Ayisha sings an Arabic lullaby to Mohammed which her mother, in turn, had sung to her. The arrival of a baby is a meeting point of generations, of times before and after, in songs no less. Rachel cares for three-month to one-year-old babies in a daycare centre and her favourite song for sleep time is the Bangles’ ‘Close your eyes’. When I watch she has nestled two of her babies either side of her on the floor with cushions and blankets so that she can give soothing strokes to each baby as she sings.

This is quickly understood by the child, who learns to expect the final tickle. The game will be repeated many times. At first the adult probably repeats the rhyme at much the same pace, but subsequent repetitions will vary—perhaps one drags slowly, another dashes suddenly, another accelerates. These variations are carefully judged by the adult to provide just enough variation within what is familiar. In this way, stimulation and interest are measured out in doses the baby can cope with. Importantly the baby’s experiences are neither rigidly unchanging nor randomly ever-changing.

The original classes had involved dance, which some had felt was inappropriate because it was not decorous enough for Muslim women. Following this review, a second series of classes included movement work for relaxation, massage for physical well-being. The project has required collaboration between artists and health workers. Both have learnt much from each other and are beginning to incorporate new ideas into their work outside the project. Inter-agency work is challenging, as each can carry different priorities, expectations, ways of working and even ways of talking about their work.