Good Night: Lullabies for Children

Why do children love lullabies?

There have been lullabies for children for hundreds of years. What they all have in common: They have a calm melody, are sung slowly and, when sung with a familiar voice they provide a strong sense of security.

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What children also love about lullabies:

Melody: The melody of lullabies is easy to sing and consists of slow notes, so you can relax well. Especially soothing are these songs for babies because the steady rhythm reminds them of the mother's heartbeat.

Lyrics: When your child gets a bit older, of course the content of the lullabies becomes interesting too: Soothing themes put children into a relaxed mood and put the eventful day into the background. Lullabies usually feature the night, nature, or animals going to sleep.

Cuddling: Lullabies are also called cradle songs and that's no coincidence: If your child is still small, you'll probably hold them in your arms while singing and gently rock them to sleep. And even with older children you can cuddle while singing and calm them that way.

Safety: Even if you find your own singing voice strange, your child doesn't mind if a note goes wrong sometimes. Much more important is that the voice is that of Mom or Dad and means safety and familiarity. That way children know that their parents are there and take care of them.

Familiar ritual: The most important thing for your child is not necessarily what or how you sing. One of the best things about the nightly lullaby is that it becomes a regular ritual. Your child knows exactly what to expect and how to prepare. It helps, in the evening to wind down, to end the day and thus provides a restful sleep.

Sleep aids

Which bedtime songs can I sing with my child?

Schlaflieder für Kinder | Baby und kleines Kind liegen zusammen im Bett.

A consistent bedtime ritual creates familiarity and gives your child the important structure it needs to feel comfortable. You will probably also fall back on a small tried-and-tested repertoire to rely on that your child already likes. Tips for choosing:

Feel free to sing the same songs every evening: too much new information in the evening may be exciting for us, but rather unsettling for small children.
Once the words are learned, your child will certainly want to join in and you can choose and sing the most beautiful bedtime songs together.
Don't worry that the song is too much action in the evening – the soothing melody and relaxed mood will gently lead your child into the realm of dreams.

The most popular lullabies for children – with lyrics

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We have also collected the most popular children's lullabies with their first verses for inspiration:

Good evening, good night (Melody by Johannes Bahms, text from 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn')

Good evening, good night, with roses bestowed, with little cloves tucked, slip under the covers; Tomorrow morning, if God wills, you will be awakened again, Tomorrow morning, if God wills, you will be awakened again. Good evening, good night, watched over by little angels, they show you in a dream the Christ Child's tree. Sleep now blessed and sweet; behold paradise in your dream.

La Le Lu (from the film 'When the Father With the Son')

La Le Lu, only the man in the moon is watching when the little babies sleep so you sleep too. La Le Lu, by the little bed stand two shoes and they are just as tired they are going to rest now.

Sleep, little child, sleep! (From the musical collection 'Des Knaben Wunderhorn')

Sleep, little child, sleep! The father tends the sheep; The mother shakes the little tree, and down falls a little dream. Sleep, little child, sleep! Sleep, little child, sleep, In the sky the sheep are passing, the little stars are the little lambs, the moon, it is the little shepherd, Sleep, little child, sleep!