Expecting parents: What you need to know about sound and babies

When you’re preparing a baby, the typical things you think about buying are a crib, toys, and diapers. As a mom who’s worked in the entertainment industry for over 15 years, here’s some advice about things you probably haven’t thought of. You don’t have to stop going to loud places … Read more

Do Baby Heart Rate Apps Work?

When I was pregnant, I was surprised to find apps that claimed they could detect a baby’s heart beat. As a professional audio engineer, I didn’t think it was even possible for a microphone to pick up sounds deep inside the body. So, I decided to prove it by testing … Read more

Rap and heavy metal music during pregnancy

Some websites say to avoid music like heavy metal or rap during pregnancy and only play gentle music (like classical) to not startle your unborn baby. I’ve seen references to “research” but I can’t find any real studies about the effects of listening to dissonant, “harsh” or atonal music during … Read more

Do belly headphones work?

Belly headphones are a popular registry item (“headphones” designed for mom’s belly so baby can listen to music). Before you go buying buds for your bump, consider this: No research shows that playing music to a baby in the womb makes them smarter. Many of these belly headphones can’t even recreate … Read more