Music for Baby.

Annamusic

One of my recent projects was setting up a playlist for the ipod in Anna's room. It's nice to have some music on when we're hanging out in there or when she is trying to get to sleep.

I wanted a good mix of music: some new, some old, some for babies, but mostly mellow stuff that I like. A few of my favorites in the mix include:

Sarah McLachlan - Too Cool for School - Mixtape for Kids - Blackbird Blackbird by Sarah McLachlan
Renee & Jeremy - It's a Big World - Three Little Birds Three Little Birds by Renee & Jeremy (special thanks to Deirdre - entire album is wonderful)
Elizabeth Mitchell - You Are My Sunshine - You Are My Sunshine (Pt. 1) You Are My Sunshine by Elizabeth Mitchell
Jack Johnson - Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur - Imagine Imagine by Jack Johnson
Johnny Cash with Bob Dylan - The Essential Johnny Cash - Girl from the North Country Girl From The North Country by Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan
Yael Naïm - Yael Naïm - New Soul New Soul by Yael Naim

Here's a link to the full iMix: For Baby

Edited: here's the full list (you can find it on iTunes by searching the iMix section for "For Baby")

All My Days by Alexi Murdoch
Amazing Grace by Randy Travis
Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt
Blessed Be by Alison Krauss
Daughters by John Mayer Trio
Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic by The Police
Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby) by Joshua Radin
Galileo by Indigo Girls
Gotta Have You by The Weepies
Have a Little Faith In Me by John Hiatt
The Heart of the Matter by India.Arie
I Hope by Dixie Chicks
I Will Remember You by Sarah McLachlan
Ice Cream (iTunes Originals Version) by Sarah McLachlan
Imagine by Jack Johnson
Just the Way You Are by Diana Krall
Let My Love Open the Door by Sondre Lerche
Little Room by Norah Jones
Lover Lay Down by Dave Matthews Band
Lullaby by Dixie Chicks
Lullaby by Jack Johnson & Matt Costa
New Soul by Yael Naïm
Night Mantra by Renee & Jeremy
Push by Sarah McLachlan
Redemption Song by Bob Marley & The Wailers
Satellite by Dave Matthews Band
Someone Like You by Van Morrison
Songbird by Eva Cassidy
Sunrise by Norah Jones
Sweet Jane by Cowboy Junkies
Three Little Birds by Elizabeth Mitchell
Three Little Birds by Renee & Jeremy
Time After Time by Eva Cassidy
Welcome to This World by Renee & Jeremy
When You Say Nothing at All (Live) by Alison Krauss & Union Station
Where Are You Going? (Live In Copenhagen) by Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
You Are My Sunshine (Pt. 1) by Elizabeth Mitchel
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As I was setting this up today I started thinking that documenting this would be a cool thing to do for Anna's baby album. I wondered if my Mom & Dad listened to music around the house when I was a baby and if they did, what were they into? I went to my Baby playlist on iTunes and hit print. 

Printing

The cool thing I discovered is that in iTunes you can print out your playlist as a CD case and it can include some of the album cover images as well...perfect for then creating a page that showcases the songs on her babyhood. I printed the sheet you see above on photo paper and have it ready to add to a layout here on my workspace.

I would love to read your recommendations for good hang-out-with-a-baby music. Feel free to leave some of your favorites listed in the comments.

And the super cute felted bunny in the top photo? It is from a felted pattern called Wolly Bunnies designed by Marie
Mayhew
available from The Yarnery. Seems like a perfect Easter or spring or new baby crafty project. I checked out their site and they also offer a full kit (vs. just the pattern) to felt two bunnies.

Dottedline

A warm welcome to my newest sponsors: Paper Relics and Scrapbook Circle. Look for giveaways from each of them later this month.

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185 thoughts

  1. Jennifer says…
    03/30/2009

    John Lennon - Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)...I adore this song and love (love, love, love) the message.
    Savage Garden - I Knew I Loved You (before I met you)...to me, such a great song for a baby...because we DO love them before we meet them.
    Great idea Ali...cannot wait to see the finished page you create with the iTunes printout.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Cindy Mandernach says…
    03/30/2009

    how about "the luckiest" by ben folds...soothing and beautiful....
    cindy

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Melissa says…
    03/30/2009

    Leaving on a jet plane always made my son happy when he is just a few months old.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Rhonda Hestir says…
    03/30/2009

    A little more punch enabling: McGill has a new pair of punches called "Fancy Square"- they are the "Artisan" shape, like the Jenni Bowlin Labels. They come in Large and Small for layering!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Kristi Z. says…
    03/30/2009

    Guitar Lullaby by Ricardo Cobo is awesome and great to relax to. You'll love it:
    http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Lullaby-Ricardo-Cobo/dp/B00004TWSZ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1238416117&sr=8-1

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Amy says…
    03/30/2009

    Ali, thanks for directing us to the felted bunny kit! I ordered the bunny and the little nest! So cute! I hope I can finish them for Easter. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. pinefeather says…
    03/30/2009

    my favorite children's CDs (that I love listening to over and over!) the Martha Stuart Baby: Sleepytime CD, Catch the Moon by Lisa Loeb & Elizabeth Mitchell, and You are my Little Bird by Elizabeth Mitchell :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Nicole says…
    03/30/2009

