Benefits of Lullabies and 10 non-traditional songs
We get it – it’s completely normal to feel self-conscious about singing lullabies to your baby, especially if you don’t consider yourself to be a vocalist.
However, don’t forget that the purpose of singing a lullaby is not to impress the household with your singing abilities, but to provide comfort and reassurance to the little squish right in front of you. Your baby is not going to judge your singing abilities, they will only respond to the soothing and calming nature of your voice. The emotional connection between parent and child is the most important part. The act of singing a lullaby to your child can create a special bond between the two of you and can be a comforting and nurturing experience for both of you.
Research has shown that singing lullabies to babies, regardless of singing quality, can have numerous benefits for both the child and the parent. So, if you want to sing lullabies to your baby, don’t be self-conscious about your singing abilities, remember that your baby will benefit from the love you put into singing for them.
Benefits of Lullabies
Here are just a few of the benefits of singing lullabies to your child:
- Helps with sleep: Lullabies have a calming effect on babies and toddlers, helping them to relax and fall asleep more easily.
- Enhances bonding: Singing lullabies to your child is a great way to bond with them and create special memories together.
- Encourages language development: Singing lullabies to your child can help to expose them to new words and phrases, promoting language development.
- Reduces stress: Singing lullabies can reduce stress and anxiety levels in both the child and the parent.
- Enhances emotional well-being: Singing lullabies can create a sense of emotional well-being and security in your child, helping them to feel safe and loved.
- Emotional development: Listening to lullabies can help children learn how to understand and express their emotions
Non-Traditional Lullaby Songs
It can be fun to use songs that we adults like as lullabies. Here is a list of 10 non-traditional lullaby songs that can be used as an alternative to traditional lullabies:
“Stay” by Rihanna
The soft melody and slow tempo make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “Not really sure how to feel about it, Something in the way you move, Makes me feel like I can’t live without you, It takes me all the way.”
“Dream a Little Dream of Me”
This song was written in the early 20th century and covered by many artists, the lyrics are perfect for a lullaby. Lyrics include “Stars shining bright above you, Night breezes seem to whisper “I love you,” Birds singing in the sycamore tree, Dream a little dream of me.”
“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
The melody and gentle vocals make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “I did my best, it wasn’t much, I couldn’t feel, so I tried to touch. I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come to fool ya, And even though it all went wrong, I’ll stand before the lord of song, with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah.”
“All of Me” by John Legend
The piano accompaniment and romantic lyrics make it a perfect lullaby for your little one. Lyrics include “What would I do without your smart mouth? Drawing me in, and you kicking me out, Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can’t pin you down”
“Close to You” by The Carpenters
The warm vocals make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “Why do birds suddenly appear, every time you are near? Just like me, they long to be close to you”
“Goodnight” by Norah Jones
The simple melody make this a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “Goodnight, my love, please turn out the light, I need your arms to hold me tight”
“Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac
The emotional lyrics make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “I took my love and I took it down, I climbed a mountain and I turned around. And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills, ‘Til the landslide brought me down.”
“Tenerife Sea” by Ed Sheeran
The gentle lyrics make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “You look so beautiful in this light, I’ve been trying to chase down a memory, A feeling, but I can’t seem to find it”
“A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri
The slow tempo and romantic lyrics make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “I have died every day waiting for you, Darling, don’t be afraid I have loved you for a thousand years, I’ll love you for a thousand more”
“I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” by Aerosmith
The slow tempo and romantic lyrics make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “I don’t wanna close my eyes, I don’t wanna fall asleep, ‘Cause I’d miss you baby, And I don’t wanna miss a thing”
Classic Lullabies
And of course, we love the classics. Here is a list of the 10 best traditional lullaby songs for babies and toddlers:
“Rock-a-bye Baby”
A traditional nursery rhyme and lullaby. Lyrics include “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.”
“Hush Little Baby”
A traditional lullaby. Lyrics include “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.”
“All the Pretty Little Horses”
A traditional American lullaby. Lyrics include “Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry, go to sleepy little baby. When you wake, you shall have, all the pretty little horses.”
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
A classic nursery rhyme and lullaby. Lyrics include “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.”
“You Are My Sunshine” by Ray Charles
The classic tune and comforting lyrics make it a great lullaby choice. Lyrics include “You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray”
“Hushabye Mountain”
A lullaby from the 1948 film “The Secret Garden”. Lyrics include “Hushabye mountain, send the boat for me, Hushabye mountain, send the boat for me, For the stream is wide and the river deep, And the winds don’t blow and the boat won’t keep”
“All Through the Night”
A Welsh lullaby. Lyrics include “Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee, All through the night. Guardian angels God will send thee, All through the night.”
“Golden Slumbers”
A traditional English lullaby. Lyrics include “Once there was a way to get back homeward, Once there was a way to get back home, Sleep pretty darling do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby.”
“Lullaby and Goodnight”
A traditional lullaby. Lyrics include “Lullaby and goodnight, with roses bedight, With lilies o’erspread is baby’s wee bed. Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.”
“Summertime”
A lullaby from the opera “Porgy and Bess” by George Gershwin. Lyrics include “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy, Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high, Oh, your daddy’s rich and your ma is good lookin’, So hush, little baby, don’t you cry.”
