10 Soothing Lullaby Songs for Babies to Sleep

You try all sorts of things to put your little one to sleep, but the best amongst all is singing a lullaby to your baby. Irrespective of the fact whether or not you can sing, but you may still hum a tune or sing to your baby, for him to go to sleep. Is there any connection between singing to your baby and his sleep? Why is it a good idea to sing to your baby to help him sleep better? We shall discuss all this and more about singing lullaby songs for babies in the article.

What is a Baby Lullaby?

A lullaby refers to a melodious song that you may sing for your baby to help him get a better sleep. Lullabies can aptly be called the songs to put a baby to sleep because they help in relaxing baby’s mind and thus help in inducing better sleep.

Why Should You Sing Lullabies for Infants?

Whenever you will try to put your baby to sleep, you will naturally start humming a tune or a song this means that there is a relation between sleep and music. Here are some of the benefits of lullabies for babies:

1. Helps in Getting Better Sleep

Music in any form helps in relaxing and soothing the mind and body. The same applies to babies also. Singing lullabies to your baby may calm him and helps your baby in getting a good sleep.

2. Helps in Getting into a Routine

Singing lullabies to your baby at bedtime helps your baby to know that it is sleep time. This helps the baby to understand the routine and your baby may settle easily at bedtime.

3. Helps in Better Brain Development

Singing to your baby on regular basis helps in stimulating various brain functions thus helping in better brain development of your baby.

4. Helps in Better Understanding of the Language

Your baby listens to your singing and thus it helps your baby to get a better understanding of the language. The repetition of various words helps your baby’s auditory skills too.

5. Helps to Soothe Parent’s Too

Bringing up a baby can be exhausting for the parents as well and thus singing to your baby helps in elevating your mood. The melody of a lullaby will ward off the negative feelings and help you feel calm and relaxed.

6. Helps in Building a Strong Bond with the Parents

When you soothe and relax your baby by singing a lullaby it helps in making a stronger bond with your baby. The entire process of hugging, cuddling and rocking your baby helps your baby feel comfortable and secure in your presence.

Why do Baby Sleeping Songs (Lullabies) Work Best for Making Infant Sleep?

Lullabies are rhythmic words that are sung in a repetitive pattern. These have calming and relaxing effects on a developing mind. Here is why sleeping songs work best for making your baby get a better sleep:

• The mother’s soft and gentle voice along with bodily touch helps the baby to feel safe and thus this helps your baby sleep better.
• Babies do not understand words but they do respond well to music and melody. Therefore, the comforting rhythmic words help babies in getting sound sleep.
• Babies make a relation between their mother’s voice and the relaxation that it provides. As soon as the mother starts singing and rocking the baby, the baby disassociates himself with the outside world and starts feels calm and relaxed.

How Do Cradle Songs Affect Baby’s Brain?

Babies have a very positive impact that is derived from hearing cradle songs. It is a great way of bonding with your growing baby and thus when the mother sings for her baby, the baby’s brain perceives it as something soothing that comes from his favourite person. Your baby not only feels extremely relaxed and comforted but he also feels very safe and secure.

10 Popular Lullabies for Your Child to Sleep

Here are some popular lullabies or baby night songs that you can sing for your baby and help him to sleep better:

1. Are You Sleeping?

Are you sleeping, are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.

2. Rock-A-By-Baby

Rock-a-bye baby, in 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. Three Blind Mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice,
See how they run, see how they run,
They all ran after the farmer’s wife,
Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,
Did you ever see such a thing in your life,
As three blind mice?

4. Day Is Done

The day is done,
Gone is the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

5. All the Pretty Horses

Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples, greys,
All the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry,
Go to sleep, my little baby.
When you wake you shall have
All the pretty little horses.

6. Little Boy Blue

Little boy blue, come blow your horn,
The sheep’s in the meadow, the cow’s in the corn
Where is the boy who looks after the sheep?
He’s under the haystack, fast asleep.

7. Sleep, Baby, Sleep

Sleep, baby, sleep
Your father tends the sheep
Your mother shakes the dreamland tree
And from it fall sweet dreams for thee
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep
The little lamb is on the green
With snowy fleece so soft and clean
Sleep, baby, sleep
Sleep, baby, sleep

8. 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!

9. Brahm’s Lullaby

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

10. Hush Little Baby

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 turn over,
Papa’s gonna buy you a dog named Rover.
And if that dog named Rover won’t bark,
Papa’s gonna buy you a horse and cart.
And if that horse and cart fall down,
You’ll still be the sweetest little baby in town.

You can try singing any of the above-mentioned lullabies or lullaby song lyrics as the baby goes to sleep. You can also try to sing something of your own if you have a couple of gems. The aim is to sing some melody for your baby. You can take cues from your baby and see what kind of words or melody he likes. Singing lullabies to your baby is an effective way of inducing a good and peaceful sleep. It is also seen that in a dearth of peaceful sleep, your baby may become cranky, irritable, restless and in some cases may fall sick too. Soothe your baby mood by singing him lullabies.

Also Read: Bedtime Stories for Babies and Toddlers