Bedtime nursery rhyme songs

9 Nursery Rhymes About Sleep for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Here are some great bedtime nursery rhymes with lyrics to sing with your little ones.

Some of them have long verses with soothing words that are best read to them, if you’d like to lull them off to sleep.

Remember that even rhymes for sleep have all the same educational benefits as singing nursery rhymes, such as developing auditory perception and other pre-reading skills.

They are also great for developing vocabulary.

1. Go To Bed Late

This tiny rhyme is a fun one to teach your toddlers and preschoolers if they are resisting going to bed. Here’s hoping it convinces them!

Go to bed late,
Stay very small

Go to bed early,
Grow very tall.

2. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

By Jane Taylor [source]

This is the first bedtime rhyme many children learn so your kids will probably already be familiar with it, but did you know there are several verses to this song?

Why not attempt the rest of this song and see if your child can sing along to another verse or two.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon.
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.

Then the traveller in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark.
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep.
For you never shut your eye,
‘Till the sun is in the sky.

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveller in the dark.
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.

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.
How I wonder what you are.

3. Star Light, Star Bright

Here is a song that will make your little ones sleepy, and they can sing along too.

Star light
Star bright
First star I see tonight
Wish I may
Wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight

Here is the tune by Super Simple Songs

4. Rock-a-Bye Baby

This is a classic lullaby, sung by parents all over the world.

Rock-a-bye baby
on the tree top.
When the wind blows
the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks,
the cradle will fall.
And down will come baby,
Cradle and all.

5. Hop Little Bunnies

This song might wake your kids more than put them to sleep, but it is just the cutest and your toddler will love singing it and jumping to the beat.

See the bunnies sleeping,
Till it’s nearly noon.
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
They’re so still,
Are they ill?
Wake up little bunnies.

Hop little bunnies,
Hop hop hop, hop hop hop,
Hop hop hop.
Hop little bunnies,
Hop hop hop hop hop hop.

See the bunnies sleeping,
Till it’s nearly noon.
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
They’re so still,
Are they ill?
Wake up little bunnies.

Jump little bunnies,
Jump jump jump, jump jump jump,
Jump jump jump.
Jump little bunnies,
Jump jump jump jump jump jump.

In the third verse, the bunnies can skip.

Listen to the tune here

6. Bed In Summer

By Robert Louis Stevenson

This clever little poem is all about going to bed in summer, when the birds are still awake and it’s light outside, and you’d rather still be playing.

In winter I get up at night,
And dress by yellow candle-light.
In summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.

I have to go to bed and see,
The birds still hopping on the tree.
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet,
Still going past me in the street.

And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?

Watch Mogo recite this cute rhyme.

7. Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

This action song is also a cute rhyme to sing before bedtime. [source]

Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn around,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, touch the ground.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, show your shoe,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, I love you.
(Give child a hug)

Teddy bear, teddy bear, go up stairs,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say your prayers.
Teddy bear, teddy bear, turn out the light,
Teddy bear, teddy bear, say good night.
(Lay head on hands)

8. The Evening is Coming

This is a beautiful lullaby to sing to your children.

The evening is coming, the sun sinks to rest,
The crows are all flying straight home to their nest.
“Caw” says the crow as she flies over head,
“It’s time little children were going to bed!”

Here comes the pony, his work is all done,
Down through the meadow, he takes a good run.
Up go his heels and down goes his head,
It’s time little children were going to bed.

Play the tune here

9. Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite

This is not really a bedtime song for kids, but it’s one of my favourites and I often just sing the first verse. It was first recorded by The Spaniels in 1953. [source]

Good night sweetheart, well it’s time to go
Good night sweetheart, well it’s time to go
I hate to leave you but I really must say
Oh good night sweetheart, good night

This is a great version

I hope you’ve enjoyed these bedtime songs for kids! Here are more preschool songs.

Source:

Parragon. 2017. A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. Paragon Books: Bath.

Get FREE access to Printable Puzzles, Stories, Activity Packs and more!

Join Empowered Parents + and you’ll receive a downloadable set of printable puzzles, games and short stories, as well as the Learning Through Play Activity Pack which includes an entire year of activities for 3 to 6-year-olds.
Access is free forever.

Signing up for a free Grow account is fast and easy and will allow you to bookmark articles to read later, on this website as well as many websites worldwide that use Grow.

