For all the moments of parenting that are amazing, there is always the one thing that can be the hardest part of having babies: crying.

It’s the crying. And for new moms and dads, deciphering why your bundle of joy is sobbing can be a little like throwing everything at the wall and hoping something works. Babies cry because they are hungry, thirsty, sleepy, needing to be held and if you meet all of these needs, they still might just want to cry. After all, it’s their first language and they use it well.

By crying, babies are communicating to us. But sometimes, you just need a bit of science to lend you a hand. And a United Kingdom pop singer and songwriter. Add those two items and stir and you have a miracle song that can quiet almost any crying baby.

Not shockingly, it’s called “The Happy Song.” An agency was tasked to create a song using science to make babies happy. C&G Baby Club asked psychologists Dr. Caspar Addyman and Dr. Lauren Stewart to help.

@salliehasemeier01 “The Happy Song” by Imogen Heap is literally MAGIC. #firsttimemom #babyboy #4monthsold #fyp ♬ original sound – Sallie Hasemeier

Addyman had been studying babies’ laughter, while Stewart was researching music and how it affects the mind and brain. The pair knew that it would be a matter of finding a catchy song with the right notes that could succeed in soothing babies.

The scientists both knew that babies were smart at catching the emotion in music. “Babies as young as 4 months old can pick out, ‘This is a happy song, this is a sad song,'” Addyman said. “They can actually match the music to the [happy or sad] face they’re seeing.”

Imogen Heap and her daughter, Scout. Photo by Getty Images

After identifying essential elements for a baby-friendly song, they searched for a female singer. Research had showed the pair that babies prefer upbeat music and high-pitched female voices. Imogen Heap, an artist with a toddler of her own, was chosen to bring the song to life. Heap composed four test melodies, which were trialed in a “nursery” setup at Goldsmiths, University of London, where 26 babies responded to each tune.

The testing process was both technical and playful. While Addyman and Stewart filmed the babies’ responses, parents rated each melody, and a motion-tracking system measured their movements to see which tune inspired the most dancing. However, tracking their tiny arms and legs proved challenging, as many babies focused on removing the equipment. The music was even fine-tuned to the heart rates of babies.

Babies’ heart rates are about 50% faster than yours, so they have a natural rhythm of their own… the music should reflect that,” Addyman said.

One melody stood out among the rest. In a second round of testing, Imogen returned with two versions of the winning song, now with lyrics and set to different speeds. Then a clear winner emerged, solidifying a song “composed for babies, by babies,” Addyman said.

Since the song’s release, parents have been sharing how the song manages to stop their babies from crying. Comments on the music video raved at how much their kids, and them as well, loved the song. Some comments included:

• “Haha we listen to this song 100x a day. 😭”
• “My baby’s favorite song. Always helps calm her.”
• “This is a bop! not as annoying as other songs for kids 🤣 sing it constantly.”
• “I discovered this before my baby was even born, I’m not even joking when I say I owe Imogen a check at this point because this song has never failed to calm my baby boy down. He’s 12 months now.”

So now, thanks to a singer and two scientists, parents everywhere are learning that sometimes music can soothe the savage beast – or at the very least, subdue a crying baby.

Sources: Upworthy | Scary Mommy