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A sweet collection of bedtime poems for children to include in your nightly bedtime routine.
It’s the end of the day, and you need to get your child ready for bed. Do you read them a bedtime story or two?
Perhaps you sing them a song or play a calm board game? Or maybe you opt for something more poetic with bedtime poems instead.
These poems are specially crafted to ease children into sleep and help them drift off peacefully once they’re tucked in.
Let’s take a look at some of our favorite examples.
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How To Make It A Good Night With Classic Poems At Bedtime
Here are my best tips on how to make bedtime smooth sailing:
- Pick a goodnight poem
- Put a copy by your child’s bed.
- Tuck in your child.
- Read a bedtime poem or other bedtime stories.
- Cherish the memory.
- Repeat every night until they grow up.
How To Use Bedtime Poem With Kids
Bedtime poems are a great way to calm your little one down before bed and they’re great for older kids too. They can be read in a variety of different formats: with audio books, on the floor, or as a book.
Whichever way you choose to use your poems with your nighttime routine, poems are the perfect way to end a busy day with a fun activity. They are also an effective way to calm down your wild little family members.
There are lots of different types of bedtime poems out there. These include simple rhymes, like “Good night, sleep tight, don’t tussle with the covers.”
You can also find longer poems that take more time to read, such as “Have a safe and restful night” or “Let the stars guide you on your way to dreamland.”
Whatever format you choose, make sure it’s something your child is engaged in and not simply reading from an adult-imposed script. If your toddler is happy and interested in what you’re doing, then he will be more ready for bed.
The Best Goodnight Poems For Kids
Here are my favorite children’s poems that my kids absolutely adore during our bedtime rituals. These poems are a playful way to calm down younger children with a lot of energy.
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Here are my favorite poems you can add to your child’s bedtime routine.
Good night by Jane and Ann Taylor
Little baby, lay your head
On your pretty cradle-bed;
Shut your eye-peeps, now the day
And the light are gone away;
All the clothes are tucked in tight;
Little baby dear, good night.Yes, my darling, well I know
How the bitter wind doth blow;
And the winter’s snow and rain
Patter on the window-pane:
But they cannot come in here,
To my little baby dear.For the window shutteth fast,
Till the stormy night is past;
And the curtains warm are spread
Round about her cradle-bed:
So till morning shineth bright
Little baby dear, good night!
The Sugar-Plum Tree by Eugene Field
Have you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree?
‘Tis a marvel of great renown!
It blooms on the shore of the Lollypop sea
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town;
The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet
(As those who have tasted it say)
That good little children have only to eat
Of that fruit to be happy next day.When you’ve got to the tree, you would have a hard time
To capture the fruit which I sing;
The tree is so tall that no person could climb
To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing!
But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat,
And a gingerbread dog prowls below –
And this is the way you contrive to get at
Those sugar-plums tempting you soYou say but the word to that gingerbread dog
And he barks with such terrible zest
That the chocolate cat is at once all agog,
As her swelling proportions attest.
And the chocolate cat goes cavorting around
From this leafy limb unto that,
And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the ground –
Hurrah for that chocolate cat!There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and peppermint canes,
With stripings of scarlet or gold,
And you carry away of the treasure that rains,
As much as your apron can hold!
So come, little child, cuddle closer to me
In your dainty white nightcap and gown,
And I’ll rock you away to that Sugar-Plum Tree
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town.
Sleep Time – by Annette Wynne
When day is over, Mother sings songs
And each child climbs into the crib where he belongs,
And says his prayers, and thinks of things he did all day,
Whether at school or home or on the street at play.
But he never quite gets through for his eyes shut tight
And he doesn’t even hear Mother putting out the light.
When the Sleepy Man Comes by Charles G. D. Roberts
When the Sleepy Man comes with the dust on his eyes,
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
He shuts up the earth, and he opens the skies.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)He smiles through his fingers, and shuts up the sun;
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
The stars that he loves he lets out one by one.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)He comes from the castles of Drowsy-boy Town;
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
At the touch of his hand the tired eyelids fall down.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)He comes with a murmur of dream in his wings;
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
And whispers of mermaids and wonderful things.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)Then the top is a burden, the bugle a bane;
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
When one would be faring down Dream-a-way Lane.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)When one would be wending in Lullaby Wherry,
(Oh, weary, my Dearie, so weary!)
To Sleepy Man’s Castle, by Comforting Ferry.
(So hush-a-by, weary my Dearie!)
Lullaby by Josiah Gilbert Holland
Rockaby, lullaby, bees in the clover!
Crooning so drowsily, crying so low,
Rockaby, lullaby, dear little rover!
Down into wonderland,
Down to the under-land
Go, oh go!
Down into wonderland go!Rockaby, lullaby, rain on the clover!
(Tears on the eyelids that waver and weep!)
Rockaby, lullaby—bending it over!
Down on the mother-world,
Down on the other world,
Sleep, oh sleep!
Down on the mother-world sleep!Rockaby, lullaby, dew on the clover!
Dew on the eyes that will sparkle at dawn!
Rockaby, lullaby, dear little rover!
Into the stilly world,
Into the lily world,
Gone! oh gone!
Into the lily world gone!
The Sandman by William Miller
The rosy clouds float overhead,
The sun is going down;
And now the sandman’s gentle tread
Comes stealing through the town.
“White sand, white sand,” he softly cries,
And as he shakes his hand,
Straightway there lies on babies’ eyes
His gift of shining sand.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown,
As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.From sunny beaches far away—
Yes, in another land—
He gathers up at break of day
His stone of shining sand.
