By 
London Rhymes (www.londonrhymes.com) is a project centered around singing and songwriting for parents and children under two, conducted in community spaces like children’s centers, playgroups, and other places where new parents gather. For about 10 weeks, I collaborate with another musician to lead these informal sessions, where we sing, play instruments, and improvise with parents and their children, creating songs in a joint effort that includes everyone—even babies, who are surprisingly good at improvisation!
We’re now launching a YouTube channel, starting with 18 original songs designed for family enjoyment, beautifully animated by artist Claire Fauche. Although these songs were crafted with small groups of parents across London, our hope is that families everywhere will embrace and enjoy them, as the universality of parenting transcends backgrounds and situations.
Creative Futures, an inspiring organization focused on transforming young lives through the arts, became a key partner for London Rhymes after I approached them post-pilot. Their support in project management, fundraising, research, and evaluation has been invaluable. As a freelancer, forming partnerships with such organizations has been essential, offering me both learning opportunities and crucial backing for the project’s growth.
I’ve always been passionate about bringing people together through music, a journey that started with organizing school choirs at 15 and eventually led to a career in London. In 2015, I experimented with songwriting sessions for parents and babies at a family center in East London, sparking a passion for creating something uniquely beneficial for new parents.
Singing with my own baby was immensely soothing and has always helped with bonding, routine, and even calming difficult moments. However, I often found it challenging to find high-quality music for him online. This inspired me to start a blog and Instagram account, @mama_sings_rosie, and to plan and fundraise for further London Rhymes projects, eventually receiving support from The Space to reach more audiences digitally.
The experience of parenthood has only intensified my dedication to London Rhymes. Singing can be a powerful stress reliever, a sentiment I see echoed in other parents as they embrace music in their lives with young children. Our aim is to support new parents through music and song—a tool we believe is invaluable. However, many online music resources, especially on YouTube, lack quality and authenticity, often relying on overproduced sounds and visuals that lack real voices and instruments. London Rhymes strives to offer an alternative: authentic, quality music that supports learning, attachment, play, and routine while avoiding synthetic elements.
Our music is also available on non-visual platforms like Spotify, Amazon Music, and iTunes, making it accessible in various ways.
Benefits of Singing for Mum and Baby
Singing is incredibly beneficial for both parents and babies, helping ease the major life adjustments that come with parenthood. Studies show that babies recognize their mother’s voice from around 26 weeks in utero and often prefer it immediately after birth. Parents naturally adapt to their baby’s preferences through melodic vocalizations and “baby talk,” which aids bonding and secure attachment—critical foundations for a child’s development.
Singing also supports mental health, especially maternal mental health, which is a significant yet often overlooked issue. Research has demonstrated that mothers engaging in regular singing with their babies experience faster recovery from mental health challenges.
With toddlers, singing becomes an effective tool for diffusing tension, establishing routines, and enhancing language, confidence, and social skills. Through London Rhymes, we hope our music can inspire families to sing more, embracing these many benefits.
And, let’s not forget, it’s simply fun.
@london_rhymes
www.londonrhymes.com
