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You don’t need the voice of an angel to sing baby to sleep with lullabies. Regardless of your ability to hold a tune (or lack thereof), singing may just be the easiest way to soothe a child, not to mention a beautiful bonding experience between parent and baby. What’s more, the music may have some desirable pre-bedtime physical effects; a study found that lullabies can reduce a baby’s heart and respiration rates, setting the stage for a more restful night. But of course, there are only so many times you can sing “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”—though, it’s one of our favorites!). If you’re looking for new baby lullabies, you’ve come to the right place.

We’ve rounded up the most beautiful lullaby songs for kids of all ages, including tried-and-true classics (“Hush, Little Baby”) and modern options too (Disney’s “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and The Beatles’ “I Want to Hold Your Hand”). Whether you’re looking for traditional lullabies, catchy melodies with meaningful words, an Irish lullaby or a French one, we’ve got them all here—complete with videos so you can teach yourself a few beautiful lullaby songs you may not know yet. Scroll to see our 23 favorite baby lullabies—plus some lullaby lyrics to learn.

This classic baby lullaby promises that you’ll be there for baby, no matter what. Of course, parents would buy their little love the moon and the stars if they could, but all baby really wants or needs is your pledge of love and affection.

“Hush, little baby, don’t say a word, Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird And if that mockingbird don’t sing, Papa’s gonna buy you a diamond ring And if that diamond ring is brass, Papa’s gonna buy you a looking glass…”

Who doesn’t remember this classic French lullaby? While technically more of a morning song—“Morning bells are ringing, Brother John!”—“Frère Jacques” has long been considered a lullaby, and who are we to argue? Sung softly, it will instantly lull babies to sleep. (We also love it as a song to sing to slightly older children who are afraid of the dark. The sun will come soon enough!) Better yet? These lullaby lyrics offer a great way to introduce babies and toddlers to a second language.

“Frère Jacques, frère Jacques Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines Sonnez les matines Ding dang dong Ding dang dong”

“Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Brother John, Brother John, Morning bells are ringing! Morning bells are ringing! Ding dang dong Ding dang dong”

Though written in 1913 for the musical Shameen Dhu, the Irish lullaby—its subtitle is “That’s an Irish Lullaby,” after all—feels like a folk song passed down from Irish mum to Irish mum through the generations. And the giggle-worthy chorus? Infectious.

“Over in Killarney, many years ago My mother sang a song to me in tones so sweet and low Just a simple little ditty, in her good old Irish way And I’d give the world if she could sing that song of hers today Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral Too-ra-loo-ra-li Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral Hush now don’t you cry…”

You can’t round up a list of the best baby lullabies without “Cradle Song,” commonly referred to as “Brahms’ Lullaby,” as it was composed by Johannes Brahms. While you may know the melody, you probably don’t know all of the lyrics—and you must, because you’ll be singing it to your little one soon enough( if you haven’t already)!

“Lullaby and goodnight, With roses bestride With lilies bedecked, ’neath baby’s sweet bed May thou sleep, may thou rest, may thy slumber be blest May thou sleep, may thou rest, may thy slumber be blest…”

No, we’re not talking about the Pitbull song. (Though that one’s also undeniably catchy.) Rather, we’re singing the famous Mother Goose melody from the 18th century. That’s why it’s so easy to follow along (even if the lyrics are slightly creepy and dark!). This lullaby song will have baby drifting off to sleep before you know it.

“Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop When the wind blows, the cradle will rock When the bough breaks, the baby will fall And down will come baby, cradle and all.”

This lullaby song provides such sweet visuals. Who wouldn’t want to nod off to the image of their mother shaking the “dreamland tree” so dreams slowly fall around them like leaves? One of the most beautiful lullabies, for sure.

“Sleep, baby, sleep Your father tends the sheep Your mother shakes the dreamland tree And from it fall sweet dreams for thee Sleep, baby, sleep Sleep, baby, sleep.”

“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” is iconic because it speaks truths. Every child looks up at the sky and tries to understand the stars! (For that matter, plenty of adults do too.) Sing this baby lullaby right before bed, when your cutie is cuddled up and wistfully looking out the window, admiring those celestial spheres in all their glory.

