10 Baby Nursery Rhymes

You’ve arrived at the stage of mamahood when you are googling baby nursery rhymes. It was always going to happen. (What, were you just expected to know the lyrics?). Luckily for you, we’ve got all the support you need. Here, we’ve got the words to 10 of the most famous nursery rhymes out there. Let’s get singing!

Nursery rhymes for babies

What is the most famous nursery rhyme? There probably isn’t just one. But “Twinkle, Twinkle," "Baa Baa Black Sheep," and "Humpty Dumpty” are all pretty famous!

Here are some of the most popular baby nursery rhymes to enjoy with your little one.

Twinkle Twinkle

“Twinkle Twinkle” is about as classic as it gets when it comes to nursery rhymes. It also doubles as a baby lullaby. So, if you want to help ease baby off into a snooze, this tune might be your best friend.

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.

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

A baby nursery rhyme with a different sort of vibe. It’s a nice tune, with opportunities for some fun twists that can be super entertaining for baby. (Everyone loves a squeak or roar!)

When baby’s all grown up, you can do it together with the actions, too. Row to the beat!

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, Life is but a dream.

Row, row, row your boat Gently up the creek. If you see a little mouse Don’t forget to squeak!

Row, row, row your boat Gently down the stream. If you see a crocodile Don’t forget to scream!

Row, row, row your boat Gently to the shore. If you see a lion Don’t forget to roar!

Old McDonald

One of the most high-energy nursery rhymes out there, "Old McDonald” is a smash hit when it comes to baby songs. You’ll need your best animal impressions at the ready!

Remember, for different verses, swap out the cow noises with an animal of your choice. A pig? Oink oink. A dog? Woof woof. A parrot? Squawk squawk. You get the idea.

Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O! And on this farm he had a cow, E-I-E-I-O! With a moo, moo here And a moo, moo there. Here a moo, there a moo, Everywhere a moo, moo. Old McDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!

Humpty Dumpty

What is the creepiest nursery rhyme? Let’s be honest, it could well be "Humpty Dumpty." Who is Humpty Dumpty? Will he be okay? And why is he usually shown as an egg?

It’s definitely a weird one. But, creepiness aside, it’s a classic.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men Couldn’t put Humpty together again.

Baa Baa Black Sheep

Another one of those nursery rhymes for newborns that probably started life as a lullaby. It’s calming, gentle, and simple – for when you need to chill things down.

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!

Jack and Jill

Like many other nursery rhymes, this one is just a great big puddle of confusion when you think too hard about the lyrics. (He mended his head with what??) However, despite its story about hurting yourself, "Jack and Jill” is a classic and deserves to be on any list of baby nursery rhyme songs.

Jack and Jill went up the hill To fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after. Up Jack got, and home did trot, As fast as he could caper. He went to bed to mend his head With vinegar and brown paper.

Incy Wincy Spider

“Incy Wincy Spider” tells the story of the challenges facing Incy Wincy (or Eensy Weensy, or Itsy Bitsy), a spider who just wants to climb the waterspout. The rain comes, he falls, but, ultimately, there’s a happy ending. Also, the song’s lovely.

The Incy Wincy spider climbed up the waterspout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out. Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain, And the Incy Wincy spider climbed up the spout again.

Famous nursery rhymes with actions

What’s better than baby nursery rhymes? Baby nursery rhymes with actions. Whether baby’s growing up and can move a little, or you just need to be a performing monkey, these nursery rhymes are entertainment for all.

I’m a Little Teapot

If you weren’t enough things already, mama--cook, cleaner, taxi driver, anything else??--you’re also a teapot now. Get those arms flexed and those hips moving.

When you sing "handle," put a hand on your hip. When you sing "spout," poke out your opposite hand like the spout of a teapot. And when you sing "pour me out," lean over like you’re being poured. You’ve got this, mama!

I’m a little teapot, short and stout. Here’s my handle, here’s my spout. When the water’s boiling, hear me shout, “Tip me over and pour me out!”

Round and Round the Garden

A combination of a nice song and a tickle under the arms. What more could a baby want? On "one step, two steps," walk your fingers up baby’s chest. And when you sing the last line, get tickling!

Round and round the garden Goes the teddy bear. One step, two steps, Tickle him under there!

Hickory Dickory Dock

"Hickory Dickory Dock” may take a little getting used to, as it involves bouncing, clapping, and a tickle under the chin. But babies love it.

Hickory dickory dock [Bounce baby to the beat – gently!] The mouse ran up the clock [run your fingers from their toes to chin] The clock struck one [clap once] The mouse ran down [run your fingers down to your baby's toes] Hickory dickory dock

Hickory dickory dock [bounce baby to the beat again] The mouse ran up the clock [run your fingers from their toes to chin] The clock struck two [clap twice] The mouse went "boo!" [cover baby's eyes with your hands then pull them away on boo!] Hickory dickory dock

The next two verses are the same, but with different lyrics for “three” and “four”:

Three… the mouse went weeee [lift baby in the air on "weeee”]

Four…The mouse went "no more!" [shake your finger no more!]

The Wheels on the Bus

We’ll end with the longest nursery rhyme--a song about all of the different characters on the bus. “Round and round” or “swish, swish, swish” are your key moments to move those hands, mama.

The wheels on the bus go round and round [roll hands like wheels], Round and round, Round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through the town.

The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish [swish hands like windscreen wipers], Swish, swish, swish, Swish, swish, swish. The wipers on the bus go swish, swish, swish all through the town.

The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep [pretend to beep a horn] Beep, beep, beep, Beep, beep, beep. The horn on the bus goes beep, beep, beep All through the town.

The doors on the bus go open and shut [open and shut doors with your hands], Open and shut, Open and shut. The doors on the bus go open and shut All through the town.

The Driver on the bus says, “Move on back [point thumb over your shoulder], Move on back, Move on back.” The Driver on the bus says, “Move on back” all through the town.

The babies on the bus say, “Wah, wah, wah [rub your fists on your eyes], Wah, wah, wah, Wah, wah, wah.” The babies on the bus say, “Wah, wah, wah” all through the town.

The mommies on the bus say, “Shush, shush, shush [finger over the mouth] Shush, shush, shush Shush, shush, shush.” The mommies on the bus say, “Shush, shush, shush” all through the town.

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