As a postpartum doula, one of my favorite questions is when clients ask for songs to sing to their babies! As a follow-up to my earlier blog, I wanted to share 5 additional lullabies you can sing to your little one.

You Are My Sunshine – alt lyrics by Mama Nous

I love this updated rendition of the classic tune that mother and songstress Mama Nous has worked out. Unfortunately she hasn’t been able to record it on an album due to copyright reasons, but you can find it on her Instagram profile here, or just sing to the familiar tune.

You are my sunshine
My sweetest sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll always know dear
How much I love you
For I will tell you every day

And every night dear
As you lie sleeping
I will be there just out of sight
And in the morning
I’ll be so happy
To start the day with my sunshine

Thanks A Lot – Raffi

This song has a lot of words, but you might like to learn it! As a bonus, this video includes sign language that you can teach to older children.

Thanks a lot
Thanks for the sun in the sky
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the clouds so high

Thanks a lot
Thanks for the whispering wind
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the birds in the spring

Thanks a lot
Thanks for the moonlit night
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the stars so bright

Thanks a lot
Thanks for the wonder in me
Thanks a lot
Thanks for the way I feel

Thanks for the animals, thanks for the land
Thanks for the people everywhere
Thanks a lot
Thanks for all I’ve got
Thanks for all I’ve got

Beautiful Dreamer – traditional

My second grader and I recently read E.B. White’s classic, The Trumpet of the Swan, and it was so fun to relive this tale from my childhood! There are many songs referenced in the book, and this is one I think could make for a sweet lullaby!

Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world heard in the day
Lull’d by the moonlight have all pass’d away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life’s busy throng
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chaunting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart
E’en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

De Colores – traditional

This song is one of my favorites, for it’s melody, the sentiment, and exposing kids to Spanish!

As a bonus, this video shows both English and Spanish versions:

De colores, de colores se vistan
Los campos en la primavera
De colores, de colores son las pajaritos
Que vienen de afuera
De colores, de colores es
El arcoiris de vemos lucir

(chorus 2x)
Y por eso los grandes amores
De muchos colores
Me gustan a mi

De colores, si de blanco y negro
Y rojo, azul y castano
Son colores, son colores de gente

Que rie y estrecha la mano
Son colores, son colores de gente
Que sabe de la libertad

(chorus)
De colores, de colores son esos
Paisajes que vista la aurora
De colores, de colores son las
Maravillas que son la tesora
De colores, de colores es
El arcoiris de vemos lucir

Waheguru – mantra

This is a song I learned from the kundalini yoga tradition. It is a traditional Sikh mantra. The word “waheguru” is roughly translated as an exclamation of joy and awe to the Divine Teacher, or the sacred wisdom that lies within and all around us. I like this version as a lullaby because you can sing it as a loop, indefinitely — good for little ones who might stay awake for a more complex song!