Lullabies and Bedtime Nursery Rhymes

Children love when their parents sing lullabies for them - regardless of your singing voice. It will anyway make them feel safe and relaxed! So you have no excuses - enjoy singing lullabies for your kids!

Are your baby awake? See here for perfect nursery rhymes for babies!

Did you know. .. that lullabies can be found in every human culture?

All That Pretty Horses	Beautiful lullaby that is recommended by NurseryRhymes.org.

Baa Baa Black Sheep	This lovely nursery rhyme can very well be used as a lullaby, if you sing it gently.

Brahms Lullaby	This beautiful lullaby is a true classic!

Bye Baby Bunting	Popular lullaby. Bye Baby Bunting has been used as a lullaby for generations.

Cheeks of Rose	Cheeks of Rose, Tiny Toes (also called Our Baby). Cute nursery rhyme and lullaby

Cradle Song	Lullaby published in 1603 that is used in The Beatles' song Golden Slumbers.

Early to Bed	This is not actually a lullaby, but a rhyme about going early to bed.

Hush, Little Baby	A beautiful lullaby that makes the child (and you) sleepy in no time...



Rock-a-bye Baby	Popular lullaby that is over 240 years old!

Sleep, Baby, Sleep	Beautiful, traditional lullaby that is sung in different versions. We give you the most common versions - enjoy!

To Bed, To Bed	Old nursery rhyme written in Great Britain. This rhyme is perfect singing while preparing for bed, but it can also be used as a lullaby.

Ten in a Bed	This is not a classic lullaby, but it can be used as one if you sing it gently.

Ten Little Fingers	Popular rhyme about the body. It can also be used as a lullaby.

The Skye Boat	A beautiful Scottish folk song that is used as a lullaby all over the world.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star	A beautiful lullaby that is highly recommended by NurseryRhymes.org.

Wee Willie Winkie	Why not sing the cute nursery rhyme about Willie Winkie before sleep?

Lullabies | listen online

Download or listen online the most famous and favorite lullabies for babies.

Listen online lullabies

1

Sleep tired toys

02:30
2

Kalykhanka

03:21
9000 3 9000 9000 9000 9000)
4

Sleep my joy sleep

03:06
5

Swarks Sing a cricket

03:01
6

02:54
7000
:11
8 9000 9000 9000 03:00
04:34
10

05:34
06:23
03
05:49
14

05:58
15,0003
05:28
16,0002 Bai Bayushki-bai
01:19 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000:19 01:19 PM 17

Lullaby to baby

03:19
18

Winter Tale

02:25
19,0003
:05
20000 9000 2:0014
21

04:03
22

Christmas bells

03:32
23,0002

23
01:11:11:11 9000 01:11:11 9000 01:11: The world fell asleep

02:30

Playlists

Banilaski lullabies
Lullabies up to a year
Lullabies from around the world

Today's mothers live according to hours, even children live according to a strict daily routine. Mothers sing lullabies for children less and less, and if they sing, then to put them to bed. Often, doubting their singing abilities, instead of children's lullabies, mothers turn on ordinary music, quiet, most often classical. In the worst case, the child falls asleep to the sound of television broadcasts.

Shops with goods for children are strewn with numerous educational toys, including musical ones, but we must not forget that children's lullabies performed by mothers are an important means of a child's development, the first communication with him and the exchange of emotions. The absence of a voice in the mother's eyes is not a reason to deprive the child of joy and moments of intimacy before bedtime. The message of tenderness sent to the child by a loving mother is very important.

When and how to sing lullabies to a baby

Lullabies are needed for babies who can not sleep during the day or evening hours. At times, mothers have to resort to all sorts of tricks, calming a naughty child with a slight swaying. Lullabies for babies often do not contain words - the child is soothed by the mere presence of the mother, her warmth. Children who are learning to speak already understand the meaning of the words, so while singing, an invisible connection is established between them and their mothers.

Sometimes it's hard to remember the words to a song - mothers don't really know that much. So that you can not only sing to your child, but also do it with benefit, we have collected only the best works. Don't know the motive? Listen in advance to an audio recording performed by famous performers on our website.

Please note that when we replace lullabies for children with fairy tales, we are often in too much of a hurry. Lullabies should continue to be sung until school years. The child is comfortable at such moments, because the mother is not only nearby, but also strokes him, which quickly calms him down.

