Lullabies and Baby Songs

Baby songs and lullabies, although very close to each other as categories, are two separate groups of children’s songs that parents, babysitters or kindergarten teachers often search for.

Whether it is to put babies to sleep or play with them, everything becomes easier with a song and our lists will help you with that.

Table of Contents

Lullabies

Lullabies

What are lullabies?

Lullabies are a type of soothing song that are typically sung to infants and young children before they go to sleep.

They are characterized by their slow, gentle melody and simple, repetitive lyrics that are meant to calm and comfort the child. Lullabies have been used for centuries as a way to help babies fall asleep and to provide comfort during times of stress or anxiety.

In addition to their practical purposes, lullabies are also considered an important cultural tradition in many parts of the world.

History of Lullabies

The historical background of lullabies can be traced back to ancient civilizations, where they were used as a way to soothe infants and promote restful sleep.

In many cultures, lullabies were passed down through generations and were often specific to certain regions or ethnic groups. Lullabies were also used as a form of communication between parents and children, with many songs containing messages of love, protection, and reassurance.

Over time, lullabies have evolved to reflect changes in society and culture, with modern versions incorporating elements of popular music or traditional folk songs. Despite these changes, the essential purpose of lullabies remains the same – to provide comfort and support to children in their early years.

List of Lullabies (A-Z)

The following lullabies are a collection of two different categories: On the one hand, children’s songs from different traditions (English, Spanish and French-speaking), as well as melodies from classical music that have been established as lullabies.

If you’d like to sing to your baby, by clicking on the following titles you will find lyrics (printable PDF files) as well as an audio file or karaoke video with the melodies, in case you don’t remember them or they are unknown to you. Then again, If your baby and you need to relax, just play the list below and let Sonia Ter Hovanessian sing for you, in arrangements by Singing Bell.

A la Nanita Nana

A la Nanita Nana

Children’s song, Spain. Versión española de esta página “A la Nanita Nana” is a popular song, which considered to be traditional although its composer for voice and piano (La nana,…

A la Puerta del Cielo

A la Puerta del Cielo

Lullaby, Spain. Versión española de esta página Although brief, this Spanish children’s song is relaxing for babies because of its melody. As it is a lullaby, it has a repetitive…

All the Pretty Little Horses (Hush-a-bye)

All The Pretty Little Horses (Hush-a-bye)

Children’s song, lullaby, U.S.A. “All The Pretty Little Horses (Hush-a-bye)” is a traditional lullaby from the United States. The origin of this song is not fully known, although is commonly…

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Looking for an Amazing Grace karaoke? You can get it here – free for educational use (+ Amazing Grace sheet music!). Hymn / Lullaby, U.S.A. On this page you can…

Au clair de la lune

Au clair de la lune

Children’s song, France.

Au clair de la lune [Version Française]

Au clair de la lune [Version Française]

Comptine, France. English version of this page “Au clair de la lune” est une comptine française dont les origines remontent au XVIIIe siècle. Cette chanson semble être le premier enregistrement de…

Brahms’ Lullaby (Cradle Song / Lullaby and Goodnight)

Brahms’ Lullaby (Cradle Song / Lullaby and Goodnight)

Lullaby, Germany. “Brahms’ Lullaby” is a lullaby composed by Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897). On this page you can find Lyrics, Sing-along Video, and MP3 and MP4 files for Free…

El Rorro

El Rorro

Lullaby – Christmas Carol, Mexico “El rorro” is a traditional Mexican carol about little Jesus who is sleeping in the manger while animals and birds guard him tenderly. The -without…

Fais dodo (Colas mon p'tit frère)

Fais dodo (Colas mon p’tit frère)

Children’s song, France-Canada “Fais Dodo (Colas mon p’tit frère)” is a French-Canadian lullaby (comptine). Don’t confuse it with the Cajun (francophone ethnic group mainly living in the state of Louisiana)…

Golden Slumbers

Golden Slumbers

Golden Slumbers is a lullaby from England, U.K. Lullaby, England. “Golden Slumbers” is a wonderful lullaby written by Thomas Dekker, an English Elizabethan dramatist. The song’s first edition was in…

Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird)

Hush Little Baby (Mockingbird)

Putting your little ones to sleep? Hush Little Baby is a great choice. Lullaby, U.S.A. “Hush, Little Baby” is a traditional lullaby, thought to have been written in the Southern…

Mozart's Lullaby (Sleep, Little One) Sing-Along

Mozart’s Lullaby (Sleep, Little One)

Lullaby, Germany. “Mozart’s Lullaby (Sleep, little one)” is a lullaby, perhaps the most famous Wiegenlied (German lullaby), dating from the 18th century and attributed for a long time to W.A.Mozart. However,…

Rock-a-bye baby Sing-Along

Rock-a-bye Baby

Rock-a-bye Baby is a classic lullaby to help children relax or sleep! Nursery rhyme/Lullaby, U.K. “Rock-a-bye baby” is a popular song for kids and a lullaby. On this page you…

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Swing Low Sweet Chariot is a well-known spiritual song, often sung as a lullaby. Spiritual, U.S.A “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” is a spiritual that originated in the United States in…

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby)

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)

Lullaby, Ireland/U.S.A. “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That’s an Irish Lullaby)” is an Irish-American lullaby originally written in 1913 by lyricist, actor, and composer James Royce Shannon (1881–1946), for the Tin Pan Alley musical…

Twinkle Twinkle-Little Star Sing-Along

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a children’s song and lullaby from England, U.K. Lullaby, England, U.K. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is one of the most popular nursery rhymes and lullabies…

What Child is This? (Greensleeves)

What Child is This? (Greensleeves)

Carol / Lullaby, England (UK). “What Child Is This?” is a popular Christmas carol based on the melody of the traditional tune “Greensleeves“. It was written in 1865 by English…

Playlist with Lullabies (Sing-Along and Karaoke Videos)

Baby Songs

What is a Baby Song?

