7 Soothing Baby Bedtime Stories and Songs
As parents, we know that reading or singing to baby is a soothing way to help them sleep. From short bedtime stories to children’s bedtime songs, this bedtime routine is a great way to bond with your little ones and encourage a passion for reading and music. Songs and stories for babies are also specifically designed to help sharpen their memory, improve their language development and encourage more creative thinking. Looking for ideas for bedtime stories? Not sure which bedtime songs to sing? Take a look at our list of soothing baby bedtime stories and bedtime songs to help you get started.
Super Songs and Stories for Babies
Children live very active lifestyles, so it can be hard to settle them down at times. That’s where a selection of great baby bedtime stories comes in handy – having more than one baby bedtime story to hand will keep them interested and help soften the bedtime blow. In fact, baby bedtime story time will become an activity that your child looks forward to each night, making getting them into bed that little bit easier. Need some baby bedtime story ideas to kick off your collection? Check out some of ours below.
1. "What If?"
“What If?” is one of the most charming stories for babies about a little girl called Nandi who uses her imagination to wonder what would happen in different situations. “What if jelly beans made you jump really high?” is just one of the questions she ponders in her baby bedtime stories. The plot features plenty of colourful illustrations that are designed to be viewed on a tablet or smartphone. It’s one of the five-minute stories from Storyberries – a site designed to help parents find children’s bedtime songs stories on the go. You can read “What If?” on the Storyberries website
2."Nighty Night Circus"
If reading aloud isn’t your favourite thing to do, then why not take advantage of one of the many bedtime stories for babies on YouTube? Let performances by professional narrators lull your baby to sleep (and who knows, maybe you too!), to take the pressure off. Wondering where to start with the huge selection available? Try "Nighty Night Circus" – this animated baby bedtime story follows a series of animals as they get ready to go to sleep. The magical tale was created by Oscar-nominated animator, Heidi Wittlinger, and is the sequel to one of the most popular bedtime apps ever. We think it has all the right ingredients for a good bedtime story – and more than three million parents agree!
3. “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”
Michael Rosen’s poem about a family on the trail of a bear has become a modern children’s classic since it was first published in 1989 – and yet it remains as relevant and popular as ever. It’s one of Book Trust’s top 100 reads for children under three years old. The repetition of the rhymes make this a perfect pick for your collection of baby bedtime stories. You can learn more about the authors and read reviews from parents on the Book Trust's website
4. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
We’re all familiar with this popular baby bedtime song – and your little one will soon get to know it too. But how many of the original poem verses do you know?
The poem was first published in 1806 as “The Star”, before later being set to music to become a nursery rhyme. And of course, its popularity endures today.
The original version of this short bedtime story contains four verses – a welcome variation for mums and dads who find themselves having to sing it over and over again to get baby to sleep! You can find the full version on the Poetry Foundation's Website.
5. “Rock a-bye Baby”
Also known as “Hush a-Bye Baby”, this bedtime song is even older than “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, and was first published in 1765. The fact that it is still so well-known and loved today is testament to its appeal to little ears and minds – and, of course, its ability to soothe babies to sleep.
Singing this to your little one as part of their bedtime routine is a great way to bond with them – as well as helping them to relax. Of course, if singing isn’t your thing, you can play a recording of Rock a-Bye Baby and listen along too.
6. Revisit an old favourite
Sometimes storytime can be a chore – especially if you’re struggling with a little one who just won’t sleep. But it’s also a great opportunity to revisit and share memories from your own childhood. Spend some time rediscovering favourite baby bedtime stories and bedtime songs and sharing them. You could even ask your own parents for a tried and trusted short bedtime story that worked when you were little.
7. Create baby bedtime stories of your own
Feeling creative? Why not make up a baby bedtime story of your own to share with your baby? You could use a family photo book as the basis for the story or use your own childhood for inspiration. If you’re musically gifted, you could even turn it into a bedtime song.
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