“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…”

Technically, the beloved chorus to this song doesn’t reveal the whole story. In full context, it’s actually about serious heartbreak—which is why parents have typically skipped to the somewhat lighter lines of this 1939 country tune by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell. Still, children are the bright spots in their parents’ lives, and this baby lullaby can serve as a sunny reminder of how special our kiddos really are.

“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…”

Though it isn’t known for certain, many historical scholars believe “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” was written with allusions to the Underground Railroad, the freedom movement that helped fugitive slaves escape to the North, making this tender lullaby song even more soulful.

“Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home Swing low, sweet chariot Coming for to carry me home

I looked over Jordan and what did I see Coming for to carry he home A band of angels coming after me Coming for to carry me home…”

Of all of Disney’s beautiful lullabies, this one, featured in the 1950 animated film Cinderella, may just be one of our favorites. The message: With a little faith, everything is possible. It encourages kids to keep dreaming, and we believe only good can come from that.

“A dream is a wish your heart makes When you’re fast asleep In dreams you lose your heartaches Whatever you wish for, you keep

Have faith in your dreams and someday Your rainbow will come smiling through No matter how your heart is grieving If you keep on believing The dream that you wish will come true…”

While this song is known and beloved, many are surprised to learn that it wasn’t originally an Irish lullaby. The first version of “Danny Boy” was written in 1910 by an English lawyer and lyricist, Frederic Weatherly. Later, his Irish-born sister-in-law shared the song “Londonderry Air" with him, and in response, he changed the tune and rhyme scheme of “Danny Boy” to fit the same lilting pattern. Even if you’re not of the Emerald Isle, who can resist the instant nostalgia of this baby lullaby? It’s whimsical and wistful, which makes it, in our humble opinion, all the more sincere when sung.

“Oh, Danny boy, The pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side The summer’s gone, and all the flowers are dying 'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide

But come ye back when summer’s in the meadow Or when the valley’s hushed and white with snow 'Tis I’ll be here in sunshine or in shadow Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so…”

If you’re looking for a baby lullaby to rock your child to sleep with, “All the Pretty Horses” is a gorgeous choice. The popular version of today talks about all the pretty horses that the child will wake up to in the morning: “Blacks and bays, dapples and grays,” prancing just for baby.

“Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry Go to sleep, my little baby When you wake, you shall have All the pretty little horses

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys A coach and six white horses Hush-a-bye, don’t you cry Go to sleep you little baby…”

Another Disney classic, this one’s from Dumbo,—which of course you know, because who can forget the image of Dumbo’s mom, Mrs. Jumbo, rocking her floppy-eared baby to sleep in her trunk? (No, you’re crying.)

“Baby mine, don’t you cry Baby mine, dry your eyes Rest your head close to my heart Never to part, baby of mine

Little one when you play Don’t you mind what you say Let those eyes sparkle and shine Never a tear, baby of mine…”

The Everly Brothers’ dreamy ditty may be about romantic love, but in this stanza, parental love could just as easily apply. Just wrap baby in your arms and start singing these lovely lines.

“Dream, dream, dream, dream Dream, dream, dream, dream When I want you in my arms When I want you and all your charms Whenever I want you, all I have to do is Drea-ea-ea-ea-eam, dream, dream, dream

When I feel blue in the night And I need you to hold me tight Whenever I want you, all I have to do is Dream…”

Billy Joel’s “Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel),” written for his daughter Alexa Ray Joel, has a powerful purpose: to remind children that, no matter what happens in life, they will never be alone. Softly sing this beautiful baby lullaby to send your darling angel off to Dreamland.

“Goodnight, my angel Time to close your eyes And save these questions for another day I think I know what you’ve been asking me I think you know what I’ve been trying to say I promised I would never leave you And you should always know Wherever you may go No matter where you are I never will be far away…”

Made famous by the incomparable Judy Garland, this iconic tune from The Wizard of Oz is the ultimate modern baby lullaby. After all, Dorothy heard of the place “where trouble melts like lemon drops”—a dream world, indeed—“once in a lullaby.” This sweet song by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg will always have you clicking your heels together to run home and scoop up your loved ones in a big embrace.

