Is there anything more memorable from childhood than being sung to sleep? When I Started Cali's Books, I knew books featuring bedtime songs for kids would be essential! I remember my kiddos struggling to get to sleep when they were younger and how much establishing good sleep hygiene and bedtime routines (featuring calm songs and low lighting) was an absolute lifesaver!
In this article, we'll explore the critical role bedtime music plays in rocking your children to slumberland and explore 15 (!) popular bedtime songs along with some background info on what has made them so enduring in popular culture. You can bookmark these baby bedtime songs for whenever you need a new classic to introduce.
Ready? Make yourself a nice cup of cocoa and join me on a quest to snooze away.
Our list of 15 lullabies will include classics like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and soon-to-be classics like Golden Slumbers. Each of them has been tried and tested by Cali's Books lovers, our team, and me for years (and generations).
Pssst, many of these songs can be found in our sound books, making bedtime music for kids easier to find than ever. They can be a handy tool to have on hand when it's time to go nunights. I'll make it extra easy and link to the specific sound book each song can be found in.
Are you ready for the songs? You'll be amazed by how old most of these nursery rhymes are. Without further ado:
#1: 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!
This timeless lullaby has been sung to us by grandparents and great-grandparents. It started as a poem by Jane Taylor, published in 1809, and captures the child-like wonder of gazing at the sky at night. This song is part of the Twinkle Little Star sound book.
#2: 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.
This one is a traditional Southern American lullaby. The repetitive reassurances of gifts and love are perfect for rocking your child to sleep, too. This beloved tune can be found in our Twinkle Little Star sound book.
#3: Rock-a-Bye Baby
Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop,
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 is one of the oldest lullabies, with origins in 17th-century England. It was first printed in Mother's Goose's Melody. Despite the dramatic lyrics, the soothing bedtime music lulls babies to sleep in no time. This song is part of the Twinkle Little Star sound book.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy when the skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you,
Please don't take my sunshine away.
This heartfelt song originated as a country music hit in the 1930s. It remains one of the most frequently recorded songs, with covers by Johnny Cash and Aretha Franklin. Find it in the You Are My Sunshine sound book.
#5: Are You Sleeping? (Frère Jacques)
Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping?
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
This popular French nursery rhyme from the 1780s is also popular in its translation in the English-speaking world. The song is often sung in the round and makes for a playful way to go to sleep. Find Brother John in the pages of the Twinkle Little Star sound book.
#6: Go to Sleep
Go to sleep, my baby,
Close your pretty eyes.
Angels are above you,
Peeping at you, dearie,
From the skies.
Initially written by Gene Williams as The Wyoming Lullaby in the 1920s, this song has calmed so many sleeping children. Go to Sleep with this song in the Twinkle Little Star sound book.
#7: 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 a haystack, fast asleep.
Little Boy Blue is a classic English nursery rhyme that doubles as a bedtime song. It even features in Shakespeare's King Lear! This song is part of the Twinkle Little Star sound book.
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again another day.
Little children want to play,
Rain, rain, go away.
Perfect for the upcoming rainy season, this song dates to the 17th century in England. Over time, people added various new lyrics relating to current events. Find sunshine and rain clouds in the You Are My Sunshine sound book.
#9: It's Raining, It's Pouring
It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed and bumped his head,
And couldn't get up in the morning.
A perfect pair with our previous song for a rainy night. Very little is known about this little delight's origins, but its earliest recording dates back to the 1930s. Sing along with it in the You Are My Sunshine sound book.
#10: Doctor Foster
Doctor Foster went to Gloucester
In a shower of rain.
He stepped in a puddle right up to his middle
And never went there again.
Another nursery rhyme dating back to 19th-century England. The story in the song itself goes back to a historical event in the 13th century. Find Doctor Foster in the You Are My Sunshine sound book.
#11: Golden Slumbers
Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise.
Sleep, pretty baby, do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Originally based on a Thomas Dekker poem from 1603, you and I are probably much more familiar with the 1969 Beatles version.
#12: A Cradle Song
Sweet dreams, form a shade
O'er my lovely infant's head.
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams
By happy, silent, moony beams.
This classic lullaby is actually a William Blake poem set to music. Start your kiddos young with an appreciation for poetry and song.
#13: All the Pretty Little Horses
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
Go to sleep, little baby.
When you wake, you shall have
All the pretty little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,
Coach and six-a little horses.
This song initially dates back to the days of slavery and is an integral part of African American history.
#14: Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
Another classic from Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes, this tale of a clumsy egg dates back to the 18th century. Sing along to this song is the Humpty Dumpty sound book.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream.
If you see a crocodile,
Don't forget to scream!
No screaming here as you row off to sleep. This nursery rhyme dates back to 1852. Find it in the Humpty Dumpty sound book.
As a parent you know that bedtime songs are more than just a lovely tradition—they're a powerful tool in your parenting toolkit. We have practical tips about how to make the most of these melodious moments:
Bedtime songs and lullabies are an excellent way to create a soothing bedtime routine, helping children feel calm and ready for sleep. Our list of 15 popular lullabies includes timeless classics like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and "You Are My Sunshine." Many of these songs are featured in Cali's Books sound books, offering an easy and interactive way to incorporate music into bedtime.
With these lullabies, you can create a consistent, comforting routine that helps your child drift off peacefully each night. Explore our sound books to enhance your bedtime experience and make every night a little more magical.
“I’ve loved books since childhood and wanted to transmit this enthusiasm to my children”
I'm a mom of two young children who trained as an engineer and worked in investment banking and at Disney. A French of Caribbean origin (Martinique to be precise!), I grew up in Paris. Los Angeles is now the place I call home!
La Vaca Lola and more can be found in our new Spanish Nursery Rhymes book. This fun and popular sound book also contains 5 other short nursery rhymes in Spanish, para cantar en español! See why it's a perfect gift for your little one.
