The Story Behind "Sleeping Bunnies"
Updated: 2 hours ago
A Parent's Guide to Lyrics, Actions, and Origins
Have you ever attended a baby group, toddler music class, or nursery circle time? Then I am sure you have been part of a room full of excited and energetic toddlers who know the song that is going to start anytime. Suddenly they drop to the floor, pretend to sleep, and then erupt into excited hopping.
"Sleeping Bunnies" is one of the most popular nursery rhymes for young children today, and over the last forty or fifty years.
But where did this rhyme originate?
Origins and History
While "Sleeping Bunnies" feels like a modern classic, it is believed to date back to at least the mid-to-late 20th century, with origins traced to the UK. Despite its widespread popularity across playgroups and preschools, the exact origin and composer of the song remain unknown.
The song incorporates melody, imaginative play, and full-body movement, in Major Minor’s Music Academy we use this song for different pairs of musical elements including
Loud and quiet
Fast and slow
Silence and sound.
Beyond simple fun, the song serves a practical developmental purpose: it introduces toddlers to concepts of time, dynamics and sound, as verses reflect different times of the day.
Sleeping Bunnies Song Lyrics
Here are the standard lyrics to sing along with your child:
See the little bunnies sleeping 'til it's nearly noon
Shall we wake them with a merry tune?
They're so still, are they ill?
No! Wake up, bunnies!
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop
Hop little bunnies, hop and STOP/ HOP*
*Some versions use the word STOP here instead of HOP
Note: Toddlers always want to sing the song multiple times.
Actions and Developmental Benefits
The actions are easy for toddlers and preschoolers to follow, offering a wonderful mix of physical play and skill-building.
Song Section | Action | Developmental Benefit |
"See the little bunnies sleeping..." | Lie down flat on the floor, close eyes, and pretend to sleep like a bunny. | Practice with stillness, imagination, and body awareness. Musically this can symbolise quiet, silence and slow. |
"No! Wake up, bunnies!" | Jump up quickly from the floor. | Encourages fast physical transitions and auditory listening cues. Musically this can symbolises loud, speed and sound. |
"Hop little bunnies, hop..." | Hop around the room on two feet like a bunny. | Promotes gross motor skills, balance, and coordination. Musically this symbolises loud, speed and sound. |
Select the ending that is most appropriate for the children in the group you are singing with. | ||
"...hop and STOP!" | Freeze completely in place on the last HOP. | Builds self-regulation and impulse control. |
"...hop and HOP!" | Crouch and whisper 'ssshh'. Wait for the children to calm and pretend to be asleep. | A gentle ending which calms slowly, builds co-operation and listening skills. |
Why Toddlers Love It
Anticipation and Contrast: Toddlers thrive on contrast. Shifting from complete stillness (sleeping) to high-energy movement (hopping) creates an exciting build-up that keeps young minds fully engaged.
Impulse Control: Learning to freeze when the song says the last "HOP!" allows children to practice self-regulation in a playful, stress-free setting.
Imaginative Play: Pretending to be sleeping and hopping animals taps directly into a child's natural love for pretend play.
Try singing "Sleeping Bunnies" at home during morning routines, playdates, or whenever your little one needs a fun way to burn off extra energy.
This Rhyme in Major Minor’s Music Academy
Download the Sheet Music
Find out about our next Major Minor's Music Academy Workshop on this link.
Find out about training to become a Preschool & Toddler music presenter
by emailing via the contact page.
Reference
BBC Music Magazine (2023). ‘Sleeping bunnies’ Lyrics. [online] Classical-music.com. Available at: https://www.classical-music.com/articles/sleeping-bunnies-lyrics [Accessed 10 Mar. 2026].
Walsh, A. (n.d.). Sleeping Bunnies. [online] NurseryRhymes.info. Available at: https://nurseryrhymes.info/sleeping-bunnies/ [Accessed 10 Mar. 2026].