Children's lullaby will teach not only to listen, but also to hear

It's really sad when small children fall asleep to the sound of TV, and the influence of these moments on a child's development can hardly be overestimated. Lullabies for babies are necessary for healthy sleep, like a gentle mother's kiss, mother's hugs. There are never too many lullabies, never too many. Mother's caress in these songs is needed for newborn children, preschoolers and even younger schoolchildren.

It can be difficult for parents to put their child to sleep, sometimes they just do not invent or invent. However, there is no need to reinvent the wheel - baby lullabies will be the best sleeping pill for a baby. Our ancestors even attached a mystical meaning to such songs, Buka, Drema met there ... From time immemorial, with the help of lullabies, mothers wished their babies peace and happiness. The child will not listen to any other song so attentively, even if his eyes are closed, he falls asleep, all the same, mother's love will forever be imprinted in his subconscious. Your baby will hear and remember the magic words of intimacy with the dearest person in the world - mom.

By the way, there are a lot of lullabies for babies, folk, author's, from cartoons and movies - the choice is truly huge. Your heart will tell you which one is best for your baby.

Songs for children at bedtime: is it necessary to do this?

I am glad to welcome you, dear mothers and fathers!

Songs for children before going to bed, is it necessary to sing lullabies, how important is this? Does it matter? And in the end, what to sing?

Contents

Why sing?
When to sing?
What to sing?

Why do you need to sing?

The very first thing our baby hears in the womb is, of course, her voice. There is nothing more important for a baby than the perception of mother's voice timbre. He will distinguish him from a million others and never confuse him.

When mother starts to sing, the song seems to bewitch him, penetrates into the very soul of the little man. The child calms down, relaxes, falls asleep faster.

All daytime worries recede into the background for him. He still does not understand the meaning of the words, but he really likes this singing, he listens attentively.

Gradually, as he grows up, he can distinguish individual words and catch the meaning of the song. Imagination develops - the representation of the fairy-tale heroes of the song, their actions.

Listening to mother's songs, the child's psyche is positively formed. It is easier to adapt in society with peers. These babies sleep better and sounder.

When such children grow up, they become more self-confident and less likely to suffer from mental disorders.

When to sing?

Scientists have proved that it is necessary to start singing lullabies already at the stage of pregnancy, even then you will notice the child's reaction to the songs.

If you sing the same song to your child every night before going to bed, this is already a kind of sleep program. The child already automatically closes his eyes and is ready to fall asleep. This is how we sleep soundly after mom's lullaby:

Especially sing to your child if something worries him: teething or tummy ache. Believe me, this will greatly facilitate his well-being. (Of course, it won't replace treatment!)

Just recently, Danil caught a sore throat and woke up at night with a high temperature. They gave medicine and sang lullabies together with dad and took turns rocking it in their arms. The throat hurt a lot and the child slept only to the songs in his arms and categorically refused to go to bed.

But the most important meaning of singing songs is, of course, mother's care, tenderness, affection and endless love for her baby. Mom's song gives him a sense of security, safety, trust in the world, that the dearest person to him is his mother, and she is with him.

What to sing?

You can include in your repertoire the simplest well-known lullabies, you can turn your favorite rhyme into a song, you can compose your own song on the go.

Sometimes you will find such a rhyme, you will laugh. But try to keep the song simple, if the child already understands the meaning, it will be easier for him to understand it and, accordingly, imagine everything that happens in it. Let the song be filled with meaning, like any other fairy tale.

Sing personally, not a single audio recording will replace your mother's voice, will not give that love and heartfelt affection. This is very important for a small child.

Don't worry about hearing or voice loss. I never sang either, the bear stepped not only on my ear, but, as they say, on my whole head.

At first, when I started to sing, for some reason my voice began to turn into a wheeze, but I still sang as best I could.

Now, after almost two years of daily songs for my baby, I can safely say that the voice has become much better and stopped wheezing. We sing not only lullabies, but also nursery rhymes, ditties, and just children's songs.

Sometimes we can also do modern pop music. In the car, Danilka always dances when you turn on the radio. We develop musical perception.

When your child grows up, you can replace evening songs with fairy tales or rhymes.

Be sure to sing lullabies to your child, no matter how you sing.