The worst nursery rhymes at bedtime negatively impact a child’s sleep routine and ability to calm down. These rhythmic songs or poems are generally appreciated for their slow and soothing melody which prepares children for sleep, but some can contain certain elements that may inadvertently contribute to feelings of restlessness or anxiety. Knowing which specific nursery rhymes to avoid at bedtime will help you select appropriate rhymes that promote relaxation and comfort.
1. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is one of the most well-known nursery rhymes, but it involves a dramatic fall which could be unsettling for some children. The nursery rhyme reads as:
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
The imagery of the inability to put Humpty back together may evoke anxiety. This discomfort can make for a less calm bedtime environment.
2. There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe
The portrayal of a woman’s struggles to manage her children in this nursery rhyme may make it harder for children to fall asleep at bedtime. There is a sanitized version of this rhyme, but the original words are:
There was an old woman who lived in a shoe.
She had so many children, she didn’t know what to do;
So she gave them some broth without any bread;
And she whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.
The short rhyme is deeper about the difficulties of motherhood and could be difficult to explain. It won’t produce the calming vibe you want for your children before bed.
3. Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater
Talking about how someone couldn’t keep their wife and how he kept her in a pumpkin shell isn’t exactly comforting to hear before bed. The whole nursery rhyme reads:
Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,
Had a wife but couldn’t keep her;
He put her in a pumpkin shell
And there he kept her very well.
Peter, Peter pumpkin eater,
Had another and didn’t love her;
Peter learned to read and spell,
And then he loved her very well.
This nursery rhyme is not only puzzling but also unsettling, as it begs the question if Peter actually ate the wife, which would be cannibalism. This nonsensical rhyme would likely confuse a child, and instead of soothing them to sleep, it could evoke a series of questions.
5. Ring Around the Rosie
The overarching disturbing theme of this nursery rhyme makes it unsettling for young children at bedtime. The nursery rhyme goes:
Ring around the Rosie,
a pocket full of posies
ashes, ashes,
we all fall down!
There are a couple of different ideas about what this nurse may be about, one being the 1665 bubonic plague in England. Other interpretations also tend to be dark and grim, even though children might dance to the song, it doesn’t promote a peaceful bedtime experience.
6. Good night. Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
Creating an image of bugs in the bed during your child’s bedtime isn’t calming for a lot of kids. Bugs can be frightening, and thinking about bugs crawling over you while your eyes are closed will make children very uncomfortable.
7. Baa, baa, black sheep
“Baa, baa, black sheep” has been around for a long time, but the repetitive and simplistic nature may be too engaging for children at bedtime. The nursery rhyme reads:
Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full;
One for the master,
And one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Along with the monotony of the verse, there are a few theories that the rhyme can have negative connotations. One of the potential meanings relates to the wool taxes in 1275 during the medieval times, and another theory is that it’s related to the Transatlantic slave trade. Either way, the enticing melody and deep narrative aren’t a great nursery rhyme to tell your young child before they fall asleep for the night.
8. London Bridge is Falling Down
Telling a child about a bridge falling down is not suitable imagery for bedtime. The first verse reads as:
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady.”
The lyrics of a collapsing bridge can be distressing for young children. Additionally, some say this rhyme is related to a historical Viking attack that took place in the early 1000s which also has morbid connotation and can contribute to uneasy feelings before bed.
9. Rock-a-bye baby
If you stop to really listen to the lyrics of “Rock-A-Bye Baby,” you’ll realize that they are quite dark. The nursery rhyme reads as:
Rock-a-bye baby, on the treetop,
When the wind blows, the cradle will rock,
When the bough breaks, the cradle will fall,
And down will come baby, cradle and all.
A nursery rhyme about loud winds, snapping branches, and babies falling from trees isn’t too warm or comforting to hear before bed. The imagery of a baby being trapped in a tree and then knocked out of the tree due to strong winds can be frightening, so it’s best to avoid this nursery rhyme before bedtime.
10. Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush
The upbeat tempo and repetition make this nursery rhyme a nightmare for getting children to calm down for bed. Here is part of the nursery rhyme:
Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a cold and frosty morning.
This is the way we wash our face, wash our face, wash our face,
This is the way we wash our face
On a cold and frosty morning.
Other verses may include actions like brushing hair and going to school, with each verse repeating the same melody. The lyrics encourage activity and excitement that actually stimulate children’s energy levels rather than helping them settle down for bed.