“Somewhere over the rainbow, way up high There’s a land thatI heard of once in a lullaby Somewhere over the rainbow, skies are blue And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true…”

“Silent Night” is one of the prettiest holiday-themed lullabies. It’s calm and soothing for baby to listen to, and it tells the story of Christmas in the simplest and sweetest way. All parents want during the holiday season and beyond is a silent night, and this song can help them get their wish.

“Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin, mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace…”

And, by the way, if you’re looking for a Hanukkah-themed song to sing to your baby, consider the aptly named “Hanukkah Lullaby” by Ruth Abrams. The song itself is delicate and twinkling, and it can be accompanied by Abrams’ gorgeously illustrated—and informative—book about the holiday.

The traditional Scottish folk song may have been written about a man—Charles Edward Stuart, or “Bonnie Prince Charlie,” to be exact. Some believe this ditty originated after he was exiled following defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. But since the subject is ambiguous, the song can double as a love song, and a soft one at that—perfect for lulling a baby to sleep.

“My Bonnie lies over the ocean My Bonnie lies over the sea My Bonnie lies over the ocean Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me

My Bonnie lies over the ocean My Bonnie lies over the sea Well, my Bonnie lies over the ocean Yeah, bring back my Bonnie to me…”

The Beatles’ early hit is as dreamy as other traditional lullaby songs, and the lyrics? Just as appropriate for parents to sing to their little one. Grab hold of your sweetie’s hand and sing away. (Runner-up: “Hey Jude” is equally charming, with a message of resilience.)

“Oh yeah, I’ll tell you something I think you’ll understand When I say that something I wanna hold your hand I wanna hold your hand I wanna hold your hand…”

One last Disney entry to our list of the best baby lullabies. Perhaps because it’s so short and sweet, “La La Lu” is often overlooked among Disney classics. But this beauty, actually written as a lullaby for Lady and the Tramp, boasts stunning imagery like, “I’ll sweep the stardust for you.” How beautiful is that?

“La la lu, La la lu Oh, my little star sweeper I’ll sweep the stardust for you

La la lu, La la lu Little soft fluffy sleeper Here comes a pink cloud for you

La la lu, la la lu Little wandering angel Fold up your wings, close your eyes…”

Peter, Paul and Mary’s wistful song about a little boy named Jackie and his dragon friend, Puff, is the definition of whimsical. Though the ending is sad—Jackie grows up, and Puff goes back to his cave—what child wouldn’t want a friendly dragon friend? It’s the ultimate fantasy, and one of the ’60s most enduring songs.

“Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea And frolicked in the autumn mist In a land called Honnalee Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff…”

With a name like “Your Song,” Elton John’s modern masterpiece can easily be sung as a baby lullaby. It always sounds personalized; start singing it when your child’s a baby, and they may always believe it was written just for them. (We’ll never tell.)

“It’s a little bit funny, this feeling inside I’m not one of those who can easily hide I don’t have much money but boy, if I did I’d buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, ha But then again, no Or a man who makes potions in a traveling show I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can do My gift is my song, and this one’s for you…”

Our last pick for the best lullaby songs is special for many reasons, but mostly because it’s a duet! You sing the first line, your child sings the next and then you keep going until your little one falls asleep.

“Leader: Goodnight to you Baby: Goodnight to me Leader: Now, close your eyes and go to sleep Goodnight, sleep tight, sweet dreams tonight Goodnight, I love you.”

Add these sweet lullaby songs to your bedtime routine, and you and baby are sure to benefit. Singing, humming and sharing the sweet sound of a song will help your little one relax before drifting off to sleep—plus, it’ll give you both some much-needed snuggle time. Did your favorite baby lullaby not make the cut? No worries. As long as you’re sharing lyrics of love and a mellow tune, baby will soak up every melodic moment. Enjoy!

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

Plus, more from The Bump:

Singing Soothes Baby Better Than Talking, Study Finds

Tips for How to Get Baby to Sleep

11 Reasons Why Babies Cry—and How to Soothe Their Tears