Haven House is able to offer music therapy to babies and their families who are experiencing neonatal care. We currently offer this each week at Whipps Cross Special care Baby Unit, in partnership with our colleagues at Barts Health. We know that it can be an anxious time when your baby needs special neonatal care, and that the experience of being in hospital can be stressful. Music therapy can support you and your baby in lots of ways during this tough time.

Neonatal music therapy is a specialist clinical approach, carried out by a qualified HCPC-registered music therapist, using sound, music and voice to support your baby’s physical and emotional wellbeing. Instruments such as the guitar or ocean drum are played gently alongside melodic singing and predictable rhythms. The therapist adjusts the music to match your baby’s cues, such as breathing patterns, movements, and facial expressions.

Research studies show that music therapy can help premature babies by:

• Supporting a stable heart rate and breathing
• Encouraging better sleep patterns
• Reducing stress and overstimulation
• Supporting feeding and weight gain
• Promoting healthy brain development.

Taking part in music therapy can also reduce stress and anxiety for parents.

Music therapy can support you and your baby in several ways, particularly if you are experiencing difficulties with:

• Bonding.

The therapist might musically support your interactions during skin to skin contact via soft, gentle musical accompaniment or singing, or might encourage you to sing to your baby

• Breathing.

The therapist might provide your baby with a rhythm that mimics the human heart beat, which your baby can then attune to, in order to lengthen and regulate their breathing

• Sucking and feeding.

The music therapist can provide steady rhythmic sounds during feeding which can help babies to maintain a  steady mouth motion

•Crying and pain.

The music therapist might sing in tones that match your baby’s cry, easing and altering their experience of pain for them, or offer white noise in the form of an ocean drum. This mimics sounds your baby will recognise from the womb, and can help them to feel safe and secure.

How can I access music therapy?

The Music Therapist is available at Whipps Cross SCBU every Wednesday afternoon, between 2:00pm - 5:00pm. Families can request the service by talking to a member of staff. Sessions last no longer than 20 minutes.

Download our leaflet on Music Therapy in a neonatal ward to learn more.

For more information, please email:

Our Music Therapy team
020 8505 9944