What makes a song a baby song? Of course, you could easily sing anything to your baby, ranging from Mary had a little lamb to… Led Zeppelin! The answer is rather determined by the content of the lyrics as well as the simplicity of the melody.

In the following songs for babies, the lyrics call for a hand game (e.g. with Ten little fingers or Finger Family) or for cute, playful, soft pinching on the belly or legs while the baby is lying on their back. Naturally, you might also be holding the baby in your arms and playing (with songs like Itsy-Bitsy Spider or the Spanish-language Los pollitos dicen pío pío pío).

Also the melodies are quite simple and understandable. The simplicity of the form in both the lyrics and the melody fits perfectly with the simplicity of our communication with young children. Nevertheless, it’s through these simple lyrics that babies learn words and often imitate, in their own way, following the song vocally over and over again.

List of Baby Songs (A-Z)

A Ram Sam Sam

A Ram Sam Sam

Children’s song, Morocco. “A Ram Sam Sam” is a children’s song from Morocco and a singing game, as well. Older children can sing the “A Ram Sam Sam” as a…

Alouette - French song for kids

Alouette

Children’s song, Canada. Version Française de cette page “Alouette” is a francophone children’s song (comptine) first published in 1879 in a song book at Montreal and it is believed that…

Cinco Lobitos

Cinco Lobitos

Children’s song, Spain. Versión española de esta página The origin of this popular song is not clear. The truth is that it is one of the first songs that are…

Cucú Cantaba La Rana

Cucú Cantaba La Rana

Nursery Rhyme, Spain. Versión española de esta página “Cucú Cantaba La Rana” is a well known song sung by several generations of Spanish-speaking children. This is an old song –…

Finger Family (Daddy Finger)

Finger Family (Daddy Finger)

Children’s song, U.K. “Finger Family” is a popular nursery rhyme, also known as a game for babies. On this page you can find Lyrics, Sing-along Video, and MP3 and MP4…

Five Little Ducks (Went Swimming One Day)

Five Little Ducks (Went Swimming One Day)

What happens when five little ducks go swimming? We probably learn how to count! Children’s song, U.S.A. “Five Little Ducks (Went Swimming One Day)” is a popular children’s counting song,…

Five Little Monkeys Sing-Along

Five Little Monkeys

These Five Little Monkeys may be naughty, but their song is truly captivating! Children’s song, U.K. “Five Little Monkeys” is a “repetitive” nursery rhyme, that means the text stays same…

I’m a Little Teapot

I’m a Little Teapot

Children’s song, U.S.A. “I’m a little teapot” was written in order to teach children a dance routine. Clarence Kelley -who composed the song with George Harold Sanders- and his wife…

Incy Wincy Spider (Eency Weency Spider)

Incy Wincy Spider (Eency Weency Spider)

Incy Wincy Spider is a nursery rhyme from the U.K. “Incy-Wincy Spider” (also known as “Eency-Weency Spider” or “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” in the USA) is a traditional song about a spider…

Itsy-Bitsy Spider SING-ALONG

Itsy-Bitsy Spider

Nursery rhyme, U.K. “Itsy-Bitsy Spider” (also known as “Eetsy-Beetsy Spider” or “Incy-Wincy Spider” in the UK) is a traditional song about a spider that tries to climb up the waterspout…

Los Pollitos Dicen pío pío pío - Cancion infantil.

Los Pollitos Dicen pío pío pío

Children’s Song, Spain Versión española de esta página “Los pollitos dicen pío pío pío” is a song with which many generations of Spanish-speaking children have grown up. It is a…

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Children’s song, U.S.A. This song for children tells the true story of Mary Tyler, a young girl whose brother persuades her to go to school with her little lamb, which…

Pat-a-Cake (Patty Cake)

Pat-a-Cake (Patty Cake)

Nursery rhyme, England. “Pat-a-cake” (also called “Patty Cake”) is one of the oldest and most widely known surviving English nursery rhymes, as well as a clapping game and a singing…

Rain Rain Go Away Karaoke + Sing-Along

Rain, Rain, Go Away

When clouds show up, Rain Rain Go Away is the song that comes to mind for a singing session. Nursery rhyme, U.K. “Rain, Rain, Go Away” is a nursery song…

See Saw Margery Daw

See Saw Margery Daw

Nursery rhyme, England (U.K.)

Ten Green Bottles

Ten Green Bottles

Children’s song, England (U.K.) “Ten Green Bottles” is a popular English children’s song. The ten stanzas are almost same, but the number of the bottles is one less every time.…

Ten in the Bed

Ten in the Bed

Children’s song, Unknown origin. “Ten in the Bed” is found in many cultures worldwide and it’s used to help children count backwards from ten to one. On this page you…

Ten Little Fingers

Ten Little Fingers

Children’s song, U.S.A./U.K. “Ten Little Fingers” is a nursery rhyme and a counting game. It is sung to learn how to count to ten by using your hands. It should…

The Wheels on the Bus Sing-Along

The Wheels on the Bus

The Wheels on the Bus is one of the most popular songs for children. Children’s song, U.K. “The Wheels on the Bus” is one of the most popular songs for…

This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy

Nursery rhyme, England. “This Little Piggy” is a British nursery rhyme and fingerplay. In 1728, the first line of the rhyme appeared in a medley called “The Nurse’s Song”. The…

Baby Songs and Lullabies Vol. 1

Buy or listen to our entire album with 14 Baby Songs & Lullabies

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Lullabies + Baby Songs

Lullabies and Baby Songs

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