    Love, love, love 'Blackbird'! Good choice! I made my daughter a mix when she was a baby (four years ago, last Monday **sniff**) and found it recently. We listened to it and my kids (four and five years old) really loved "Yellow" by Coldplay.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Jennifer M. says…
    03/30/2009

    We played our daughter a lot of Beatles songs: Blackbird, Mother Nature's Son, Golden Slumbers, Goodnight. She is going to be 14 this fall and she still loves to listen to the Beatles.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Wendy says…
    03/30/2009

    A couple of songs that we (my husband and I) still know the words to, and our son is 13, would be By Baby Bunting and We Willy Winkie. We played a lot of classical music for him too. He loved it. Ironically, music has become a very important part of his life...he's been playing the piano for nine years!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. KDuPree says…
    03/30/2009

    I've always loved For Baby (for Bobbie) and Follow Me by John Denver. My son loved those when he was little. Also Tzena Tzena - a favorite when I was little because my mom sang it to me, and my son also loved it. I'd dance with him in my arms. Get one with words, not just the music, I especially love the Sharon, Lois and Bram version, and most of it's in English.
    Here are some other favorites: Somewhere over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, In My Daughter's Eyes by Martina McBride, Halley Came to Jackson by Mary Chapin Carpenter, Hold Me Thrill Me Kiss Me by Mel Carter, Everything by Michael Buble, Dream Big by Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band, and Power of Two by the Indigo Girls. These are all favorites of my family. I hope you like them.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Linda says…
    03/30/2009

    I played a lot of Kenny Loggins. Loved Return to Pooh Corner, Baby Mine, The Horses. Enjoy your litte one!

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Ginny McDaniel says…
    03/30/2009

    Highly recommend Linda Ronstadt's album "Dedicated to the One I Love" it is a collection of older songs that everyone knows but sung in lullaby style. Queens "Rock You" was a favorite in our house!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Cori says…
    03/30/2009

    Enya and Loreena McKennitt are good ones too for soft music. The discs you can get with the nature sounds and instrumental are good ones too.
    Have a cuddle for me please with that beautiful little girl of yours!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Sarah B says…
    03/30/2009

    We did the same thing when our little guy was smaller. Our favorites were (and still are) "Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, "Home" by Jenny Bruce and "It's Alright to Cry" by Darius Rucker. I'm excited to look into some of your favorites, as well!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Lori says…
    03/30/2009

    I think you would really enjoy David Wilcox. There are two artists by this name and the one I am referencing is from the US. He is a story teller in all of his songs. His songs are tender and thought provoking.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. JennyRebecca says…
    03/30/2009

    I 2nd the Martha Stewart Sleepytime CD - it's WONDERFUL!!! I dance every night with my daughter as part of her bedtime routine and we love The Weepies - especially Happiness - in particular Simple Life & Somebody Loved.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Sue B>.. says…
    03/30/2009

    We have an instrumental CD version of many of the Disney songs that plays on a loop in my daughter's bedroom, still now and she's 6. I find myself humming along as I know the words too. When the kids were very small we had a CD of womb sounds that are a bit crazy, but I think soothing to the kids, like heartbeat. Maybe these things are available to download now I imagine. Sue B>>>

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Sue B>.. says…
    03/30/2009

    We have an instrumental CD version of many of the Disney songs that plays on a loop in my daughter's bedroom, still now and she's 6. I find myself humming along as I know the words too. When the kids were very small we had a CD of womb sounds that are a bit crazy, but I think soothing to the kids, like heartbeat. Maybe these things are available to download now I imagine. Sue B>>>

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Sandy says…
    03/30/2009

    Bare Naked Ladies...When you dream....Love that song for and about babies. Check it out.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Rhonda Markham says…
    03/30/2009

    My daughter will be giving birth soon and I am a very lucky grandmother, indeed, to be able to stay home and "keep" the baby when she goes back to work. I would very much love to see your itunes for baby playlist for a reference point, but I cannot seem to get to that link (can only get to the main itunes page). Is there another way to view your list so that I might get some music ideas? Thanks so much, Ali, and I am so loving your updates about your new precious Anna.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Julie G says…
    03/30/2009

    Right now I am enjoying "I'm yours" by Jason Mraz and "Somewhere over the rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole when I nurse my 9 week old Violet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Expat says…
    03/30/2009

    Maybe you could download the songs onto a CD, to include in your layout (as opposed to just the playlist). It would be a nice surprise for Anna to find and play when she is older (if CD players are still around then)!
    "You Belong To Me" by Jason Wade from the Shrek soundtrack is a goodie, too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. remember moments says…
    03/30/2009

    What a great idea Ali. I've been wanting to have some baby-friendly music for sleep time for my little guy, especially since he's not a good sleeper. I'm going to check out your full list when I get home.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. beth says…
    03/30/2009

    "little bird" by jonatha brooke....

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