Two-year-old cried at sad song?

Question

My two-year-old son recently wanted to be held "like a baby" and asked me to sing "rock-a-by-baby" to him. He suddenly got tears in his eyes and started crying quietly. I thought I had hurt him and he said I squished his toes. Then he asked me to sing again, and he cried again. Of course, seeing him cry made me cry! Just wondering if anyone has had similar experiences. Can music really affect a child so young?

Answer 1

Seeing as "rock-a-by-baby" depicts a baby (your child) in a dangerous and life threatening situation ending in violence, it is entirely possible that your son was upset by the idea of being stuck in a tree and then falling out.

Answer 2

On a very visceral level that he cannot verbalize, your son is growing up. He's no longer an infant; he's now a toddler. It's normal for children to regress a little, but soon he'll be making giant strides forward, literally by walking and talking more and more, and also by becoming more independent every day.

It's a marvelous thing that he wanted to be held by you and sung to, and that music would affect him so deeply. Clearly his brain is growing, and part of that growth is deep inside the cerebellum where music lives. Of course it's no guarantee that your son would grow up to be a musician or play an instrument; he might just grow up to love and appreciate music. And that's a good thing in and of itself, no matter if talent comes along with it.

Once children get to the stage where they can walk around and away from their parents, they realize, even if they can't say it, that they could get lost. So he's probably feeling a little abandonment, and maybe a little overwhelmed by his new-found independence. Enjoy the clutchiness while it lasts! If he's two, and a boy, he's sure to (if not already) going to start pushing his limits, taking risks, and doing all kinds of boyish stuff to see how much he can get away with. And that means chipped teeth, skinned knees, scraped elbows, etc.

The best thing you can do is cuddle him when he asks for it because obviously this fulfills a great need of his to feel safe, secure, and taken care of. This in turn will make him feel confident enough to go back out into the world and play and take a few small, age-appropriate risks. I'd just say watch that he doesn't get too clutchy or too fearful, but of course don't push him away. I'm sure you know this already. :)

Kudos to what CornFlakes said too: music is powerful stuff, and it affects us deeply. It just amazes me that your son is responding already. Get that boy some music CDs! :) There is a lot of child-appropriate happy music out there. But who knows, this kid may surprise you and like other music than you might anticipate. I'd say if he likes it, fill your house with music. Music is wonderful for children and helps their brains grow as well as their hearts and souls.

Good luck, and it sounds like you have a wonderful son who's lucky to have you as a mother.

Cheers, K

Answer 3

First, as pusskat1 so eloquently put it (what a fantastic post K!), get him some great kids music, like Justin Roberts or Dan Zane. On that note, we were listening to a Justin Roberts song, Mama is Sad, on the way to school about a month ago and my 4 year old son started to cry. His twin sister and I asked why he was crying and he said the words to the song (about a boy trying to cheer his sad mom up) made him very sad. While I tried to talk him out of his tears it really moved me that he could relate to the story of the song. Sounds as though your little one is feeling the music too, not something you should worry about but rather cherish.

Answer 4

Sure. He might not understand the words but the 'tone' can say it all...I've always found that to be a sad song for some reason.

Similar experiences? Well I've always cried when people sing to me. My mother and husband are forbidden to do it. I've been doing this since I was born according to my mother. I don't know why but it just makes me sad, no matter what the song is...

Answer 5

My 2 year old daughter has done this since she was one. I use to sing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline to her and she would sob and tell me to stop singing. Now she cries to any slow song and hugs me and her daddy.
I figure she is just experiencing these emotions due to the tempo and mood of the song. I have always cried at sad, slow songs and sad movies. I see her crying over similar things. The other day she cried over "Cheer Up Charlie" in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the old one) and she asked me "Why is his mommy so sad?"
From personal experience, music can deeply affect children. And why not? Fast paced songs make them want to get up and jump and dance, don't they?...

Answer 6

I am so fascinated that this has happened to someone else... When my little sister was a year and a half, I would sing her Rock-a-bye-baby and she would cry... out of nowhere... Then I would sing Zippidy-do-da and she would come out of her crying stage and laugh hysterically.... I found it very odd...

I do think it is the tone of the song and because maybe they understand just what the song is talking about... But I think it is mainly the tone....

Answer 7

As for the girl above me, I agree, I think it is a sad song for some reason, not reason enough to make him cry though. Try asking him again sometime. He might just be imitating something he saw on T.V. If you can't figure it out, try not to sing it. Instead try to get him to sing other songs. He might just want you to hold him.

Answer 8

Wind below My Wings - Bette Midler (of direction) expensive Prudence- Siouxie and the Banshees version My December - Linkin Park impossible - James Arthur My pal does in comparison to Skyfall - Adele.

Answer 9

yes it can.. but i could also just be that he is crying because he loves you and misses being held like that.. and sung to..

Answer 10

maybe it was his toes? the music could have accentuated it too.