Rhymes with Gentle Actions

Row, Row, Row your Boat

Sit on the floor and gently hold your baby's hands, rowing back and forth. Babies often love the scream that follows the appearance of the crocodile, but try not to make loud noises close to your baby's ear. Also avoid screaming too loudly as it may scare the life out of your baby!

Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

Rock, rock, rock your boat, gently to and fro.
Watch out, give a shout, into the water we go. Splash!

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 down the shore.
If you see a lion, don't forget to roar!

Incy Wincy Spider

With young babies, lie them on their backs on the floor. Use your fingers to crawl up their legs and tummy and pitter patter your fingers down their belly for the rain. Smooth across their tummy to represent the sunshine coming out. Babies will love this close contact and giggle delightedly as your tickly spider hands crawl up them. Older babies can sit on the floor opposite you. Encourage them to move their hands together to represent the spider climbing up and the rain falling down.

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.
So Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again.

Alternative version:

Incy wincy spider, climbed up the waterspout.
Down came the rain and washed poor Incy out.
Out came the sunshine and dried up all the rain.
So Incy Wincy Spider climbed up the spout again.

Horsey, Horsey

Your baby will love being bounced on your knee: holding their hands or waist, pretend your knee is a horse, trotting your baby gently up and down. Do an extra big bounce at the "giddy up" point.

Horsey, horsey, don't you stop.
Just let your feet go clippetty clop.
Your tail goes swish and the wheels go round.
Giddy up, we're homeward bound!

Wind the Bobbin Up

A firm favourite for many babies. Sit your baby in front of you or on your lap. Circle their hands around one another when winding the bobbin up, pull their hands apart and then clap them together. Teach them to point to the various objects around the room.

Wind the bobbin up,
Wind the bobbin up,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
Wind it back again,
Wind it back again,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.
Point to the ceiling,
Point to the floor,
Point to the window,
Point to the door.
Clap your hands together,
One, two, three.
Put your hands upon your knees.
Wind the bobbin up,
Wind the bobbin up,
Pull, pull, clap, clap, clap.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

This nursery rhyme can be used as a soothing lullaby, as a way to wind down before a nap or bedtime. Singing this softly and repetitively can really help to settle a grizzly or restless baby. For more alert times you can use actions: wiggle your fingers to "twinkle", point your index finger on both hands moving them upwards (for "up above the world so high") and bring your hands together to make a diamond shape.

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!

Additional verses:

When the blazing sun is gone,
When he nothing shines upon,
Then you show your little light,
Twinkle, twinkle, all the night.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Then the traveler in the dark,
Thanks you for your tiny spark,
He could not see which way to go,
If you did not twinkle so.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

In the dark blue sky you keep,
And often through my curtains peep,
For you never shut your eye,
Till the sun is in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

As your bright and tiny spark,
Lights the traveler in the dark -
Though I know not what you are,
Twinkle, twinkle, little star.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!

Rock-a-Bye Baby

This is another great rhyme to use as a lullaby while having a quiet cuddle with your baby. Gently rock them back and forth in your arms.

Rock-a-bye baby, on the tree top,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,
When the bow breaks, the cradle will fall,
Down will come baby, cradle and all.

Hush, Little Baby

Another soothing rhyme for quiet cuddles and gentle rocking of your baby.

Hush, little baby, don't say a word,
Papa's going to buy you a mocking bird.

If that mocking bird won't sing,
Papa's going to buy you a diamond ring.

If that diamond ring turns to brass,
Papa's going to buy you a looking glass.

If that looking glass gets broke,
Papa's going to buy you a billy goat.

If that billy goat don't pull,
Papa's going to buy you a cart and mule.

If that cart and mule turn over,
Papa's going to buy you a dog named Rover.

If that dog named Rover won't bark,
Papa's going to buy you a horse and cart.

If that horse and cart fall down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town.