New Baby Songs for Big Brothers and Big Sisters

A few days after the new baby comes home, a lot of toddlers ask the same question. "When is the baby going back?" It can sound funny, but it tells you a lot. Your older child is trying to understand a very big change. Mom is tired, the house is busy, and there is a small new person getting a lot of hugs.

Songs can help with this. They give your toddler simple words for new feelings, and they give the big kid a real job to do. Below are the Leigha Marina songs we like best for each step, from the weeks before the baby arrives to bedtime with two kids.

Before the Baby Comes

Baby Brother

Nora, Okee and Bebo the penguin wave hello to baby Lono, who sits in his diaper with a big smile. They tell him he can always hold their hand, and they spell out B, A, B, Y to show how much they love him. Then Bebo picks up baby Lono and holds him close while Lono drinks from his bottle, and he promises to always take care of him. Play this song a few weeks before your due date, so being a big brother or sister sounds like something fun to look forward to. If you are having a girl, just sing "baby sister" instead. Toddlers love it when a song is changed just for their family.

Song About Family is another good one for this stage. Bebo the penguin shows off each person in his family, from Mommy Penguin and Daddy Penguin to his sister Nora, Grandma Penguin and Grandpa Penguin. When the song is over, ask your child to draw your family and leave a spot for the baby. It is a simple way to show them that the baby is joining their family, not taking their place.

The First Weeks at Home

Rest My Baby Lullaby

The words are simple and gentle. "Sweetie baby take my hand and sleep. I am here to take care of your dreams." In the cartoon, Bebo the penguin floats on a fluffy cloud past rainbows and stars while someone who loves him stays close. Toddlers can learn this lullaby in a few days, which makes it a perfect first job for a new big kid. While you rock the baby, your older child can sit next to you and sing it. Being the one who helps the baby fall asleep feels very grown up.

For the times when the baby is awake, try Peek-A-Boo. A princess looks all around the house for the penguin family and finds Bebo in an igloo, Nora in the bathtub and Mia behind a stack of toy blocks. Babies love peekaboo, and it is a game a big brother or sister can play with a new baby right away. Let your older child hide behind their hands and pop out on each "I see you."

When Big Feelings Show Up

My Brother Is My Best Friend

Bebo the penguin and his little brother, baby Lono, spend the whole day together. They read a big storybook, draw with crayons, play on the seesaw and climb a very tall tree. Then baby Lono has a bad day and sits by the window, feeling sad while the rain falls. Bebo puts his arm around him. "Sometimes you may have a bad day. That's okay, I have them too." This is a good song for the hard weeks, when your toddler loves the baby one minute and is upset the next. It shows what being a brother or sister can look like as the kids get older, and it reminds your child that bad days are normal.

Some toddlers act out after a new baby arrives. They might want a bottle again, have more accidents or get rough with the baby. If this is happening in your home, our guide to introducing a newborn baby to a toddler and dealing with jealousy has more help, including how to keep the baby safe.

Bedtime With Two Kids

Hush Little One Lullaby

Mommy Penguin snuggles with Bebo the penguin and baby Lono in one cozy bed and reads them a bedtime story. Then she holds them both close and tells them to close their eyes, because this sweet night will go by fast. The brothers dream about floating on a crescent moon and riding smiling stars across the sky. This is the song for nights when you put both kids to bed together. Your older child sees that there is room in your arms for two.

Save one song just for the big kid. Little Thing I Love Lullaby works well, because the words are about how much a parent's love grows when a child comes into the home. "My heart has grown bigger than the world itself." Sing it to your older child when the baby is asleep. Toddlers often worry that a new baby means less love for them, and this song tells them the opposite.

Small Things That Help the Big Kid

Put their names in the songs. "Baby Emma, baby Emma, you can hold my hand" is a lot more exciting than the regular words. Let your older child choose the bedtime song, even if it is the same one every night. Give them a few minutes of song time alone with you each day, without the baby in the room. And when they sing to the baby, tell them what you saw. "The baby stopped crying when you sang. You are a great big brother."

Questions From Parents

What if my toddler says they don't like the baby?

That is very normal. Try not to tell them they have to love the baby. You can say, "It's hard to share Mommy right now." Then do something just for them, like singing their favorite song together.

Is there a song for a new baby sister?

Baby Brother works for a sister too. Just change the word brother to sister when you sing it. The spelling part, B, A, B, Y, stays the same.

Which song can a big brother or sister sing to the baby?

Rest My Baby Lullaby is a great first song. The words are short and repeat many times, so a toddler can learn them fast and sing them while you rock the baby.