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Prior to having kids, I was a bit of a music fiend.   iTunes and iPods came out just a few years too late for me - I have boxes of CDs in storage because of my old CD purchasing habits.  I loved all kinds of music but like the rest of most Mommies, the soundtrack to Barney or Sesame Street just wasn't a part of my CD rotation.

And in the beginning, I didn't think I'd mind cutting back on my own music.  When my oldest was a baby, before he could ask, I'd have us take turns - Mommy music and baby music.   Then time went by and my kids found a voice (and screams) and my Mommy music is definitely not a priority in the car anymore.  (Although I'm very thankful for my iPhone and my time away at the gym when I can actually listen to my own stuff!)

So in succumbing to listening to kids' music, I made an attempt to at least find music that was tolerable to me that my kids would still love.  It's out there, you just have to search for it.   

My latest "the Kids" playlist on my iPod includes some of the following songs that are good for the whole family (click for the link to the song in iTunes):

Rainbow Connection, by Sarah MacLachlan
Mahna Mahna, by Cake
Somewhere over the Rainbow, by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah, by Miley Cyrus
E Eats Everything, by They Might Be Giants
Puff the Magic Dragon, by Peter, Paul & Mary
House at Pooh Corner, by Kenny Loggins
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, by Various Artists (pick your fav!)
La la la la Lemon, by Barenaked Ladies
You are my Sunshine, by Sara Hickman
When you Wish Upon a Star, by Louis Armstrong
Upside Down, by Jack Johnson

And some specific full albums I can listen to include ones by The Backyardigans.  Although lately I can only take them in smaller doses than before, they are definitely catchy in their tunes.  And there have a song or two that I'd probably still listen to, even without my kids around.  They just released a new album at the end of January - Born to Play - we have yet to listen to it but I'm sure it will be as fun as some of their other CDs.  (The original, The Backyardigans, is still my favorite.)

What's Mommy friendly on your kid's mix?


Other iTunes playlists on Family.com:

Family.com's Best of 2007: The Sampler Album
14 for February 14: The Family.com Valentine's Day iMix