For the last 4 weeks, I have been trying out the BabyPlus Prenatal Education System. 

The System:  The system consists of a speaker unit that you wear in a soft cotton pouch around your belly that plays a series of 16 sonic “lessons” – beat rhythms that start off very similar to the internal womb sounds the baby is used to hearing and gradually increase in complexity and speed as the auditory lessons progress.  Each lesson lasts an hour and is meant to be repeated twice a day.  Based on when you start using BabyPlus (the company recommends starting the system anytime between 18-32 weeks of pregnancy), you may repeat the same lesson for a few days or up to a week.

The Product Claims:  The concept behind this product is that as the baby listens to the sequential lessons, he or she will begin to “learn” to discriminate between the mother’s heartbeat and the new sound – one that gets progressively more intricate and varied over the pregnancy. BabyPlus claims that their product, used correctly, will result in babies that at birth demonstrate an increased ability to nurse, self-soothe, interact and be alert.  In addition, their studies have shown that as they develop, those children who received BabyPlus in the womb are more likely to reach developmental milestones earlier, have longer attention spans and demonstrate greater intellectual, creative and independent abilities.

Initial Reactions:  The product is simple enough to use.  Directions are clear and their website includes additional information and video demonstrations. The unit requires 4 AA batteries though I was a little surprised that there wasn’t a battery compartment to hold them.  To install the batteries, you have to open the entire system with a screwdriver and insert them around the inner electronic workings of the device. Be careful doing this  - in the process, I nearly lost the ON/OFF button.  Edit - we have since learned that there is actually a battery compartment in the unit — so make sure you use that rather than open the entire system.

The cotton pouch is soft and easy to wear, and since they recommend that you relax while you wear BabyPlus, I was more than happy to find two hours a day to comply!  However, I must admit, that it’s hard for me to know now if this product works.  Theoretically, I understand that a baby could begin to distinguish between the mother’s heartbeat and the rhythms produced by the BabyPlus and that this could be deemed in utero learning – but that it would lead to being a better nurser and self-soother?  I don’t know and only time will tell. 

Learn more at http://www.babyplus.com, and let us know in the comments section if you are a believer!