some might even prefer to sleep snuggled up to Mummy and Daddy in the parents' bed. It's best to experiment.

9. No sudden noise.

Sudden noise is a disaster for a sleeping baby. Babies' ears are more sensitive than adults' and sudden, piercing or loud sounds will be quite unusual to them, considering they're more used to the relaxing, monotonous soundscapes of the womb. It's best to keep a relaxed environment around your baby, especially when it comes to bed time.

10. Be Flexible

It's important to know that no 2 babies are the same; every single infant has their own unique personality with their own quirks. Be adaptable and understand that no child expert knows your baby better than you do. All baby-rearing books and lists therefore should be taken with a grain of salt. You may come up with a list of essential techniques for getting your baby to sleep that don't even figure on this list. Also, understand that your baby is growing at a remarkable rate. What works at 4 weeks won't necessarily work at 4 months so it's important to be responsive and sensitive as he or she grows up.

www.babies-go.co.uk