Singing to your baby at bedtime is a great way of soothing them in time for sleep.
Try singing gentle songs to your baby each night. It might help them to recognise that it’s time for sleep.
Watch the short video below to remind yourself of the soothing power of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
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
Why is Twinkle Twinkle Little Star important for children?
Singing lullabies like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is a great way soothe your baby, reduce stress and lower heart rate.
Babies start to recognise their parent's voice during pregnancy, so singing to babies can be a great way to bond with them.
Singing slow rhymes like this regularly with them while you cuddle increases the production oxytocin in the brain. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone as it reduces stress and increases relaxation, so it's great for you and your baby.
You don't just have to sing this song at bedtime, it can have a calming effect in other scenarios too. Why not try singing Twinkle Twinkle next time you're changing a nappy?
As your child gets older, this rhyme is still great to sing. You can add actions and see whether your child can follow what you're doing. You could try using your fingers as glittery stars, or use try and make a diamond with them.
These smaller, more precise finger movements can really help the development of fine motor skills.
Doing gestures alongside words is also a great way to help children pick up new vocabulary.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star lyrics
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
