What do you sing to your DC?

[Fortuny]

FTM and other than gin fuelled karaoke, I'm not really a singer or musically inclined. I think it's important for LO's and I want to make an effort to improve, but pathetically just realised I don't even know the second verse of old McDonald.

What songs or rhymes did your DCs love? Or any tips for the musically challenged. I'm out of my depth!

DS gets all sorts sung at him in English and Welsh. 'Calon Lan' is for some reason my go to when I want him to fall asleep, and Britney Spears 'Toxic' when I can't think of anything off the top of my head.

I made up a song for when I change his nappy which he seems to like - "what's it going to be in DS's nappy", sung to the tune of Robbie Williams "Angels". DH thinks I'm nuts.

@AcrossthePond55 say you live in Canada without saying you live in Canada!

Baby Beluga was a favourite here when my DC was smaller. Also, Five Little Speckled Frogs, Big Red Bus and Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer. DC still likes Teddy Bears Picnic and is into Disney songs (Under the sea, Bear Necessities, Whole New World) even though we haven't watched the movies yet.

Away in a Manger worked a treat when they were babies. They occasionally still ask for it at night when they're upset or whatever (6 and 8). Trouble is, I still don't really know the lyrics! I think they find the tune soothing.

Anyone remember the lullaby/baby rock songs? I can't remember what the brand was

Rockabye baby?

There's nobody better than a baby to improve your confidence in your singing voice! I have literally never sung in front of anyone since I was about 10 years old but I sing to my kids all the time and enjoy doing it because it makes them happy. It's funny how they have different favourites. The Grand Old Duke Of York is DS's favourite (closely followed by Teddy Bears Picnic), they both love Oranges and Lemons and DD loves the Wheels on the Bus and Sing a Song of Sixpence. I googled any lyrics I couldn't remember.

We used to sing- with my little hands

Now it's
On my own from les Mis
Miss polly has a dolly
Humpty dumty
Edelweiss

Nope, not Canada. But you're warm.

I sing very badly but I always sung a song called ' Daddy's Little Girl' to my children and to my Granddaughter. But changed the lyrics from Daddy to Mummy/ Grandma. It's originally from a 1940/1950s film.
The lyrics are
You are the end of my rainbow, my pot of gold
You're all that I want to have and to hold
A precious gift is what You are
You're grandma's bright and shining star
The spirit of Christmas, my star on the tree
You're the Easter bunny for grandad and me
You're sugar and spice and everything nice
You're grandma's little girl.

In fact I can remember my father singing it to me.

As lullabyes

• rock a bye baby
• who shall have a fishy
• hush little baby don't say a word
• soft kitty (big bang theory)

Pop on Nursery Rhyme TV on YouTube. It's British (rather than American). I learnt loads of new songs from that to sing.
I also bought a book of nursery rhymes and they all came flooding back from my childhood.
I also used to play love songs that I liked and would sing them to him too.

@MonkeyPuddle stealing this to sing to my 3 year old.

I did. Until my toddler said 'No, no, Mummy! You not a good singer.'

Five little ducks, five little monkeys and a lot of Metallica. My Spotify is full of lullaby versions of heavy metal songs

There's a nice twist on twinkle twinkle that my DD liked when she was little.
Twinkle twinkle little star, what a special child you are.
Bright blonde hair and soft soft cheeks
Bright green eyes through which you peek
Twinkle twinkle little star, what a special child you are.

Obviously you adapt to fit your child's description.

In terms of lullaby types songs we also rocked a lot of summertime, somewhere over the rainbow, edelweiss, everything is Alright (just the women's bit from JC superstar), you are my sunshine (change the end to I love you more everyday so slightly less depressing!), pretty much any ballad from a musical etc. I remember having a set list I'd run through trying to get her to sleep!

She's 6 now and we sing each other You're the Tops from Anything Goes, she's the best.

I used to sing Moon River or Hush Little Baby a lot to DS.
I do think they like familiarity and hearing the same songs over over and again!

My girls love the welly boot song, Billy Connolly. My dad used to sing it to us when we were small, and I started to sing it too. Whenever it’s wet, when we’re putting wellies on or taking them off…

WW2 song here too, I must have heard them from my grandparents. My grandfather's clock and american pie were also favourites. I printed off the lyrics as probably only know the first verse of most songs

I can't sing to save my life but DD wasn't left scared.

When she was tiny and coliky she would lie on me and I would sing whatever playlist I had on my ipod (yes, it's 15 years ago). I think just hearing voices and the rumbling of my chest helped.

We then got nursery rhyme CDs and had them on in the car and via Sonos at home. We had a couple we only played at bedtime and sung to her.

I am from Germany and didn't know any English nursery rhymes but they are easy to pick up and most baby groups do sing along sessions. Nursery/Playgroup will also do them when your baby is older and you will hear them for a long long time.

Aww, this has me nostalgic. Mine are all grown up now, but when they were tiny I used to sing them old music hall songs I learned from my dad.

Daisy, Daisy.
Any Umbrellas.
If I Were The Only Girl In The World.

We also liked Ten Little Monkeys Jumping On The Bed; Miss Polly Had A Dolly; and I Do, I Do, I Do by ABBA 😂

Used to sing all the nursery rhymes and we always had them on in the car as well for years before we switched to audio books.

I also sing a luulaby. It's an altered one by Mozart that we got from a CD years ago.

Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles awake you when you rise,
Kisses and cuddles for you and I,
And I will sing a lullaby.
Rock you, lullaby.

Problem with this is that I am still singing it now to my 13 year old, she won't let me stop! I've been singing it every night for over 15 years including the first child!!! It's quite a nice way to end the day but...

We did a lot of old Mac Donald, every animal imaginable with baby signs, because it kept him entertained long enough for me to cook dinner.

DS's favourite was hush little baby. When he got old enough to realise that I could never remember the order, he loved my attempts to make it rhyme anyway

I liked that one too.
Second verse something like:
Care ye know not, therefore sleep
While I o'er you watch do keep
Sleep little darling, do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby

DF (sadly no longer with us) used to sing "To be a farmer's boy" to all the babies in our family - it always used to get them off to sleep - there were about 187 verses!!!

I went with my DN's small children to a Nativity Service at the local church and they taught the children a carol to the tune of The Hokey Cokey:-

Sheep, shepherds, baby Jesus
Sheep, shepherds, baby Jesus
Sheep, shepherds, baby Jesus
That's what it's all about

We had two small toddlers singing that non stop for months afterwards!!!

Current favourite is Hop Little Bunny (learnt from Cocomelon)