Effects of Music-Based Interventions on Sleep Patterns and Physiological Responses in Premature Newborns: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Music therapy-particularly lullabies-has been a traditional approach used for centuries to help infants fall asleep. It is believed that music and lullabies promote relaxation by regulating respiration and heart rate in infants, reducing stress responses, and thereby enhancing sleep quality. In recent years, there has been growing interest in music-based interventions in neonatal intensive care units, as these methods offer non-invasive, easily applicable, and cost-effective alternatives. However, research findings on the effects of music therapy and lullabies on neonatal sleep are varied. Due to the physiological and behavioral differences in preterm infants, their responses to music-based interventions may differ from those of term infants. Therefore, comprehensive evaluations of studies involving both preterm and term neonates are crucial for synthesizing current evidence and guiding healthcare professionals.

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to evaluate the effects of lullaby and music therapy interventions on sleep quality, sleep duration, and sleep onset latency in both preterm and term neonates, and to provide an up-to-date summary of the existing literature.

Inclusion criteria

• Premature infants who are clinically stable and between 26 and 37 weeks' gestational age.
• Infants monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
• A music-based intervention
• Sleep outcomes and/or physiological parameters measured.
• Randomised controlled design Full-text studies are available.

Exclusion criteria

• Non-neonatal infants (aged over 28 days). Term infants (≥37 weeks).

• Non-neonatal age groups
• Only assessing secondary outcomes, such as parental anxiety or caregiver stress
• Case reports, conference abstracts, letters, etc.