Dance a Baby Diddy Lyrics
Hold the baby, sway, bounce and dance. Dance a Baby Diddy is one of the old songs mothers sang while jigging a little one on their lap.
Dance a Baby Diddy
Dance a Baby Diddy,
What can mammy do wid ’e?
Sit in her lap,
Give it some pap,
And dance a Baby Diddy!
Printed from https://nurseryrhymes.co/dance-a-baby-diddy/
- Type
- Lullabies, Action Songs
- Tune
- Traditional
- Best for ages
- 0 to 2 years
Hand Motions and Actions
| When you sing | Do this |
|---|---|
| Dance a Baby Diddy | Hold your baby and sway or bounce gently in time. |
| Sit in her lap | Sit down with the baby on your lap. |
| Give it some pap | Pretend to feed the baby with a spoon. |
| And dance a Baby Diddy! | Stand and dance again. |
What Does Dance a Baby Diddy Mean?
Diddy is a pet word for a little one, and "what can mammy do wid 'e?" means what can mother do with you? The answer is to sit the baby in her lap, give it some pap, a soft mushy food for babies, and dance again.
History and Origin
This version is from Little Songs of Long Ago (1912), a book of old nursery songs with music, illustrated by Henriette Willebeek le Mair. Songs for dancing a baby are found in every language. They are among the very first songs a child ever hears, long before words mean anything.
Learning Activities
- Kitchen dance: sing it while carrying your baby around the kitchen.
- Lap bounce: for older babies, bounce on your knees and pause before the last line.