5 Lovely Lullabies For Infants (and How to Sign Them)
Picture this: the lights are dimmed, and your sweet baby is nestled close against you. Your gentle voice fills the quiet room with a soft melody.
But there’s something special happening beyond the song—your hands are “talking” too, creating a beautiful dance of words and music that speaks directly to your baby’s heart.
Doesn’t that sound so special?
That’s exactly why we’re sharing 5 beloved lullabies for infants along with the exact ASL signs to accompany them. Feel free to try them out at bedtime!
Why Sing—and Sign—at Bedtime?
There’s something magical about lullabies.
The calming qualities, the soothing rhythms…
All seem to create a special connection and sense of calm in your baby. You may even notice certain ones calm your baby more.
Research suggests that singing lullabies helps create a deeper bond between you and your baby. It also may even increase the likelihood of musical aptitude!
It’s also a practice that transcends cultures. Mothers around the world have been soothing their babies with gentle songs for centuries.
But here’s where it gets even more beautiful:
Adding sign language to your lullabies at bedtime gives your preverbal baby a way to “talk back.” Instead of feeling frustrated by their inability to communicate, babies can begin to express themselves through simple signs.
Getting Started: Baby-Friendly Signing Basics
There isn’t a perfect time to start.
However, the earlier your baby is exposed to sign language, the more likely they’ll begin to sign back as they grow older.
Your baby may not sign back right away, and that’s perfectly normal. Keep it low-pressure and full of love.
When you sign, make your movements big, slow, and close to your face so your baby can see both your expressions and your hands. Repeat the same few keywords in each verse and be consistent.
Pairing your signs with spoken or sung words works best.
Also, try not to use made-up gestures, but stick to a sign language system like ASL (American Sign Language).
Free ASL dictionaries like Lifeprint and HandSpeak are wonderful resources for checking your form and learning new signs.
5 Lovely Lullabies for Infants (with ASL Keywords)
Let’s explore five lovely songs that work beautifully for signing during your lullaby bedtime routine.
1. “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
This classic works so well because of its predictable melody and repeated imagery. Research shows that babies’ brains respond particularly well to the steady rhythms found in traditional lullabies for infants.
Video tutorial: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
Key signs to use: STAR, LITTLE, TWINKLE, WORLD, HIGH
How to sign STAR: Gently rub your index fingers upward past each other, like stars twinkling in the sky.
Simple sequence for the first line: TWINKLE-TWINKLE (repeat the motion), LITTLE STAR, then add LIGHT or SHINE.
2. “You Are My Sunshine”
This beloved song works wonderfully because of its simple melody and loving, repetitive phrases.
Video tutorial: You Are My Sunshine
Key signs to use: YOU, MY, SUN/SUNSHINE, HAPPY
How to sign SUN/SUNSHINE: First show the sun (a circle), then show the rays extending outward. Different variations are perfectly acceptable for beginners.
Simple sequence for the chorus: YOU, MY, SUN(SHINE), MAKE-ME HAPPY
3. “Hush, Little Baby”
This traditional lullaby has a wonderful call-and-response structure that you can slow to whatever tempo feels most soothing for your little one.
Video tutorial: Hush Little Baby
Key signs to use: HUSH/QUIET, LITTLE, BABY, MAMA/DADA
How to sign BABY: Cradle your arms and rock gently, as if holding a baby.
Simple sequence for the refrain: HUSH, LITTLE BABY, (MAMA/DADA)
4. “Rock-a-Bye Baby”
This traditional song works beautifully when you focus on the gentle rocking motion and use a comforting facial expression to soften any potentially startling imagery.
Video tutorial: Rock a Bye Baby
Key signs to use: ROCK/CRADLE, BABY, TREE, WIND
How to sign CRADLE/ROCK: Hold your arms as if cradling a baby and rock them slightly back and forth.
Simple sequence for the opening: ROCK-BABY, IN-TREE, WIND BLOW
5. “Good Night Baby” (Baby Signing Time)
This contemporary lullaby is especially wonderful because it was created specifically for signing families. The gentle melody paired with meaningful signs creates beautiful connection during your lullabies bedtime routine.
Video tutorial: Good Night Baby
Key signs to use: GOOD-NIGHT, BABY, DREAM, TIME, SLEEP, LOVE, IMPORTANT, WATCH
How to sign DREAM: Make gentle movements near your forehead that float away, like dreams drifting through sleep.
How to sign WATCH: Point your index and middle finger toward your eyes, then toward what you’re watching.
Simple sequence for key phrases: GOOD-NIGHT BABY, SWEET DREAMS, TIME SLEEP, LOVE BABY, IMPORTANT
Since this is a copyrighted Baby Signing Time song, you can find the complete version with proper signing demonstrations on their official resources.
How to Put It Together: Simple “Choreography”
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Here’s how to make your lullabies feel natural and soothing:
Start by choosing just 3-5 keywords per line. You don’t need to sign every single word. Focus on the most meaningful ones.
Try to sign on the strong beats of the music or at the last important word of each phrase. This creates a beautiful rhythm that babies can follow.
Remember that in ASL, facial expressions are part of the grammar. Let your face match the meaning of what you’re signing. This could be gentle smiles for happy words or peaceful expressions for sleep-related signs.
Between verses, consider adding a calming SLEEP or GOOD-NIGHT sign as a visual cue that bedtime is approaching.
Common Questions About Signing Lullabies
“My baby grabs my hands when I try to sign!”
This is so common and actually wonderful, because it means they’re interested! Let them explore and join in, then try switching to one-handed signs like YOU, MY, or SLEEP when they want to hold your other hand.
“Am I doing it wrong if I use different variations of signs?”
Not at all. If you use “sunrise” instead of “sun” for sunshine, or slightly different versions of signs, that’s perfectly fine for beginners. The key is being consistent within your family so your baby learns to recognize your particular way of signing.
“Will signing delay my baby’s speech?”
Mainstream pediatric sources consistently report that signing doesn’t impede speech development and often reduces frustration as babies learn to communicate. It’s one more tool in their communication toolbox, not a replacement for spoken language.
Getting Started This Week
If this feels like a lot, here’s our suggestion: choose just one lullaby that you already love singing. Learn 3-5 key signs for that song, and repeat it as part of your bedtime routine for a week. Notice how your baby responds, how it feels in your hands, and how it changes the atmosphere of those precious nighttime moments.
There’s no rush, no pressure to be perfect. This is about connection, not performance.
At Buddha Belly Doulas, we love supporting families as they discover new ways to communicate and bond with their little ones.
Whether you’re looking for guidance on incorporating signing into your routine, navigating the early days with a new baby, or simply wanting support as you find your own unique family rhythm, we’re here.
Having someone in your corner makes all the difference.
If you’d like to explore how postpartum support can help you create the kind of calm, connected environment where practices like signing lullabies can truly flourish, come talk to us!
Your baby is lucky to have someone who cares so much about creating meaningful moments together. Start small, trust yourself, and let the beauty of this practice unfold naturally in your family.
