Lullabies?

[TheHerdNerd]

Okay, so, we're expecting a child in about a month. Something that I've always loved the idea of is singing my kids to sleep, but I've realised recently that I don't know any appropriate songs!

Do you sing to your kids? What do you sing?

[Biglips]

i used to hum alot when my dd was a newborn till she was about 1, and now she is nearly 3 and still loves the humming as its so relaxing that it makes me fall asleep too zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!

[TheHerdNerd]

Does your DH/DP/DO sing to the kids?

[TooTicky]

Different babies like different songs. Dd1 liked Steeleye Span, ds1 liked Bob the Builder and Rawhide, Ds2 Morningtown Ride, Hush little baby don't say a word (mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird) and Postman Pat, dd2 likes Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

[Nightynight]

my stepdd used to love Bye Bye Miss American Pie.
My own children would start to cry if I sang it though. Beware if you have musical children, they may not stand you singing to them.

[Biglips]

no dp never sing but now i sing twinkle little star

[sanandol]

To stop yourself going insane, I found that the best things to sing them to sleep where songs that you liked and could sing on a loop. Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah/ Chelsea Hotel/ Everybody Knows used to work pretty well for me and DS (not the most cheerful songs ever but hey, it worked for us!)

[Gee72]

I don't sing DS to sleep, but do to calm him when he wakes up crying. Just Brahms lullaby on the montor as a bedtime cue.

Several verses of 'Row, row, row your Boat...' do the trick if he's upset/needs to get back off. Or 'You Are My Sunshine'. Bizarrely, 'Chickchickchickchick Chicken' shuts him up too; very wearing to sing though.

Songs with more verses are good as they drive you less insane! There's a nice lullaby on the last Richard Hawley album, 'Who's Gonna Shoe Your Pretty Little Feet' or something like that.

[BigGitDad]

Sanandol is right, sing something that you like, is repetitive and simple, I used to sing MLK by U2. I think singing to babies is very theraputic. Also put music on if you feel like it, I always remember my daughter used to fall asleep to Will Young as she found it soothing. It's alovely feeling having your child go to sleep on you.

[Daddster]

Row your boat with ever-more inventive things:

down the river and if you see a polar bear, don't forget to shiver
to the shore - lion there - roar
down the creek - little mouse - squeak
down the stream - crocodile - scream
over the waterfall - telephone - call
over the weir - public house - the beer
cross the lake - jellyfish - shake

Failing that, try Amazing Grace.

[macmama73]

My DH always hummed, totally tuneless but DD especially loved it. Both DCs hum sometimes when we are having a cuddling session.

I sing anything that comes to mind. Skye Boat Song. The way you look tonight by Rod Stewart. Traditonal songs like Sleep, Baby, Sleep, Away in a Manger.

I really love Beautiful Boy by John Lennon.

I am a terrible singer, btw and Ds now shouts NO! when I start singing.

[macmama73]

@daddster
Love the Row the Boat variations!

[sleepfinder]

Irish folk songs,
hymns, christmas carols
beatles songs - Yesterday, Hey Jude (any of the minor key, slower numbers)
Nursery rhymes

and when he's a bit unhappy sing

Oh Dear what can the matter be
Two old ladies locked in the lavatory...

with varying degrees of enthusiasm / fake cockney accents etc depending on whether I'm likely to get a laugh or not really.