Nursery rhymes to sing to your baby! Recommended songs enjoyable from 0 months

nursery rhyme massage

Babies“R”Us – Nursery Rhyme Baby Massage Trial Session

The nursery rhyme famous for “Ippon-bashi ko-cho ko-cho.” It’s a traditional baby massage song where you trace the sole of the foot with your finger and give various sensations—tickling, tapping, pinching, and more.

Since most people know it, you should be able to do it with ease.

At the very end, after “climbing the stairs…,” the tickle is sure to make your baby giggle.

It’s a way to connect with your baby and nurture your bond, and to pass down an old song and preserve our culture.

Please give this song a try and enjoy both.

Fururira~

[Baby Play] “Full Rila~” (from above) baby massage, baby exercises

This is a baby massage song featuring lyrics with a rain motif.

Move the baby’s legs gently from side to side to the music, and stimulate them by expressing the intensity of the rain—like pit-pat or pouring—through touch on their body so they can feel it.

In addition to touching with your fingers, show the movement of your fingers to guide the baby’s gaze, and look into their eyes to send a clear message of love.

Looking into their eyes and touching their body helps release oxytocin—often called the “happy hormone”—in the brain, soothing both of you and wrapping you in a feeling of happiness.

Let's clap our hands

Let's Clap Our Hands

“Let’s Clap Our Hands” is a song where you can enjoy a variety of movements and expressions in time with the lyrics.

Because it also includes expressions of emotions like laughing and getting angry, it helps draw out many different facial expressions from children.

When teachers join in and express themselves while having fun, the children imitate them and show a wide range of expressions too! Seeing them trying their best to express themselves in their own way will surely bring a smile to your face.

Since it involves full-body expression, giving them a bit of space will let them move freely and express themselves more comfortably.

Shopping at the bakery

Hand play “Shopping at the Bakery” for 3-year-olds

“Going Shopping at the Bakery,” a hand-play song where you go to the bakery and buy various kinds of bread.

Hand-play songs are typically enjoyed from around age three, but since this one involves gently pinching your cheeks or pulling the corners of your eyes to match the bread names, it’s also a song that babies in the newborn stage will enjoy if you do it gently.

Mr. ElephantLyrics: Michio Mado / Music: Ikuma Dan

Zou-san | Children's song | Red Cat Reading

Born from the collaboration of lyricist Mado Michio and composer Dan Ikuma as a gentle children’s song depicting the warm bond between parent and child, this piece was first broadcast on NHK Radio in May 1952.

Characterized by its calm 3/4 melody and heartwarming lyrics that cherish one’s individuality, it has been featured frequently on educational and children’s TV programs and is loved by a wide range of generations.

The May 2007 version by Satoko Yamano and the Morinoki Children’s Choir remains one of the most beloved renditions.

With a melody that nestles close to the heart like a gentle spring breeze, it’s perfect for parents and children to hum together.

In the fresh green season, singing it while taking a walk will make for even happier memories.

Squeezing rice balls

Squeezing rice balls

While matching the phrase “onigiri nigiri, nigirinco,” sway your hands left and right and gently squeeze your arms as you give a massage.

In the second verse, the lyrics change to “hokarinco,” so touch your own cheeks or mom’s cheeks to feel their warmth.

In the third verse, the lyrics change to “kororinco,” and you roll your body from side to side like turning over.

These varied stimuli can help promote sensory development, but if the baby’s neck is not yet stable, proceed with caution and do not push it.

somen (thin Japanese wheat noodles)

[Baby 👶 Delighted] “Somen (cold noodles)” Summer bonding play 💓 0-year-olds 😻 So fun! They laugh 😽 ♪ Let’s enjoy playing with baby! [Parent-child, nursery, kindergarten] Stops crying

This is a baby massage song performed by stroking the body in time with the lyrics “Somen somen tsuru-tsuru.” By varying the sensations—like flowing somen, three-color somen, poured-over somen, and chilled somen—you’ll likely bring out your baby’s smiles.

Because there are no big movements and it involves gentle strokes while the baby lies down, it can be done safely from the newborn stage.

By adjusting the intensity of stimulation, toddlers can enjoy it too.

Look closely at your child’s face and touch them gently.