Nursery rhyme bedtime
9 Nursery Rhymes About Sleep for Toddlers and Preschoolers
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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.
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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? |
Nursery rhymes before bedtime
Nursery rhymes before bedtime read
Ai, bye, bye, bye,
You little dog, don't bark!
Don't moo, cow!
And the rooster, don't cry!
Our baby will sleep,
Will close his eyes.
* * *
On a duvet cover,
On a sheet
Not on the edge -
On the middle
They put a naked man
They wrapped a strong man.
* * *
Bye-bye, sleep, Katyushka,
My merry bunny,
Close your eyes bunny,
Bye-bye-bye-bye.
* * *
Here they are in the crib
Pink heels.
Whose heels are these -
Soft and sweet?
Goslings will come running,
They will pinch their heels.
Hide quickly, don't yawn,
Cover with a blanket!
* * *
It's evening outside the window,
And there's a month in the sky...0009 Dog - in a kennel.
Well, the sun will wake up,
The kid will smile at his mother.
It will be a fun day.
Grow your baby healthy.
* * *
Bye-bye-tales
Seagulls have arrived.
They began to flap their wings
Put our Katya to sleep.
* * *
The night has come,
The darkness has brought,
The cockerel dozed off,
The cricket sang,
It's late, son,
Lie down on the barrel,
Bye-bye, fall asleep . ..
* * *
We walked, we played
And we were a little tired.
To gain more strength,
We need to get some sleep.
You will close the eyes,
and you will dream of a fairy tale:
About the cat Murlyku,
Cunnnel-Kurlyku,
Lisonka-Khruteli,
Mouse-Robul,
Bunny Cross
and a buzzer-mushka,
About bumblebee-hooter,
Trouble-squirrel,
About sweet-bear.
Sleep, my baby! (for girls)
Sleep, my dear,
Gain strength! (for boys)
* * *
There is a dream at the cradle -
Bye, bye.
Whose eyes here wanted to sleep -
I know, I know.
You don't three with your fists, close it,
Sleep shakes the cradle.
Go to sleep.
* * *
Little bunnies
They wanted bainki,
They wanted bainki,
Because bunnies.
We'll sleep a little,
* * *
We'll lie down on our backs.
We will lie down on the back
And let's sleep quietly.
* * *
Bye-bye-bye-bye,
You already drank your tea,
You ate the porridge and played enough,
You got naughty, talked too much,
So now go to sleep,
Bye-bye-bye-bye.
Here she sat down on the gate
Talkative magpie:
Kra-kra-kra-kra!
It's time for the little one to sleep! *
Bayu-bayushki-bayu,
Do not lie down on the edge -
A gray top will come,
He will grab the barrel,
He will grab the barrel,
And drag him into the woods,
And drag him into the woods,
Under the willow bush.
You, top, don't come to us,
Don't wake our Katya!
* * *
Little hares
Wanted bunnies,
Wanted bunnies,
Because bunnies.
We'll sleep a little,
We'll lie down on our backs.
We'll lie down on our backs
And we'll sleep quietly.
* * *
There is a dream at the cradle -
Bye, bye.
Whose eyes here wanted to sleep -
I know, I know.
You are not three with your fists, close it,
Sleep is rocking the cradle.
Go to sleep.
* * *
(pinching fingers)
This finger wants to sleep,
This finger went to bed,
This finger took a little nap,
This finger is already asleep,
This finger is fast asleep,
No one makes noise anymore.
- Ts-s-s...