Lullabies are usually the best music to help get your baby or toddler to sleep, but sometimes they can be a bit boring, especially if they’re the same-old, same-old. Rockabye Baby! is a CD with Lullaby Renditions of the Beatles, which would be infinitely more interesting to parents and children, and probably just as soothing as traditional lullabies.

Twelve Beatles songs are interpreted as lullabies, including Yesterday, Michelle, Strawberry Fields Forever, Yellow Submarine, and Here Comes the Sun. This would also make a great gift for a new baby or a shower gift, especially if the expectant parent is a music lover. You can purchase this unique lullaby CD at BandTees.com, where it’s available for $16.99.

When you become a parent, you hope that your child will, one day, have the same tastes in music that you do. Barring that, you hope that he will not listen to any of the more annoying children’s music that clogs the airwaves. My son first saw Dan Zanes performing his song “Hello, Hello” on Playhouse Disney and was hooked. Since then, the entire family has gone to see him in concert twice and my son even had Zanes sign his copy of the “Hello, Hello” book. Zanes’ music falls into the non-annoying category of children’s music, having a great, folksy beat and lyrics you can remember.

This book illustrates Zanes’ song, which is a happy, uplifting little tune that also teaches listeners how to say “hello” in many languages. Beautifully illustrated by Donald Saaf, the book comes with a 5-song CD that includes, of course, “Hello, Hello.” On this CD, Zanes introduces children to many different styles of music, broadening their horizons. His songs made my son want to learn to play a ukulele!

You can purchase the “Hello, Hello” book and cd set for $16.99 at MiniJake.com. It makes a great gift for your music-loving child.

The Labor Ease Kit is the perfect present for that baby shower present you really want to be unique. Everyone will be giving blankets and outfits to the baby-to-be, but how often is mama pampered with gifts, even with all the hard work ahead of her birthing baby? Why not grab something like the Labor Ease Kit, equipped with Natural Stretch Oil, Natural Labor Companion CD, Mint Herbal Lip Balm, Hot Spot Labor Sock and wrap that up instead of the traditional presents? It’ll show mama you’re thinking of her and, unless she has a very quick labor and starts pushing upon her arrival at the hospital like I did, it’ll come in very handy! I think the CD is a definite asset. I used my yoga music while I was in the delivery room; it can be very soothing. Lip balm always comes in handy and something hot for applying pressure to those painful spots could really make the difference.

This kit is on sale at BananaPeelsDiapers.com for $27.96. It’s a thoughtful gift or just a nice way to honor oneself.

We all know that music has the ability to charm and soothe. The beautiful guitar lullabies by Grammy-nominated guitarist Alex deGrassi are a prime example of the quiet power of music. The CD, entitled “As You Drift Away: Lullabies on Guitar” includes both original themes and melodies gathered from around the world.

Children respond so readily to music. What better way to introduce them to music than by starting in the nursery - or in the womb? When you’re finally able to put up your feet, and baby is still moving around inside, try playing this soothing music near your tummy. Titles include: “The Rain is Pouring,” “Beyond the Night Sky,” and  “As You Drift Away.” You can purchase this CD at the Barnes & Noble Web site: BarnesAndNoble.com for just $9.99 (online price only).

Angel Baby Sleep is a unique spoken lullaby CD that helps create an atmosphere of peace and safety. With words of encouragement and peaceful lullabies, your baby will gently and peacefully fall asleep. Recommended for newborns and up.

I have been in nurseries where an infant will cry and just not stop. All of us ladies are trying our best: rocking, walking, feeding, changing, jiggling…you name it, we’ve tried it. The best luck I’ve had in these situations is to swaddle them nice and snug and sing or hum to them. If you have a nervous baby at home try this: first check that there’s no wet diaper or hunger pains, rashes, diaper pins, etc. Then swaddle your baby, lower the lights, find a comfortable chair and turn on this Angel Baby Sleep CD. And let us know if it works.

CD Tracks Include:

1. Angel Baby Sleep 20:40
2. Sleepy Music: 20:40

You can purchase one for $15.95 at  bambinoland.com.

I’ve endured some pretty horrible lullaby CDs over the years, so I was intrigued when I stumbled upon Rockabye Baby’s adaptation of Pink Floyd songs as lullabies.  The CD includes nine songs such as “Mother,” “Hey You,”  and one of my all-time Pink Floyd favorites, “Brain Damage.” I am definitely curious to hear how these songs have been adapted.

If you, too, are curious, you can purchase the CD for $16.98 at PiccoliniOnline.com.  CDs featuring the music of other favorite recording artists are also available.  Any of these titles would make a great shower gift for music-loving moms and dads.