Nursery Rhymes for Babies and Newborns

54 rhymes with full lyrics

Babies cannot follow the words yet, but they know a familiar voice, a steady beat and a face close to their own. The rhymes in this group were picked with that in mind. They are short, they repeat, and most are meant to be done with the baby, on your lap or in your arms, rather than recited over their head.

They fall into four kinds. Rocking songs and lullabies settle a baby down: Rock-a-Bye Baby and Sweet and Low are two to start with. Knee bounces turn your lap into a horse, as in This Is the Way the Ladies Ride and To Market, To Market. Tickle games like This Little Piggy and Shoe the Colt give each toe or foot a turn. Hand and face games, Pat-a-Cake and Eye Winker, Tom Tinker among them, are mostly about eye contact and small touches: a clap of the hands, a tap on the nose.

Each page has the complete words, the actions line by line and a short note on where the rhyme came from. You do not need many. A baby does not need variety, and two or three rhymes done the same way every day will soon be the ones they wait for.

All for BabyHere's a ball for BabyAll the Pretty Little HorsesHushabyBye, Baby BuntingBye, baby buntingChap at the DoorChap at the doorClap Hands, Clap HandsClap hands, clap hands!Clap, Clap HandiesClap, clap handiesCome to the Window, My Baby, With MeCome to the windowCurrahoo, Curr DhooCurrahoo, curr dhooDance a Baby DiddyDance a Baby DiddyDance to Your DaddieDance to your daddieDance, Little BabyDance, little Baby, dance up high!Diddley-Diddley-DumptyDiddley-Diddley-DumptyEye Winker, Tom TinkerEye winkerFace-SongsBo PeeperFeetikin, Feetikin"Feetikin, feetikinHarry Whistle, Tommy ThistleHarry Whistle, Tommy ThistleHere Goes My LordHere goes my lordHere Sits the Lord MayorHere sits the Lord MayorHey, My Kitten, My KittenHey, my kitten, my kittenHop Away, Skip Away, My Baby Wants to PlayHop away, skip away, my baby wants to play.How Many Days Has My Baby to Play?How many days has my baby to play?Hush-a-ba Birdie, CroonHush-a-ba birdie, croon, croonHush-a-bye, Baby, Daddy Is NearHush-a-bye, babyHush-a-bye, Baby, Lie Still with Thy DaddyHush-a-bye, baby, lie still with thy daddyHush, Hush, Hush, Hush!Hush, hush, hush, hush!Hushie-ba, Birdie BeetonHushie-ba, birdie beetonI See the MoonI see the moon, and the moon sees meI'll Buy You a Tartan BonnetI'll buy you a tartan bonnetIs John Smith Within?Is John Smith within?Lavender's BlueLavender's blue, diddle, diddle!Leg Over LegLeg over legOpen Shut ThemShut them, open; shut them, openPat-a-CakePat-a-cake, pat-a-cakeRide a Cock-Horse to Banbury CrossRide a cock-horse to Banbury CrossRide a Cock-Horse to Shrewsbury CrossRide a cock-horse to Shrewsbury crossRide, Baby, RideRide, baby, rideRing the Bell, Knock at the DoorRing the bell!Rock-a-Bye BabyRock-a-bye, baby, on the treetopRock-a-Bye, Baby, Thy Cradle Is GreenRock-a-bye, baby, thy cradle is greenRow, Row, Row Your BoatRow, row, row your boatSee Saw Margery DawSee saw, Margery DawSee Saw SacradownSee-saw sacradownShoe the ColtShoe the coltSleep, Baby, SleepSleep, baby, sleepSweet and LowSweet and low, sweet and lowThe Man in the Moon Looked Out of the MoonThe Man in the Moon looked out of the moonThis Is the Way the Ladies RideThis is the way the ladies rideThis Little PiggyThis little pig went to marketThumb BoldThumb boldTo Market, To MarketTo market, to market, to buy a fat pig.Twinkle Twinkle Little StarTwinkle, twinkle, little starTwo Little BlackbirdsThere were two blackbirdsWinkum, WinkumWinkum, winkum, shut your eyeYou Shall Have an AppleYou shall have an apple

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I start saying nursery rhymes to my baby?
Straight away. A newborn cannot join in, but can hear you, and a familiar voice is soothing by itself. Rocking songs and lullabies suit the first weeks. Save the bouncing and tickling rhymes for when your baby is awake, calm and holding their head up steadily.
Which rhymes are best for a newborn?
Slow ones with a rocking beat, said or sung quietly: Rock-a-Bye Baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Sweet and Low and Hush-a-bye, Baby, Lie Still with Thy Daddy. Sway or pat the baby's back to the beat.
What if I cannot sing or do not know the tune?
Say the words instead. Many of these rhymes are chanted rather than sung, and a baby will not notice a wrong note. What counts is a steady rhythm, a calm voice and your face in view.
How do I do the bouncing rhymes safely?
Keep the movement small and slow, support the baby's head and back, and stop if they fuss. Bounce on your knees or sway in your arms, and never toss or jerk the baby, even when the rhyme ends in a fall.
Should I keep repeating the same rhyme?
Yes. Use the same words and actions each time, and the baby starts to know when the tickle or the drop is coming. Waiting for it is half of the game.

More Types of Nursery Rhymes