What does Hush Little Baby mean?
A soft lullaby in which a grown-up promises the baby one lovely gift after another to soothe them to sleep. Each new verse offers a new present, so the song can go on as long as the baby needs.
What Hush Little Baby teaches
Beyond being fun to sing, this rhyme quietly builds several early skills:
- A calm, repeating bedtime routine
- New words like mockingbird and looking glass
- Cause and effect, with each "and if" leading to the next
- A gentle, soothing rhythm
When your child knows it well, our flashcards for kids carry the same early skills into playful practice.
Where Hush Little Baby comes from
Hush, Little Baby is a traditional American lullaby, passed down by singing for generations. It has no single author and is in the public domain, so there are many different verses.
Fun activities
- Rock your baby slowly as you sing
- Make up your own gift for a new verse
- Sing it softer and slower toward the end
Frequently asked questions
What are the words to Hush Little Baby?
Hush, little baby, don't say a word, Mama's going to buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird won't sing, Mama's going to buy you a diamond ring, and so on, adding a new gift in each verse.
What is a looking glass in Hush Little Baby?
A looking glass is an old-fashioned word for a mirror.
Why is Hush Little Baby good at bedtime?
Its soft, repeating tune and endless gentle gifts make it very soothing, which helps calm a baby toward sleep.