Good Night: Lullabies for Children

Why do children love lullabies?

Lullabies for children have existed for hundreds of years. What they all share: they have a gentle melody, are sung slowly and, sung by a familiar voice , provide a great sense of comfort.

Schlaflieder für Kinder | Vater und Mutter mit Kinderwagen

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 while listening. Especially soothing are these songs for babies, because the steady rhythm reminds them of their mother's heartbeat.

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

Cuddling: Lullabies are also called cradle songs and that's not surprising: if your child is still small, you will probably hold them in your arms while singing and gently rock them to sleep. And even with older children, you can wonderfully cuddle while singing and soothe them that way.

Safety: Even if you find your own singing voice odd, your child doesn't care if a note goes off. Much more important is that the voice belongs to Mom or Dad and means safety and familiarity .

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 is part of a fixed ritual. Here your child knows exactly what to expect and what to prepare for. This 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 always fall back on a small tried-and-tested repertoire to fall back on that your child already enjoys. 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 upsetting for small children.
Once the lyrics are learned, your child will likely want to join in and you can choose and sing the nicest bedtime songs together.
Don't worry that the song is too much action in the evening – the soothing melody and relaxed atmosphere will gently guide your child into the realm of dreams.

The most popular lullabies for children – with lyrics

Schlaflieder für Kinder | Mutter hält schlafendes Baby in den Händen

We have collected the most popular children's lullabies with their opening verses as inspiration for you, too:

Good evening, good night (Melody by Johannes Bahms, lyrics from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn")

Good evening, good night, adorned with roses, adorned with little carnations, slip under the blanket; 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 looks on When the little babies sleep So sleep you too. La Le Lu, in front of the little bed there stand two shoes And they are just as tired Now they go to rest.

Sleep, little child, sleep! (From the music collection "Des Knaben Wunderhorn")

Sleep, little child, sleep! The father guards the sheep; The mother shakes the little tree, Down falls a little dream. Sleep, little child, sleep! Sleep, little child, sleep, In the sky the sheep are moving, The little stars are the little lambs, The moon is the little shepherd, Sleep, little child, sleep!