Short Jacket - An Antwerp Symphony musical event for newborns

Looking for something fun, innovative and educational with a newborn or a toddler?

Try the Antwerp Symphony.

Working with a children's development through theater group called De Spiegel, the Antwerp Symphony has developed a series of "musical experiences" aimed at specific age groups.

I went to "Short Jacket," the under one year experience with my three-month old. He was attentive and quiet through the forty-five minute "concert" and slept incredibly well just after.

Kortjakje trailer from Theater De Spiegel on Vimeo.


For the experience, you and your baby (and an adult friend, if you like) show up about 15 minutes early and wait in a comfortable, baby-friendly room.

Then the leader of the experience takes your group into a room full of light and shadows and pillows and weird mobiles designed to stimulate the under-age set.

Once everyone's found a nice place to lie down with each baby, a couple of Antwerp Symphony musicians come in and play random musical chords and noises that science says intrigue baby and stimulate cognitive growth.

You and the baby can move around the room during the "concert" to get a full experience. After about 45 minutes (when science indicates the baby has probably had enough), the musicians take their leave. My baby and I stayed a bit longer - maybe 10 more minutes - to try a few more of the funny mobiles, and then we gathered up our diaper bag and left.

He fell asleep immediately.