The Effect of Lullaby During Bath Time on Mother-Infant Bonding, Postpartum Depression, and Parental Self-Efficacy in Infants

January 28, 2026 updated by: Elif Dogan, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

This randomized, single-blind controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of maternal lullaby singing during infant bathing on mother-infant bonding, postpartum depressive symptoms, and perceived parenting self-efficacy in mothers of healthy term infants. The postpartum period represents a critical phase for maternal psychological adjustment, during which stress, depressive symptoms, and low parenting confidence may negatively affect the quality of mother-infant interaction and bonding. Low-cost, culturally meaningful, and non-pharmacological interventions that support maternal well-being and early bonding are therefore of particular importance.

The study will be conducted with mothers who have delivered healthy term infants in a public hospital. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Mothers in the intervention group will receive a structured bathing education and will be instructed to bathe their infants three times per week for two consecutive weeks while singing a lullaby using their own voice in a calm and quiet home environment. Live-recorded music will not be used. The intervention emphasizes sensory interaction, emotional closeness, and maternal voice as key components. Each bathing session is expected to last approximately 10-15 minutes. The control group will receive routine postpartum care without a structured lullaby-based bathing intervention.

Outcome measures include mother-infant bonding, postpartum depressive symptoms, and perceived maternal parenting self-efficacy. Data will be collected at two time points: prior to hospital discharge (within the first 24 hours postpartum) and at the end of the two-week intervention period. Validated self-report instruments will be used for all outcome assessments.

The findings of this study are expected to provide evidence on the effectiveness of a simple, culturally embedded caregiving practice in supporting maternal mental health, strengthening mother-infant bonding, and enhancing parenting confidence during the early postpartum period. Results may inform postpartum care practices, parental counseling programs, and midwife-led supportive interventions.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

98

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Mothers who have had an uncomplicated pregnancy and delivery
  • Mothers who are healthy enough to care for their baby
  • Mothers who have suitable conditions at home to bathe their baby
  • Babies born at term (≥ 37 weeks of gestation) and with stable general health after birth

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Mothers with a history of serious postpartum complications (such as postpartum hemorrhage)
  • Mothers diagnosed with psychiatric illness
  • Mothers who are unable to participate directly in the care of their baby (due to severe disability, mandatory bed rest, etc.)
  • Mothers who cannot participate in the lullaby program due to hearing impairment
  • Infants who experience serious respiratory, cardiac, or neurological problems at birth or thereafter, who have a skin disease or dermatological condition that limits bathing, who have a history of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit, or who have a chronic disease or congenital anomaly

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control Group
Experimental: Lullaby Group
Behavioral: Maternal Lullaby Singing
Mothers assigned to the intervention group will receive a brief structured education on infant bathing and the emotional role of maternal voice prior to hospital discharge. Following discharge, mothers will bathe their infants at home three times per week for two consecutive weeks (total of six sessions). During each bathing session, mothers will sing a lullaby using their own voice in a calm, quiet, and distraction-free environment. The lullaby may be a traditional cultural lullaby or spontaneous melodic humming. Recorded music will not be used. Each bathing session will last approximately 10-15 minutes, with water and room temperature adjusted to recommended neonatal care standards. Mothers will be encouraged to maintain eye contact, gentle touch, and emotional engagement with the infant throughout the bath. Researcher support will be provided via live video call during sessions to ensure adherence and safety.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postpartum Depressive Symptoms
Time Frame: Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.
Postpartum depressive symptoms will be measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a 10-item self-report questionnaire widely used to screen for depressive symptoms during the postpartum period. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptom severity.
Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.
Mother-Infant Bonding
Time Frame: Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.
Mother-infant bonding will be assessed using the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale, a validated self-report instrument consisting of 19 items measuring maternal emotional attachment, affection, and closeness toward the infant. Higher total scores indicate stronger mother-infant bonding. The total score that can be obtained on the scale ranges from 19 to 95.
Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.
Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy
Time Frame: Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.

Maternal parenting self-efficacy will be evaluated using the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale, an 18-item self-report instrument assessing mothers' confidence in infant care, mother-infant interaction, and perceived ability to manage infant behaviors. Higher scores reflect greater perceived parenting self-efficacy.

The total score that can be obtained on the scale ranges from 18 to 72. High scores indicate that the mother feels competent in caring for and interacting with her baby.
Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum, prior to hospital discharge) and at the end of the 2-week intervention period.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 15, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 15, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 18, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 30, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 28, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025/728

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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