FAQ
What’s unique about bellybuds™?
Bellybuds provide a simple, safe and convenient way to play audio to the womb. Unlike headphones you have to hold in place by hand, or bulky belt-style contraptions, bellybuds are lightweight, portable and hands-free, allowing you to share music and voices with your developing baby wherever, whenever. Additionally, the ability to place each speaker anywhere on the belly (a characteristic unique to Bellybuds) becomes even more impactful as pregnancy progresses - by placing the bellyphones low on the abdomen, a fetus is encouraged to turn towards a more proper birth position.
Are bellybuds compatible with all music players?
Bellybuds include a standard 3.5mm audio jack compatible with iPods, Zunes, and most other standard digital music players.
At what stage can I start sharing music with the baby?
You may start sharing music and other sounds with your baby (with bellybuds or ambiently) at about 20 weeks - that is when a baby's hearing is fully developed.
Can a baby really hear sounds and voices in the womb?
"Although a concentric series of barriers buffer the fetus from the outside world--amniotic fluid, embryonic membranes, uterus, and the maternal abdomen--the fetus lives in a stimulating matrix of sound, vibration, and motion. Many studies now confirm that voices reach the womb, rather than being overwhelmed by the background noise created by the mother and placenta. Intonation patterns of pitch, stress, and rhythm, as well as music, reach the fetus without significant distortion. A mother's voice is particularly powerful because it is transmitted to the womb through her own body reaching the fetus in a stronger form than outside sounds." - The Fetal Senses: A Classical View By David B. Chamberlain, Ph.D. (1997)
Can I hear the same music as the baby?
Yes—bellybuds come with an audio splitter so you can hook up your own headphones to whatever you’re playing to your baby. Keep in mind that babies feel what the mother is feeling. If mom is calm and listening to soothing music with her baby, the baby will feel that as well.
How long can I play music to the baby?
First of all, try to determine that your baby is awake so as not to disturb their sleeping pattern unnecessarily. While still in the womb, babies, like newborns, sleep most of the time - heading into the 3rd trimester babies are awake on average between 2rs and 4hrs a day. This is the optimum time to sing, read, talk to, play music or play voices to your belly. An hour per session is a recommended usage time.
What kinds of music should I share with the baby?
If it’s something you enjoy and find soothing, chances are your baby will too. Calming and rhythmic melodies have positive effects. Some studies have shown that playing the same pieces repeatedly creates a sense of familiarity for your development. One popular theory, the “Mozart effect,” touts the benefits of classical music.
How do I know how loud to turn up the volume?
You don’t need to—we’ve covered that for you. We designed the speakers’ volume to stop at a level that clinical researchers found to be safe for unborn children. At the loudest, the audio you play reaches the baby at a volume roughly the equivalent of a casual conversation, which is still lower than the sound of the mother's heartbeat. The best rule of thumb, however, is to trust your own instincts - play it at a level that is comfortable for you.
Can I wear bellybuds discreetly?
Bellybuds can be as discreet as you’d like them to be. We designed them to direct sound into the womb and nowhere else – the enclosed silicon covers (which come pre-packaged on the bellyphones and are removable) mute the sound even further, so you can wear them anytime, anywhere, without concern over disturbing those around you. We also designed bellybuds’ low profile to make them all but invisible under clothing. When using at home or anywhere else that slight ambient sound isn't a distraction, we recommend removing the covers - this makes the bellyphones lighter and the adhesive rings will be effective longer.
Are bellybuds OK for the baby?
Recently, it has become popular for parents to share music and other audio with their developing babies. Clinical studies and research have supported the benefits of this practice. Bellybuds helps make it safe and easy to do so. However, each family needs to decide for itself where its comfort zones lie. We recommend you consult your physician before adopting any new prenatal practice.
Is it easy to stick bellybuds to the belly? Are they comfortable to wear?
Yes, and yes! We designed bellybuds with the help of moms just like you, who demanded ease and comfort. Bellybuds have a slightly concave shape that conforms to the changing shape of the belly. They adhere with a mild, reusable skin-safe hydrogel that goes on gently and removes easily with no pulling and no residue.
How long do the bellybuds™ hydrogel adhesive rings last?
You can reuse your bellybuds hydrogel adhesive rings many times before they might need to be replaced. Typically, if used every day, one pair should last about a week depending on care and individual skin type. To extend their life, make sure you clean your belly each time before applying. Any kind of oil or cream, even your natural skin oil, reduces the sticky quality of the hydrogel. Also, make sure the hydrogel touches only your skin or its storage dock (the peanut-shaped piece of cardboard in which the buds come packaged), as contact with other substances can render the hydrogel unusable. Another good tip is to remove the silicon covers from the bellyphones - this will make them lighter thereby putting less stress on the adhesive. If they begin to lose tack during a session, try placing them upside down on a table overnight leaving the adhesive exposed to the air - this will allow moisture collected from the skin to evaporate from the adhesive and the tackiness will improve. If you need to, you can get additional rings from us, or in participating retail stores.
Bellybuds live on their "dock" between uses. The dock keeps the adhesive rings clean and protected, and the whole ensemble fits neatly into the compact, portable pouch.
What can I do with bellybuds after the baby is born?
You can reuse or pass on your bellybuds for prenatal music indefinitely, since the adhesive rings are replaceable.
I'm having trouble with VoiceShare - any suggestions?
If you are receiving any error - most times one of the following will help: - Make sure you have the latest version of Flash downloaded (the app does require flash to work) - If you're using Internet Explorer, try a different browser (e.g. Firefox or Chrome) - Clear your cache and try again - If none of these work, drop us a line at support@bellybuds.com with the subject heading "VoiceShare Issue" and describe your problem. Thanks!
