10 Questions I Forgot to Ask the Baby's Doctor About Music

Originally published in September 2014.  Re-edited and "made funny" in September 2015.

This may become a series of posts called: Questions I Forgot to Ask the Doctor.  Or, it may become like so many failed series of posts on this site, nothing more than this post.  Enjoy!

During our last visit, our doctor told us, "Be sure to have the baby listen to music.  It's been shown it's good for brain development."  And then she left.

It was a good visit, but right after she left the room, I realized I had some questions.  Here are a few I didn't get to ask:

1. Is live music better than recorded music?  Is CD quality better than MP3 quality? Is there any advantage to vinyl?

2. When you say "music is good for brain development, do you mean all music except country?

3. If my baby is listening to an old CD that skips sometimes, will that mess with his brain?  Will he think that's the way music is supposed to be?

4. Does Muzak count as music?  If not, why is it nearly the same word?

5. They say Mozart helps develop the brain, but how many musicians have they experimented with?  What I mean is, the Pet Shop Boys have pretty complicated beats.  Did they test brain development with the Pet Shop Boys?  What about Erasure?  New Order?

6. Is it a problem if all the electronic music our baby listens to is from the 80s?

7a. If I'm tapping on the counter with my hands - I mean really well, like triplets and stuff - does that count as music?

7b.  What IS the difference between music and noise?

8.  That "Closing Time" song by Semisonic is really catchy.  I guess my question is, is it harmful to my baby if he hears the same song over and over again?  What if it's a mediocre song from the 90s?

9. If I'm singing to my baby, and I'm a little off key, will he develop an alternate scale?  Is that the same as learning another language....or better!?

10. Is there a certain music my baby should listen to that will guarantee he won't like country music when he's older?

Maybe it was better she left when she did.

-ND

10 Things I Never Said Before I Was a Parent

10 Things I Never Said Before I Was a Parent (That I Now Say ALL THE FREAKING TIME)

10. Don't bite the dog.

9.  Don't bite the dog in the butt.

8.  Don't let the dog lick your eating spoon.

7. Don't spank the dog with your eating spoon.

6. You have to wear pants when you go outside.

5. I'm pretty sure you have to wear pants when you go outside.

4. Go to sleep.  Everyone has to sleep.

3. I'm pretty sure everyone has to sleep.

2. Thank you for letting momma and daddy sleep past 7:00 am.

1. Don't worry.  It's only pee.*

-ND

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* "It's only pee," must be one of the most common phrases now uttered in our household.  It's also one of the phrases that NEVER passed my lips before becoming a parent.  Even when we got a dog.

The 5 Best Written Children's Books for 6 Month Babies to 18 Month Old Children

The 5 Best Written Children's Books
(For Kids 6 months to 18 months)

A list based purely on writing.  Forthcoming lists* include "Best Illustrated Children's Books," "Best Story," "Most Catchy" "Best Children's Books For Parent's," "5 Books My Kid Loves That I Can't Stand," and more!

Dr. Seuss books are excluded from this list, because they are on another level.  Another level they're on.**

Basically these are the best written board books out there.  If you have a 6 month old baby, get them. You'll be reading them for at least a year. They also make great gifts.

1. LITTLE BLUE TRUCK - Alice Schertle and Jill McElmurry

Like good poetry, its rhymes feel natural and effortless, with each line moving the story along to its inevitable, rewarding conclusion.

2. THE GOING TO BED BOOK - Sandra Boynton

Sandra Boyton is, dare I say, the modern master of board books for babies.  With this one, Boynton has created a slow and gentle rhyme that goes through the bedtime routine.  In other words, it's the perfect book for going to bed. Thus, she gets bonus points for aptly naming her book as well.

3.  BIG RED BARN - Margaret Wise Brown and Felicia Bond

New Mom loves this book and considers Brown a true poet.  New Dad on the other hand, thought it was a little slow at first, but after eight or ten readings, oh yeah, I see what she means now.  Really, it's a good one.

4.  BEAR SNORES ON - Karma Wilson & Jane Chapman

Great rhyming in a cute story, with clever lines you'll find yourself repeating throughout the day. ("We can pop more corn, we can brew more tea!")  Especially if you're sleep deprived. (Who is typing these words?) 

5.  GOODNIGHT MOON - Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd

Yes, another Margaret Wise Brown book.  Did I mention New Mom considers her a great poet?

At first rereading of this classic, New Mom and I felt we had been duped.  Is this all there is to GOODNIGHT MOON?  One room, with descriptions of each item in the room?

After dozens of readings late at night, during the day, and any time baby boy was in the mood, we came to appreciate its well-crafted simplicity.

I mean, creating a classic by essentially describing what's in one room?  Now THAT takes some writing skills.

Seriously.

-ND

P.S.  Hope that list helps you get started - or fill in some gaps - with your children's book collection.  Of course, there are many books that nearly made the list, and so many great baby books out there.  There really are more "Best Of" lists in the works, but if you can't wait that long, drop me a line or comment.  I'm alway up for discussing kids' books.  Always.

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* The meaning of "forthcoming" should not be interpreted as if progress has been made in the creation of such lists, but in the sense that the titles of these list have been written in italics at the top of a blog post.

** Sorry. Turns out, it is NOT EASY to write like Seuss.  That's why he's the master.  Buy all his books for your kids today.  Seriously.