Lullabies are parents’ universal language when it comes to getting baby to sleep. There’s nothing like a sweet song to soothe your baby to sleep. Much like white noise, gentle lyrics relax your baby and hypnotize him into drifting off. You don’t even have to stay on key as long as you choose simple lullabies and sing them softly. Here are some of my favorite bedtime lullabies and nursery rhymes to help lull your baby to sleep.
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word.
Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won’t sing,
Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won’t pull,
Papa’s gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again.
Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o’er spread is baby’s wee bed.
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lullaby and good night, thy mother’s delight.
Bright angels beside my darling abide.
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken,
So I hung my head and I cried.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
(English version)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
one to mend the socks,
and one to mend the holes in
the little girls’ frocks.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
It’s raining, it’s pouring;
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed
And he bumped his head,
And he couldn’t get up in the morning.
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop.
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle, and all.
You don’t have sing to your baby to get her to sleep. Sometimes just the sound of your voice, soft and monotone, will do the trick. Here are some simple and familiar rhymes you can read to your baby or memorize and recite at bedtime.
Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep: The little lamb is on the green,
With woolly fleece so soft and clean—
Sleep, baby, sleep.
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Down where the woodbines creep;
Be always like the lamb so mild,
A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.
The Man in the Moon looked out of the moon,
Looked out of the moon and said,
“‘Tis time for all children on the earth
To think about getting to bed!”
Bye, baby bunting,
Father’s gone a-hunting,
Mother’s gone a-milking,
Sister’s gone a-silking,
And Brother’s gone to buy a skin
To wrap the baby bunting in.
“To bed! To bed!”
Says Sleepy-head;
“Tarry awhile,” says Slow;
“Put on the pan,”
Says Greedy Nan,
“We’ll sup before we go.”
Hush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddy.
Thy mammy has gone to the mill,
To get some meal to bake a cake,
So pray, my dear baby, lie still.
Hush-a-bye, baby,
Daddy is near;
Mamma is a lady,
And that’s very clear.
Hush, baby, my dolly, I pray you don’t cry,
And I’ll give you some bread, and some milk by-and-by;
Or perhaps you like custard, or maybe a tart,
Then to either you’re welcome, with all of my heart.