No tempests beat that shore remote,
No ships may sail that way;
His little boat alone may float
Within that lovely bay.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown,
As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.He smiles to see the eyelids close
Above the happy eyes;
And every child right well he knows,—
Oh, he is very wise!
But if, as he goes through the land,
A naughty baby cries,
His other hand takes dull gray sand
To close the wakeful eyes.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown,
As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.So when you hear the sandman’s song
Sound through the twilight sweet,
Be sure you do not keep him long
A-waiting in the street.
Lie softly down, dear little head,
Rest quiet, busy hands,
Till, by your bed his good-night said,
He strews the shining sands.
Blue eyes, gray eyes, black eyes, and brown,
As shuts the rose, they softly close, when he goes through the town.
Good-Night by Jane Taylor
Little baby, lay your head
On your pretty cradle-bed;
Shut your eye-peeps, now the day
And the light are gone away;
All the clothes are tucked in tight;
Little baby dear, good-night.Yes, my darling, well I know
How the bitter wind doth blow;
And the winter’s snow and rain
Patter on the window-pane:
But they cannot come in here,
To my little baby dear;For the window shutteth fast,
Till the stormy night is past;
And the curtains warm are spread
Round about her cradle bed:
So till morning shineth bright,
Little baby dear, good-night.
Cradle Song by William Blake
Sleep, sleep, beauty bright,
Dreaming in the joys of night;
Sleep, sleep; in thy sleep
Little sorrows sit and weep.Sweet babe, in thy face
Soft desires I can trace,
Secret joys and secret smiles,
Little pretty infant wiles.As thy softest limbs I feel
Smiles as of the morning steal
O’er thy cheek, and o’er thy breast
Where thy little heart doth rest.O the cunning wiles that creep
In thy little heart asleep!
When thy little heart doth wake,
Then the dreadful night shall break.
Bed-Time Song by Emilie Poulsson
Sleep, my baby, while I sing
Bed-time news of everything.
Chickens run to mother hen;
Piggy curls up in the pen.
In the field, all tired with play,
Quiet now the lambkins stay.
Kittens cuddle in a heap—
Baby, too, must go to sleep!Sleep, my baby, while I sing
Bed-time news of everything.
Now the cows from pasture come;
Bees fly home with drowsy hum.
Little birds are in the nest,
Under mother-bird’s soft breast.
Over all soft shadows creep—
Baby now must go to sleep.Sleep, my baby, while I sing
Bed-time news of everything.
Sleepy flowers seem to nod,
Drooping toward the dewy sod;
While the big sun’s fading light
Bids my baby dear good-night.
Mother loving watch will keep;
Baby now must go to sleep.
Bed in Summer by Robert Louis Stevenson
In Winter I get up at night
And dress by yellow candle light.
In Summer, quite the other way,
I have to go to bed by day.I have to go to bed and see
The birds still hopping on the tree,
Or hear the grown-up people’s feet
Still going past me in the street.And does it not seem hard to you,
When all the sky is clear and blue,
And I should like so much to play,
To have to go to bed by day?
The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear
The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
“O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!”Pussy said to the Owl, “You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long we have tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?”
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose,
His nose,
His nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.“Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?” Said the Piggy, “I will.”
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.
Additional poems The Whole Family Can Enjoy
- Firefly by Jaqueline Woodson
- The House Was Quiet and the World Was Calm by Wallace Stevens
- Catch a Little Rhyme by Eve Merriam. This is one of our all time favorite bedtime poems!
- Jack by Jane Yolen
- This is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams
- I am Offering this Poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca
- There is no Frigate Like a Book by Emily Dickinson
Reading poetry to your children before bed is a great way to end the day on a soothing and peaceful note. Whether it’s a classic poem from an unknown author or a silly verse from a contemporary children’s poet, bedtime poetry can be a wonderful way to bond with your little ones and help them drift off to sleep.
One of the best things about bedtime poems is that they can be tailored to the age and interests of your child. For little ladies, you might choose a gentle and whimsical poem like “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear. For little children’s eyes, a silly poem like “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein might be just the ticket.
Another great way to incorporate poetry into your bedtime routine is to make up your own verses. You could take inspiration from the sounds of the great sea, like “The Sound of the Sea” by Lewis Carroll. Or from the wooden shoe, like “The Wooden Shoe” by an unknown author. Or from the nets of silver, like “The Silver Nets” by Laura Richards. You could also make up a poem about the golden sleepy-sand, the beautiful sea, or the soft breath of air.
For older kids, you might choose a more complex or thought-provoking poem. “The Land of Nod” by Robert Louis Stevenson is a great choice for children who are ready for a little more depth in their bedtime reading. It explores the idea of a place where children go when they fall asleep, and it’s a perfect poem to help your child explore their own imagination.
No matter what type of poem you choose, the most important thing is to take the time to read it together and enjoy the moment. Whether it’s a funny poem or a serious one, bedtime poetry is a great way to spend some quality time with your child and create a special memory that will last a lifetime. So pick your favorite bedtime poem, or write your own, and start making bedtime a fun and meaningful experience for your little ones.
Bottom Line
As your child gets older, bedtime gets less easy and calming activities and quality time are the best ways to calm kids down. That’s when you realize that reading some bedtime poems to them can be a great way to end their day.
But how to choose the right type of bedtime poem for your young children? I have found some of the most popular, most effective, and downright best bedtime poems for kids.
Poems are powerful tools that younger kids and older kids can enjoy. You can even utilize them during bath time in addition to a good bedtime routine.
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