Contributed by Jennifer Andrews, Catalogs.com Top 10 Guru

Nursery rhymes have been used for hundreds of years as a soothing and light-hearted way to help babies and children fall asleep at night.

Most rhymes have a simple rhythm and soothing melody to help kids drift off to sleep with peaceful thoughts and visions. Here is a list of the top ten nursery rhymes as suggested by The Guardian and the A-Rhyme-A-Week program from Webbing Into Literacy (WIL).

10. Little Miss Muffett

Originally written by Arthur Rackham, Little Miss Muffett is a popular nursery rhyme that has kids running away from imaginary spiders.

9. Incey Wincey Spider

The Incey Wincey Spider is a common nursery rhyme that reveals that even after the rain, the sun can come out and life goes on.

8. Baa, Baa, Black Sheep

A fun nursery rhyme, these lyrics are enjoyed by many a kid for the pronunciation of “baa” as evoked from a sheep. Sing this one to kids at night as they count sheep to drift off to sleep.

7. Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

One of the most well-known nursery rhymes, Twinkle, twinkle, little star is set to a soothing and soft melody that will conjure up images of hope and wistfulness for kids and adults alike.

6. Jack and Jill

Jack and Jill tells the story of a little boy and girl who go up a hill to fetch water from a well only to fall and come tumbling down.

5. Humpty Dumpty

This rhyme has conjured up many vivid images and illustrations of a big-headed, egg-shaped king that falls from a wall and is unable to be put together again.

4. Rain, Rain, Go Away

This rhyme is ideal for rainy days when kids are stuck inside and longingly looking outdoors to play.

3. Star Light, Star Bright

This rhyme has kids everywhere wishing on stars for something big or something small to come true for them.

2. Jack Be Nimble

A cute rhyme, this poem conjures up images of a little boy jumping over a candlestick. But quickly! Otherwise, he risks getting burned.

1. Hickory Dickory Dock

This fun nursery rhyme tells the tale of a mouse that runs up a clock only to run back down scared when the clock strikes one and the bells start chiming.