A hospital in north-east France is encouraging parents of premature babies to put down their phones and sing 鈥� with opera professionals leading the way.
Mezzo-soprano Aline Martin regularly visits the neonatal unit at the Centre Hospitalier R茅gional Universitaire (CHRU) in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle) as part of a programme designed to 鈥渦se the human voice as a bridge between medicine and music鈥�.
鈥淭he benefits of singing for premature babies have been well documented for years,鈥� said paediatrician Dr Mathilde Queudet.
鈥淚t calms them, lowers their heart rate and helps them reach deep, restorative sleep.鈥�
Mezzo-soprano Aline MartinCHRU de Nancy 鈥� Direction de la communication
Ms Martin, a member of the Op茅ra national de Nancy-Lorraine, performs lullabies ranging from Disney classics and nursery rhymes to sacred music such as Ave Maria and hymns including Amazing Grace.
Babies often respond in 鈥渟ubtle, magical ways鈥�, she said: 鈥淔our times out of five, they fall into a deep sleep.鈥�
France records nearly 7% of births as premature, and for these tiny patients a lullaby can be 鈥渕ore than comfort 鈥� it may be part of their healing鈥�, say staff. In fact, the programme has been so successful the hospital hopes to expand the programme to reach more families.
The idea began as a collaboration between the CHRU and the Op茅ra national de Nancy-Lorraine two years ago, said Camille Gaume, the opera鈥檚 communications officer.
She said the project was carefully planned to ensure 鈥渢he most appropriate intervention protocol鈥�, covering vocal range, authorised decibel levels, how to approach vulnerable families, and the goals of each session.
鈥淭he aim was to integrate music - particularly the voice and singing - into the care pathway for newborns,鈥� she said.
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The objectives include strengthening emotional bonds between parent and child, contributing to a child鈥檚 neuropsychological development, and promoting singing as a paramedical tool in neonatal care.
Launched in August 2024, the programme has already supported more than 30 babies. Alongside Ms Martin, each visit involves a hospital staff member and a member of the opera鈥檚 outreach team.
Consent is always sought and sessions depend on the parent鈥檚 willingness and the baby鈥檚 condition.
Staff say the experience brings visible comfort. Deep sleep is often seen on monitors when parents sing skin-to-skin, and Ms Martin gently encourages anxious parents to 鈥渞eclaim their own voices鈥� rather than relying on playing lullabies from YouTube.
鈥淧arents today are always on their phones,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 sing as much as before.鈥�
Families report powerful effects. One mother, Tiphaine Robert, whose daughter Nora was born in September, says the music 鈥渂rings lightness, happiness鈥�. After the first visit, Nora was so soothed 鈥渨e spent the rest of the day singing 鈥� if we stopped, she protested鈥�.
Dr Queudet said the visits are 鈥渁 bubble 鈥� a release valve鈥� in a clinical, high-anxiety environment.
鈥淎ttachment is tested in neonatal care,鈥� she said. 鈥淢oments like these help rebuild it.鈥�
