Authors: Penny Warner
Rock-a-Bye Baby (23 page)
Collect and read nursery rhymes and picture books that offer stories about getting ready for bed, bedtime routines, and going to sleep
.
My favorites:
Goodnight Moon
by Margaret Wise Brown
Goodnight, Gorilla
by Peggy Rathman
Hush Little Baby
by Sylvia Long
Sleepy Bears
by Mem Fox and Kerry Argent
Time for Bed
by Mem Fox and Jan Dyer
Say Goodnight
by Helen Oxenbury
Bear Snores On
by Karma Wilson
Goodnight Max
by Rosemary Wells
Goodnight Spot
by Eric Hill
A Child's Goodnight Book
by Margaret Wise Brown
A Kiss Goodnight
by Amy Hest
If your baby has a stuffy nose, it may be keeping her awake at night. Use a nasal aspirator to clear the nasal passages and help baby breathe better.
(
My favorite: Nasal Aspirator at
www.baby-wise.com
)
These specially created pads attach to the bottom of your baby's crib and rock him to sleep.
(
My favorite: Lullabubs at
www.boingboing.net
)
Turn on a room fan to help the air circulate and to make white noise to lull the baby to sleep. Even better, buy one that fits in with your baby's room decor or theme and is interesting to look at.
(
My favorite:
www.noblewinds.com
)
Since Baby attaches to her mother's scent, you might want to invest in a doll that absorbs your smell while you hold it, then gives off your scent when you offer it to baby. You can create your own by holding the doll close to you for a while.
(
My favorite: the Waldorf Towel Doll at
www.thebabylane.com
)
If your baby falls asleep in the car seat but looks uncomfortable, buy a car-seat pillow that provides support for his head.
(
My favorites:
www.kidalog.net
and
www.babyage.com
)
Sweet Sounds: Lullabies and Nursery Rhymes
Lullabies are parents' universal language when it comes to getting baby to sleep. There's nothing like a sweet song to soothe your baby to sleep. Much like white noise, gentle lyrics relax your baby and hypnotize him into drifting off. You don't even have to stay on key as long as you choose simple lullabies and sing them softly. Here are some of my favorite bedtime lullabies and nursery rhymes to help lull your baby to sleep.
⢠Sing softly.
⢠Choose slow songs rather than up-tempo tunes.
⢠Try to maintain the same rhythm, tone, and volume throughout to help hypnotize your baby to sleep.
⢠Repeat the song over and over. Babies love repetition.
⢠Make up new verses if you forget the lines or get tired of the old ones.
⢠Add your baby's name or other familiar names to the song.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring.
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass.
And if that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat.
And if that billy goat won't pull,
Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull.
And if that cart and bull fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star
How I wonder what you are.
The itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.
Out came the sun
And dried up all the rain
And the itsy-bitsy spider
Climbed up the spout again.
Lullaby and good night, with roses bedight
With lilies o'er spread is baby's wee bed.
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lay thee down now and rest, may thy slumber be blessed.
Lullaby and good night, thy mother's delight.
Bright angels beside my darling abide.
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
They will guard thee at rest, thou shalt wake on my breast.
The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms.
But when I awoke, dear, I was mistaken,
So I hung my head and I cried.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.
Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques,
Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous?
Sonnez les matines, sonnez les matines,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
(English version)
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping,
Brother John, Brother John?
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
Ding ding dong, ding ding dong.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One for the master,
One for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
One to mend the jerseys,
one to mend the socks,
and one to mend the holes in
the little girls' frocks.
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full.
It's raining, it's pouring;
The old man is snoring.
He went to bed
And he bumped his head,
And he couldn't get up in the morning.
Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop.
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle, and all.
You don't have sing to your baby to get her to sleep. Sometimes just the sound of your voice, soft and monotone, will do the trick. Here are some simple and familiar rhymes you can read to your baby or memorize and recite at bedtime.
Sleep, baby, sleep
Our cottage vale is deep: The little lamb is on the green,
With woolly fleece so soft and cleanâ
Sleep, baby, sleep.
Sleep, baby, sleep,
Down where the woodbines creep;
Be always like the lamb so mild,
A kind, and sweet, and gentle child.
Sleep, baby, sleep.