Looking for the perfect baby bedtime songs to transport your peanut to dreamland? We’ve got you covered. Read on for our favorites.
Singing to your baby is surprisingly important for their development, affecting everything from their musical preference to language growth.
Bedtime songs are also a perfect way to bond with your baby as part of your nightly bedtime routine.
Looking for inspiration as you warm up those pipes? We’ll take you through our favorites.
In this article: 📝
- What song should I sing to my baby?
- When should bedtime songs stop?
- Our favorite baby sleep songs
- Best-loved children’s bedtime songs
What song should I sing to my baby?
Recent research has shown something we’ve all long suspected — lullabies relax babies more than other songs do.
Interestingly, the same study showed that it didn’t matter what language the lullaby was in.
Babies tended to find them just as soothing, whether in Scottish Gaelic or Hopi.
So, that leaves you with a world of choice.
Either opt for songs that have cultural significance to you — perhaps ones that you remember from your own childhood.
Or use this as an opportunity to broaden your repertoire.
And the best part of lullabies is they’re made for anyone to sing.
So even if the only singing on your resume is the kind done in the shower, you have our full permission to make some (gentle) noise.
When should bedtime songs stop?
This is entirely up to you.
We say, as long as you’re all still enjoying the bedtime ritual, it can stay.
You may find that older kids start to protest — and that may just be the time to call it quits.
There’s no one way to do this.
Our favorite baby sleep songs
Okay, we’re going to kick off with Number One on our charts:
What is the most popular lullaby?
Cultures all over the world have their own lullabies, so what makes the most popular lullaby? Well, that depends on who you ask.
If it’s Classic FM, their top pick for the most famous lullaby is:
1. Brahms’ Wiegelied
There are a few different versions of the English lyrics to this timeless song. Here are the words sung in the Celine Dion version:
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
’Round your head
Flowers gay
Set you slumbers ’til day
Lullaby and good night
In the sky stars are bright
’Round your head
Flowers gay
Set you slumbers ’til day
Close your eyes
Now and rest
May these hours
Be blessed
Close your eyes
Now and rest
May these hours
Be blessed
So what else is on the list?
2. Rock-a-Bye Baby
You may have fallen asleep to this timeless classic yourself.
This song, dare we say it, continues to rock.
These are the lyrics:
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.
Rock a bye baby, gently you swing,
Over the cradle, Mother will sing,
Sweet is the lullaby over your nest
That tenderly sings my baby to rest.
From the high rooftops, down to the sea
No one’s as dear as baby to me
Wee little hands, eyes shiny and bright
Now sound asleep until morning light
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.
3. Hush Little Baby
This song’s for one lucky baby!
In it, they are promised everything from a mockingbird to a billy goat.
It’s another enduring favorite:
Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, Mama’s gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird don’t sing, Mama’s gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama’s gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke, Mama’s gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat doesn’t pull, Mama’s gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull turn over, Mama’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won’t bark, Mama’s gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down, well you’ll still be the sweetest baby in town.
4. Star Light, Star Bright
The perfect song for your little star. Shine brightly, little one. 🌟
Star light, star bright,
The first star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might,
Have the wish I wish tonight.
5. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
This one’s bound to float your baby’s boat. And if you need help with the lyrics, here they are:
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
[Repeat]
6. Frère Jacques
This adorable nursery rhyme can be sung in either English or French — or both, if you’re in a bilingual family.
Frère Jacques
Frère Jacques
Dormez vous?
Dormez vous?
Sonnez les matines
Sonnez les matines
Ding ding dong
Ding ding dong
Are you sleeping
Are you sleeping?
Brother John
Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing
Morning bells are ringing
Ding ding dong
Ding ding dong
7. Little Boy Blue
This one’s perfect for helping your little one count those sheep that should help them drift off to sleep.
It’s another traditional one that dates back centuries.
Here are the words:
Little Boy Blue come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow the cow’s in the corn.
But where’s the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under a haystack fast asleep.
Will you wake him? No, not I – for if I do, he’s sure to cry.
8. Baby Mine
From the delightful Disney movie Dumbo, this one’s music to every baby’s ears.
Baby mine, don’t you cry
Baby mine, dry your eyes
Rest your head close to my heart
Never to part, baby of mine
Little one, when you play
Pay no heed what they say
Let your eyes sparkle and shine
Never a tear, baby of mine
If they knew all about you
They’d end up loving you too
All those same people who scold you
What they’d give just for the right to hold you
From your head down to your toes
You’re not much, goodness knows
But, you’re so precious to me
Sweet as can be, baby of mine
9. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep
This little sheep never goes out of style.
These are the words you need:
Baa Baa black sheep, have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir, three bags full.
One for the master, one for the dame
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.
[Repeat, changing the sheep’s color each time.]
10. All the Pretty Little Horses
We love the soothe of this sweet song.
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry
Go to sleep you little baby
When you wake, you will have cake
And all the pretty little horses
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
A coach and six white horses
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry
Go to sleep you little baby
Way down yonder, down in the meadow
There’s a poor little lamby
Bees and butterflies flitting ‘round his eyes
He’s crying out for his mammy
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry
Go to sleep you little baby
When you wake, you will have cake
And all the pretty little horses
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
A coach and six white horses
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys
All the pretty little horses
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry
Go to sleep you little baby
Go to sleep you little baby
All the pretty little horses
Best-loved children’s bedtime songs
As your little one gets older, they may want to join in with these nighttime singing adventures.
And provided the goal is getting them to settle down rather than ramp up, this can be a really special time.
Try these comforting songs to sing at bedtime:
11. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
This dreamy song never loses its magic.
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 traveler 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 traveler 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.
12. Isn’t She Lovely
We couldn’t have said it better than this Stevie Wonder hit:
Isn’t she lovely?
Isn’t she wonderful?
Isn’t she precious?
Less than one minute old
I never thought through love we’d be
Making one as lovely as she
But isn’t she lovely made from love?
Isn’t she pretty?
Truly the angel’s best
Boy, I’m so happy
We have been Heaven-blessed
I can’t believe what God has done
Through us, He’s given life to one
But isn’t she lovely made from love?
Isn’t she lovely?
Life and love are the same
Life is Aisha
The meaning of her name
Londie, it could have not been done
Without you who conceived the one
That’s so very lovely made from love
Hey!
13. You Are My Sunshine
☀️
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away
The other night, dear,
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
When I awoke, dear,
I was mistaken
And I hung my head and cried.
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
I’ll always love you
And make you happy
If you will only say the same
But if you leave me
To love another
You’ll regret it all some day;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
You told me once, dear
You really loved me
And no one else could come between
But now you’ve left me
And love another
You have shattered all my dreams;
You are my sunshine,
My only sunshine.
You make me happy
When skies are grey.
You’ll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.
14. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Yep, simply dreamy. 🌈
Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true
Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh, why can’t I?
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly
Birds fly over the rainbow
Why then, oh, why can’t I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can’t I?
15. Goodnight Sweetheart
The perfect ending to a day of adventures, learning, and fun.
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you, but I really must say
Oh, goodnight sweetheart, goodnight
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you, I really must say
Oh, goodnight sweetheart, goodnight
Well, it’s three o’clock in the morning
Baby, I just can’t treat you right
Well, I hate to leave you, baby
Don’t mean maybe because I love you so
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
Goodnight sweetheart, well, it’s time to go
I hate to leave you, I really must say
Oh, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.
Happy singing, mama!