Sleep nursery rhyme

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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Best Nursery Rhymes & Lullabies for Sleep

Watching your baby peacefully drift off to sleep as you sing a gentle lullaby is one of the most joyous memories as a new parent. Singing classic nursery rhymes before bedtime is an enjoyable activity that has helped children fall asleep for generations, preparing them for a (hopefully!) restful night’s sleep.  

To make the experience even more sentimental, you can read from your very own personalized nursery rhyme book, made especially for your little one! As they grow older, they can read the nursery rhymes for themselves, and treasure their book as a special keepsake for years to come. 

Here are some of the most enduring, beloved nursery rhymes and lullabies that are perfect for sharing sleepy bedtime moments with your infant! These recognizable songs will be sure to help your little one get cosy and ready for bed in no time.

Source: Mon Chou Photography

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, with its starry sky theme, is a perfect nursery rhyme to sing at bedtime! The simple melody and rhyming lines will make sure your baby will relax to the sound of your soothing voice, preparing them for a good night’s sleep. 

Rock A Bye Baby

With the word ‘Baby’ in the title and the mention of ‘cradle’ in the lyrics, many parents love to sing Rock A Bye Baby to their little one at bedtime! We all associate the lullaby with gently rocking a baby to sleep, despite it being an old-fashioned, nonsensical style of children’s song. The calming tune will no doubt help your baby drift off to sleep peacefully. 

Sleep, Baby, Sleep

If you’ve spent many nights singing the old favorites to your little one, then Sleep, Baby, Sleep is a great modern lullaby to mix up your routine. As much as we all love the classic nursery rhymes, it’s always fun to try a new song! 

Sleep, Baby, Sleep is a simple rhyme with all of the features of a good lullaby – a waltzing, slow tempo, and a gentle melody. It has peaceful lyrics about a baby getting ready to fall asleep and enjoy a nice dream, with their loving parents watching over them. 

You can check out a video of the song and learn the words on YouTube, here.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes is a delightful song with a soothing tune and happy message, taken from Disney’s Cinderella! The story of Cinderella is a classic story loved by children everywhere, and singing this charming song from a young age will introduce your child to the world of Disney.

If you’d like to alternate between gentle lullabies and peaceful bedtime reading, choosing a personalized Cinderella book for your child featuring their name is a wonderful gift that you can read to them on a quiet evening!

La La Lu (Lady and the Tramp)

Another Disney classic next! The tune of La La Lu from the adorable Disney movie Lady and the Tramp is a wonderful lullaby to sing to your little one. In the movie, La La Lu is sung by the mother character Darling, and the song is often played by mobiles and other musical items made for babies! 

There are so many different lyrics that have accompanied the tune, but the version from Lady and the Tramp is the most popular, especially since it links children with the loveable movie! Take a look at the video clip below to see the song being played in the film:

Somewhere Over The Rainbow

Somewhere Over The Rainbow is a famous song from the iconic movie, The Wizard of Oz. A young Judy Garland introduced us to this song in 1939 when she played the role of Dorothy, filling hearts with joy as she so beautifully sung this relaxing tune. There have been many versions of the song as the years have gone by, but it remains to be a popular lullaby for new parents. 

In case you’ve forgotten the words, take a look at the video clip below, playing the original version of the song from The Wizard of Oz: 

Silent Night

There’s no better lullaby for settling your little one on a cosy winter’s evening than Silent Night. A popular Christmas song originating from Germany, this famous rhyming song with its calming melody will relax your child, and help you get into the Christmas spirit at the same time! 

There’s been a lot of research done on why nursery rhymes like the ones above are so effective. We definitely recommend checking out articles such as this one for the experts’ opinions.

Best Lullabies to Put a Baby to Sleep: The Spark Notes

• Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
• Rock A Bye Baby
• Sleep, Baby, Sleep
• A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes (Cinderella)
• La La Lu (Lady and the Tramp)
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow
• Silent Night

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 9000 9000 01:11:11 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
rock-roll style 0015

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.

Affectionate fairy-tale songs for sleep | Samara Regional Children's Library

A lullaby is a message
in which the love of generations is encrypted

Dear mothers! And, of course, grandmothers! And maybe dads and grandpas! And all, all who are interested in learning more about wise, magical and always a little mysterious lullabies!

You probably want to sing a lullaby when you put your baby to bed. But what a shame when the words are not remembered! We will share with you some information about this amazing song genre.

We hope that our small but very significant selection of poems will save you in the future from having to hum the motive of a lullaby song without words. And your baby in such moments will feel truly protected.

