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Nursery rhymes for babies

Children love rhymes and songs and music is great for their development and language learning. Why not try some of these traditional nursery rhymes and original songs with your baby or toddler?

Get started with nursery rhymes here

7 benefits of nursery rhymes for babies and toddlers

Why do we sing traditional nursery rhymes? Find out more about all the benefits that nursery rhymes have for your child

NURSERY RHYMES & SONGS

Choose me a nursery rhyme!

If you're not sure what rhyme to sing or want to learn some new ones, try answering a few questions and let us choose.

NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

Nursery Rhymes for Babies

The Wheels on the Bus

A classic rhyme to sing on the bus, at home, or anywhere really!

RHYMES AND SONGS

Three Little Speckled Frogs

An upbeat song for playtime with your baby.

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Three in the Bed

A fun rhyme to sing with your baby - you could try it when they first wake up in bed.

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Little Miss Muffet

Try singing the classic rhyme 'Little Miss Muffet' at meal times.

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Pop Goes the Weasel

Babies and toddlers love the 'pop' noise in this rhyme!

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Knees Up, Mother Brown

Try singing Knees Up, Mother Brown at playtime.

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Wind the Bobbin Up

Try singing 'Wind the Bobbin Up' the next time you're sat to the table.

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Cross Cross, Line Line

Try playing 'Cross, Cross, Line, Line' and doing the actions in time.

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Classic nursery rhymes

Michael Finnegan

A song with lots of fun rhyming, great as your little one approaches school age.

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One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught a Fish Alive

A playful rhyme that can help introduce numbers to toddlers.

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Old Macdonald

Try singing this old favourite with toys or props and use farm animals and sounds, like 'pig', 'cow' and 'sheep'!

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Six fat sausages

Try singing six fat sausages with your toddler or swap in sausages for their favourite food!

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One banana, two banana

Give our One Banana, Two Banana rhyme a go and have a go swapping the words with your child's favourite foods!

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Jack and Jill

Let your child lead the singing and head up the hill just like Jack and Jill.

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Hickory Dickory Dock

This is a great nursery rhyme to teach your child a fun way to practice counting.

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The Grand Old Duke of York

This marching song is a favourite for its up and down actions.

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Making up nursery rhymes

Walk, Walk Down the Street

A little sing-song on a walk is a great chance to introduce words and phrases about your plans for the day.

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All Your Food is Dribbling Down

You can make meal time a fun learning time by making up songs for your messy baby.

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Splash, Splash Bathtime

Is there a better time to make up a song and get talking than bathtime?

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Bake a Cake

When you're doing something fun like baking a cake, why not make it more fun by making up a song?

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We Are Getting Ready For School

A rhyme to make your morning routine that little bit more fun for children approaching school age.

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Snuggle up and choose a book

Try this new spin on a classic nursery rhyme before sharing a story at bedtime.

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Round and Round for Ages

Have fun together while doing the washing by making up your own words to nursery rhymes.

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Are you hungry?

Try making up your own words like this mum who uses 'I hear thunder' as a starting point.

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Rhymes in a second language - Yorùbá

Eropílénì Ó dàbọ̀ (Goodbye aeroplane)

Singing nursery rhymes from your country, is a great way to help your child learn your language...it's also lots of fun!

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Orí, Èjìká, Orúnkún, Ìka Ẹsẹ̀ (Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes)

Learn the Yorùbá version of the popular nursery rhyme Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes. Perfect for bilingual families!

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Eye Mélo Tolongo Wáyé? (How many birds followed robin to the world?)

This traditional Yorùbá lullaby is the perfect way to send your little one off to sleep at bedtime.

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Baba MacDonald ni oko (Old MacDonald had a farm)

This Yorùbá version of the popular English rhyme is a great way to teach children animal names in a new language.

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Lábẹ́ Igi Òrom̀bó (Under the Orange Tree)

This popular Yorùbá folk song is perfect to sing with your little one when they're playing.

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The Parent Rap - rap skills to help your baby

The Parent Rap - watch the full series

Check out the full set of tips from rappers Lioness and Tony D.

NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

Eye Contact

Tony D raps about how eye contact helps babies to learn language.

NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

Take Turns

Lioness raps about how taking turns gets babies ready for real conversation.

NURSERY RHYMES AND SONGS

The BBC Philharmonic Orchestra play nursery rhymes at home

The Grand Old Duke of York - BBC Philharmonic

Recorded in lockdown, the BBC Philharmonic play a very grand version. Try singing and marching along!

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Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes - BBC Philharmonic

The Philharmonic play a special version of the action rhyme.

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Row Your Boat - BBC Philharmonic

Try singing along with this special lockdown recording.

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Rhymes about your town or city

Tiny nursery rhyme book - Manchester edition

We’ve given seven traditional nursery rhymes a Manchester twist to inspire you to chat and sing.

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The Grand Old Duke of Merthyr

A South Wales spin on the classic rhyme.

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Row Your Boat - Glasgow style

A Glasgow twist on a bathtime favourite.

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Five Little Gulls - Cornwall

A Cornish take on Five Little Ducks.

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Let's Get on the Bus - Belfast

A song about Belfast to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep.

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Hickory Dickory Dock - Manchester version

A Manc version of the classic rhyme featuring a bee.

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More nursery rhyme and song resources

Bookbug Song and Rhyme Library

A collection of songs and rhymes from the Scottish Book Trust.

Scottish Book Trust

Nursery rhymes to try with older children

A collection of rhymes and songs to try at home with your baby and older siblings.

STARTING PRIMARY SCHOOL

Nursery rhymes and songs

Animations of some of the best-known nursery rhymes with music that your children will love!

SCHOOL RADIO

Find an activity to try

Tips and advice

Child development science