Music

I don’t remember if I have told you I am  quite musical.  Since coming to Scotland I haven’t played any music, though, but I do sometimes sing in the house when I’m happy or doing something that makes me so.

One problem I have is the difficulty of following music at the rate it is written.  I can tell you when the notes are meant to be played, but my body DOESN’T move the fingers or allow me to sway with other people.

And when Natalie was in the womb, she would beat in time to the music she heard on the womb wall if she loved it.  If she didn’t love it, she would put her head as far under the ribs as she could get to ensure I was struggling to breathe and she would kick as hard and as fast as she could on my bladder, so I had to leave the room for two reasons.  And one song she hated was Brahm’s Lullaby!

Fast forward to Johnathan - well, he has quite a sweet singing voice AND a real sense of rhythm now.  He plays games that he can tap away to and I see him now often drumming with his fingers when he’s not thinking about it.

Every night we play the same music to him.  It helps to keep him asleep and reassures him if he awakens in the night.  I have explained to you in other posts how little someone on the spectrum can sleep, but music really does help.  

I’m not saying music is the best way to keep your child to sleep - your child might need a particular noise.  One of my acquaintances knew someone that kept a hair dryer on all night EVERY NIGHT because that was what sent her child to sleep and reassured her if she awoke.

You know your child better than I do, but finding out what helps them is a blessing both to you and to them.  We have Moshi Sleep Stories, a nebula light, a nightlight, a Happy Napper with multiple soft toys in to give him constant sensory signals in his sleep AND music to help Johnathan sleep.  So sometimes you need more than just music to help your child sleep.  And that’s ok.  It’s trial and error.  

So if you haven’t tried music as an extra add on to the nighttime why not give it a go?  Or any of the above things we use