Experts unanimously strongly recommend young mothers to sing lullabies to babies from birth. What about from birth? Even an unborn child reacts to a lullaby. Mom's singing is food not only for emotional, but also for intellectual development. Moreover, vocal data does not play any role at all! In addition, the mother's singing establishes a strong bond between her and the baby and contributes to the proper development of the child and successful childbirth. It is believed that mother's singing helps the baby more confidently endure the birth and prepare for life in this world.

But now the child is born, and the mother's voice is already heard over the child's cradle. It doesn’t matter what the mother sings about, and whether her song turns out to be so coherent. The main thing is that she should sing from the heart, that her lullabies should be light, and that they reflect love for the baby. A lullaby is a message in which the love of generations is encrypted. It brings joy, tenderness, peace and tranquility. This quiet song extinguishes the anxiety and excitement of the baby. And the words can be quite simple:

Bayu-by, across the river

The sun has gone to rest.

At Marusiny Gates

Bunnies lead a round dance.

Bunnies, bunnies

The soft, soothing melody of the lullaby goes well with the cooing of the doves perched on the roof. Therefore, "ghouls" often in such songs help to rock the baby.

Lyuli, lyuli, oh, lyuli,

Doves have arrived.

The ghouls began to coo,

Rock our baby.

Bye-bye, bye-bye,

Go to sleep soon.

Bye-bye, bye-bye,

Sleep, my little one, sleep.

The traditional character of lullabies is often a cat, an indispensable inhabitant of a village house. A warm, fluffy, sweetly purring creature, which the baby can not only watch, but also stroke, involuntarily evokes in him associations with a pleasant state of sleep.

You, cat-cat,

Kitten - gray pubis,

Come, kitty, spend the night,

Download my baby.

Will I tell you, cat?

You eat, don't crumble,

Lay down our baby!

But among the lullabies there are also those that could be classified as horror stories: forest

Under the willow bush!

Such songs are also needed. They figuratively let the child understand: there is a world of “own” and “foreign”, they call for caution and not to go to the “border” - the edge.

Still, for the most part, lullabies are good songs that help form first impressions that will later evoke the need for spiritual words and music. The kid will grow up, and his mother will be able to introduce him to high poetry, develop his literary taste, and enrich him with new images. First, these will be lullabies of children's poets, for example, A. Barto and I. Tokmakova:

***

Time to sleep! The steer fell asleep,

He lay down in a box on a barrel.

Sleepy bear went to bed.

Only the elephant does not want to sleep.

The elephant nods his head,

He bows to the elephant.

A. Barto

***

Ding dong. Ding dong.

An elephant walks in an alley.

Old, sleepy, gray elephant.

Ding dong. Ding dong.

It became dark in the room:

Elephant blocks the window.

Or is it a dream?

Ding dong. Ding dong.

I. Tokmakova

Perhaps some time will pass and a mother will hear a lullaby performed by an already grown-up daughter or son, bending over their child's bed. This will mean that everything was done correctly at the time. Especially if the baby in the cradle falls asleep, for example, listening to a song of amazing beauty and emotional content to the verses by A. Maikov :

Sleep, my child, sleep!

Sweet dream beckon:

I took you as a babysitter

Wind, sun and an eagle.

The eagle flew home;

The sun disappeared under the water;

Wind, after three nights,

Rushing to his mother.

Vetra asks his mother:

“Where did you want to disappear?

Ali star fought?

Did Ali drive the waves?” –

“I did not drive the waves of the sea,

I did not touch the golden stars;

I protected the child,

Rocked the cradle!”

Try to learn the lyrics of the lullabies below and sing them to your child. A sound healthy sleep of the baby will be a grateful answer to you.

Texts of lullabies

Villy Vinka Broke

Willy Vinka

Walks and looks:

Who did not remove the boots?

Who is still awake?

Suddenly knocks on the window

Or blows on the door:

Willy-Winky baby

Go to bed.

Where are you, Willy Winky?

Climb into our window.

Cat on a feather bed

Has been sleeping for a long time,

Horses are sleeping in the stable,

The dog began to doze,

Only the boy Johnny

Does not go to bed.

(Scottish folk song translated by I. Tokmakova)

Lullaby

Sleep, my boy! The birds are sleeping;

The lionesses fed the cubs;

Leaning against the oaks, fell asleep

Timid roe deer in the grove;

Fish slumber under water;

Gray catfish is resting.

Only wolves, only owls

Ready to walk at night,

Prowling, looking for where to steal,

They open their beak and mouth.

Our lamp is lit.

Sleep, my boy, peacefully, sweetly.

Sleep like fish, birds, lions,

Like bugs in grass bushes,

Like in lairs, burrows, nests

Animals lying down for rest…

Howling of wolves and cries of owls,

Do not disturb children's dreams!

V. Bryusov

A quiet song