I think we can all agree that we’ve heard enough of Baby Shark in the past few years. While it’s a great song with a catchy melody, there are so many more interactive songs you can sing and dance to with your baby!
To make this list, I spoke to other families with babies and toddlers to ask what their favorite nursery rhymes and best dance songs were. These 15 Fun Songs for Babies to Dance to in English and in Spanish include my personal favorite songs, too.
The Best Dance Songs for Bilingual Babies
As a new mom, you might be getting stir-crazy with a little baby that doesn’t move that much quite yet. Especially in that 0-6 month range, things can get rather repetitive! Mix it up and throw a dance party at home. It’s a great way to have some fun with your baby.
English Songs
1. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head by B.J. Thomas
With a feel-good message and an upbeat tempo, this is one of the best songs to sing to your little baby. He’ll love watching you sing and dance; it’s great practice for tracking you with his eyes, which occurs at about two months.
2. Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
Make tummy time more fun by dancing along to “Mr Blue Sky”! ELO has a different sound of music than you typically hear, and it can be so exciting to listen to. With a catchy beat and positivity, It’s the perfect song to sing in the morning when you start your day.
3. Itsy Bitsy Spider
While it is already a popular nursery rhyme to sing to your baby, this song gets an honorable mention because you probably already know the lyrics! Add it to your dance playlist and make up some spider dance moves to entertain your little one.
4. Singin’ in the Rain by Gene Kelly
This song is a Hollywood classic appearing in the 1952 musical film, “Singin’ in the Rain.” It’s a catchy tune that is a lot of fun to sing and dance to! Bonus points if you put on the iconic movie scene while you dance along.
5. Somewhere Over The Rainbow by Judy Garland
Improve language development by singing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” slowly and clearly to your child. While not exactly an upbeat song, its slower tune is less stimulating for your baby and is fantastic for bringing the energy down after a long dance party.
6. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
A classic nursery rhyme, Old MacDonald Had a Farm is an easy-to-learn song you and your baby can dance to together. It’s a great addition to your list of songs you sing with your baby on the dance floor (AKA your living room).
7. It’s Raining Tacos
It’s not exactly educational, but “It’s Raining Tacos” is definitely a fun song! Singing about tacos falling from the sky can seem a little silly, but your baby will love to see your dancing and smiling face.
8. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
An oldie but a goodie, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is a simple nursery rhyme that I’m sure you already know the lyrics to. This earns a spot on the list as it is just so short and sweet but fantastic to grab your baby’s attention and dance to.
9. When the Saints Go Marching In by Louis Armstrong
A traditional Christian hymn, this song is often learned on the piano. Give your baby a jump start and begin dancing along to the rhythm of this classic song!
10. Dancing Queen by ABBA
No dance playlist is complete without an ABBA song! This upbeat melody is an essential addition to any dance party; your baby will love it.
11. Pas de Deux from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Hear me out–while not your typical idea of a bopping song for your baby to dance to, this piece of classical music is wonderful for your baby’s developing brain. Check out Tchaikovsky’s other musical pieces for more music to let your baby listen to!
12. Wouldn’t It Be Nice by The Beach Boys
There’s nothing like vintage pop music to dance to! A classic American boy band from the ’60s, The Beach Boys’ “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is an upbeat song to put you in a great mood.
Spanish Songs
13. La Bamba by Ritchie Valens
Baby or not, I’m definitely dancing along to this oldie! Released in 1958, it remains a song that will get everyone in the house moving and grooving.
14. La Vaca Lola
Teach your baby some Spanish and play this fun song about “Lola the Cow” in the living room! Even if you don’t speak Spanish yourself, it’s a great song that will expand your baby’s Spanish vocabulary.
15. Guacamole by Mi Amigo Hamlet
Improve motor skills by dancing along to this fun tune! “Guacamole” has basic Spanish words that will be easy to follow along to even if it isn’t your first language.
16. El Pollito Pio
“El Pollito Pio” is an adorable, fast-paced song that will grab your baby’s attention and encourage them to get moving. The rhythmic pattern of the music is simple and fun to dance to!
17. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom by Selena
A widely popular song in the Latin music genre, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” has a great beat to move to. It’s a cumbia pop fusion full of rhythm and infectious energy.
18. Baila Esta Cumbia by Selena
Another banger by Selena! “The Queen of Cumbia” has so many fun dance melodies in Spanish that make it hard to sit still.
19. El Patito Juan
This cute musical tune is another Spanish song that is a lot of fun! Upbeat and playful, it’s just the thing for your next dance party at home.
20. El Sapo No Se Lava el Pie
A song about a frog not washing his foot has never been more entertaining! The repetitive rhythm of this music is perfect for dance moves and grooving around the house.
Add these songs to your dance playlist to sing and move along with your baby! Dancing and singing are fantastic for improving a baby’s language development, fine motor skills, expression, communication, and creativity.
If you are raising a bilingual baby, sing along to songs in their second language. This helps tremendously to understand the meaning of words and how they are used. Hopefully, this list inspires you to throw your next dance party, whether in the living room, kitchen or even in the car!