NICU Music Therapy

NICU Music Therapy is a gentle, evidence-based practice that supports the unique needs of premature and medically fragile infants during their earliest days of life. Through carefully tailored live music—such as soft singing, humming, and rhythmic sounds aligned with an infant’s breathing and heart rate—certified music therapists help create a calming environment that promotes stability and growth.

For babies, music therapy can support vital functions like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and sleep, while also encouraging feeding readiness and neurological development. For families, it offers meaningful ways to bond with their baby, even in the midst of a complex medical journey, empowering parents to use their own voice as a source of comfort and connection. For NICU staff, music therapy contributes to a more peaceful care environment, helping reduce stress and supporting a holistic, family-centered approach to care.

Rooted in compassion and clinical expertise, NICU Music Therapy nurtures not only the infant’s development, but also the emotional well-being of everyone involved in their care.

"I personally enjoyed the music and found it very calming in this very stressful situation. It seemed most noticeably helpful for our kids when we were working on feeding. It seemed that the situation was helpful for keeping them engaged."

- Sam F, NICU parent
"I love music. I think it is important as a person, a mother, and a nurse. I spent a large portion of my shift today holding an infant who is withdrawing. Despite my cuddles and my shooshing, he would still wiggle and restle often. He was asleep but it was clear it wasn’t truly restful sleep. Hilary came in from Music Therapy and asked if she could play her guitar for him. As soon as she began, I could feel his little body relax. His furrowed brows relaxed and the pacifier fell from his mouth. And then she started to hum and his little body just melted into me. This state of sleep was restorative, restful, and truly therapeutic. As she continued to play, I was able to place him back into his crib, snuggle him in, and watch him continue to sleep blissfully as she continued to play for him. It was truly magical to watch."

- Christine McGillivray, RN
"This was the first time observing Music Therapy. I was taking care of an ESC baby. He had scored the highest he had all day on the Finnegan scale. Once Hilary began playing, the infant was instantly soothed. He stopped crying and was able to suck with coordination on his paci. She played throughout the entire feeding. Previous feedings throughout the day, he had to be stopped due to uncoordinated suck and crying/irritability during the feeding. With this feeding, he had a strong coordinated suck throughout the entire feed and fell asleep. I was able to transition him into his crib and he remained soothed and resting peacefully. He previously had to be held all day or would be irritable. It was amazing to witness first hand the impact that music therapy can have. Thank you again."

- Ella Traynor, RN
"We were fortunate to meet Hilary during our son’s last day on the NICU at Maple Grove Hospital. Hilary graciously offered to do a session with us prior to leaving. She customized the session by asking if our family had any meaningful songs and then played those songs on her guitar and sang. Hilary was great with engaging Big sister and making her feel part of the experience. Some of the pieces of advice that Hilary shared were later echoed at home by Big sister. My husband and I both felt like it was a beautiful way to end Crosby’s stay in the NICU. It will be an experience we will always remember. For our family, we experienced an emotional release during the session that we didn’t even know we needed after the premature birth of our son. We wish we could have had more sessions with Hilary in the NICU. All families should have the opportunity to work with her and reap the therapeutic benefits that Music Therapy has to offer."

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- Marla F., NICU parent
"The provider was very proficient in provision of service. There was a significant increase in the growth as a result of the relaxation provided from the music. The advantages of Music Therapy was beneficial to both parent and child. I appreciated the fact that it was an option in the NICU."

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- Ade, NICU parent
Music Therapy has been a very valuable adjunct to infant cares and developmental activities. I have brought music therapy into several occupational therapy sessions for infants that struggle with self regulation. Infants withdrawing from substances have greatly benefited from music therapy. While OT is working on developmental skills, music therapy has been helpful in distracting them with pleasurable input. Music therapy has also been summoned during nursing cares such as temperature taking, blood pressures, and diaper changes. When music therapy is present for these tasks, infant's stress cues lesson, vitals remain stable or lower, infants often attain a quiet alert status and are socially attentive. I have witnessed mothers moved to tears during a music therapy session. Hilary and Danae are very skilled at bringing regulation and peace to infants, families, and staff.

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- Andrea L Johnson, OTR/L
Having music therapy has been both beneficial and therapeutic to the development of the babies in the NICU. I have had the pleasure of doing therapy and bottling with 2 different infants while music therapy was conducted simultaneously. This was with both Hilary and Danae. In both occasions, this was not overwhelming or over stimulating for the infants, but rather helped keep them regulated. The steady rhythm of the melody played kept the environment rhythmical for the infant through cares. This rhythm also was found to be therapeutic in pacing of the infants suck swallow breath during the feeding. One of these infants was an infant with NOWS. She was calm and regulated through her entire feeding and transition to burping and crib post feeding. Whereas, she had typically became dysregulated through cares and transitions. Overall, music therapy has been a beneficial supplement to the therapy team in supporting regulation and in turn positive neurodevelopmental outcomes.

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- Kellie Grow, SLP

Get in touch

612-322-6903

NICU Music Therapy

"I personally enjoyed the music and found it very calming in this very stressful situation. It seemed most noticeably helpful for our kids when we were working on feeding. It seemed that the situation was helpful for keeping them engaged."

"The provider was very proficient in provision of service. There was a significant increase in the growth as a result of the relaxation provided from the music. The advantages of Music Therapy was beneficial to both parent and child. I appreciated the fact that it was an option in the NICU."

9325 UPLAND LANE N, SUITE 360, MAPLE GROVE MN 55369

JEANNE.MROZEK@NEONATALFOUNDATION.ORG

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Minnesota Neonatal Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.