We have shelves of baby books.
Now that our sons are beyond the baby stage, there they sit but we read book after book after book. Not to mention many books many times.
Have you ever wondered how babies learn their language? In reality, they know from hearing. In this case, reading books with your infant may help improve their vocabulary. Although they won’t show any sign of understanding, research shows that hearing words allows them to communicate when the time is right.
In this article, we will explore some books to read for your baby to enhance knowledge. We will also look at the benefits of reading for your baby and how well to do it. Additionally, we will explore different stages and how you should adjust with age.
Importance of Reading To Your Baby
While reading to your baby may not have tangible results immediately, it has some impacts. Let’s explore them.
Communication
Reading a book for your baby so often introduces the art of communication. It opens up the world of trying to bring meaning to words and actions.
Concepts
Learning has many concepts. Your kid will understand basic concepts such as numbers, colors, and shapes by hearing you read aloud.
Memory Building
When you read aloud, your baby will learn the art of listening. Additionally, they will have vocabularies in their memories to use once they begin to talk. One of the best ways of maturing early readers is ensuring you read books for them when they are toddlers.
Teaching Them About The Universe
Reading books to your baby is the only way to give them information about the universe. They will learn about other creatures they will live with their entire life.
Stages Depending On The Age
Although reading to your child is pivotal, it should go with age. As the kids grow, the same you need to change board books for them. Here are different stages of considering.
From Birth To Six Months
Newborn babies don’t have a clear vision of things they see. They can’t understand any text. Any board book with little or no text would be ideal at this stage. Additionally, a children’s book with high contrast pictures would suffice your toddler’s needs.
There are various features to consider for those looking for book recommendations for newborn babies with interactive features. These features may include puppets, peepholes, and mirrors. It’s imperative to highlight, at this stage, you can read any material for your baby. The most important thing is your voice and the cuddling during the reading process.
Seven Months To One Year
Research has shown that a baby at this age would grasp some words you read to them. In this case, any board book with one big object would be ideal. Also, essential phrases such as mum or dad should repeatedly appear in the board book.
As a parent, you can have a picture book for your kid. Be keen on pictures that your baby has attention with. Name the image while pointing at them and let your child babble back as this is the only mode of communication. At this age, children will start understanding that illustrations in pictures stand for real things in life.
It’s imperative to note that children at this age tend to chew every object. A board book made of vinyl or cloth would be ideal since it will be hard for your child to chew. However, turning the page pages may be tricky, so the best thing is to do it for your baby.
13 Months To Two Years
Children at this age bracket tend to understand some essential words. At this stage, introduce books with few sentences. Also, children at this stage understand some humor. Reading while making silly voices may make the whole experience enjoyable.
Making sounds of animals makes your baby enjoy. In this case, change the tone once in a while and moo or baa when referring to animal voices. The reading should be interactive for you both to enjoy. You can test whether your kid is relating pictures with natural things; for instance, you can ask your baby, “where is your leg?’ to see whether they can identify correctly.
When your child turns 18 months old, they show particular interest in some books over others. In this case, make sure you go by their needs. Experts say repeating the same book over and over helps your baby build and master words.
Books For Your Baby
Having looked at the advantages of reading with your baby, let us look at some of the books parents prefer.
1. Moo, Baa, LA LA LA
Moo Baa LA LA LA is a board book written by Sandra Boynton. It’s a good parenting book with short bedtime stories. Looking at it, you’ll notice that it concentrates more on animal sounds. Also, it’s repetitive, which is ideal for your baby.
It won’t take much time to read to your baby. Also, it has a funny ending asking the kid about what they would like to say. It doesn’t have much text and has large pictures.
2. Time for Bed
This baby book written by Mem Fox is suitable for babies. It concentrates on each baby animal on each page. It’s repetitive, with the word little repeated twice in each sentence. It has soothing words good during bedtime.
The main aim of this board book is to ensure that your baby falls asleep listening. In the end, you conclude by wishing your baby a goodnight.
3. On The Night You Were Born
This piece is a beautiful baby book written by Nancy Tillman. While it has more text, the book has sweet words to adore your baby. Parenting may be hard at times, but reading this book will rejuvenate the joy of a parent.
Words like ‘because there had never been anyone like you ever in the world’ will make your baby feel special. Also, as a parent, you will find joy by realizing the treasure that you have with you.
4. Mirror And Me Feelings
Mirror and me Feelings is a beautiful book for toddlers written by Cottage Door Press. One of the features that make it the best is the mirror. Babies will enjoy seeing themselves in the mirror. With this interactive book, kids will know more about their emotions.
5. Goodnight Stories For Rebel Girls
This excellent book by Elena Favilli is a masterpiece for both children and parents. If you’re looking for the best gift for a baby shower party, this book would be a great choice. This book has inspirational bedtime stories.
Unlike other fictional books, this book has stories featuring stories of 100 women who are role models. The story of Serena Williams and Malala Yousafzai may not only leave your little one sleepy but also motivated.
6. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
Alphabets may sound accessible to adults, but for kids, they may sound Greek. However, this book by Bill Marti Jr has a way of teaching kids the alphabet. The text is bold and rhythmic to ensure that the alphabets stick to the child’s memory. Additionally, this book teaches in a silly and funny way to attract the attention of the kids.
7. Guess How Much I Love You
The love of parents to their kids is immeasurable. Sometimes, it’s even hard to define it. This book by Sam McBratney gives you a chance to express love to your little kid that no words would suffice. Even the title itself tells it all to kids.
8. Baby Be Kind
Courtesy is one of the dynamics of life. Baby be kind by Jane Cowen- Fletcher teaches kids about being kind. It teaches them how to say sorry and how to control anger.
Kids will want to experiment with adorable pictures and all courteous words with what they read from this book. Surprisingly, the lessons are not only for kids but for you too!
9. Will You Be My Sunshine By Julia Lobo
The story in this baby book revolves around a mouse and his mother. The mouse asks the mom whether she will always be there for him during different seasons. The book uses weather seasons such as dull days, cold days, and sunshine.
The mouse is eager to know whether his mum will be there even when things go south. The same reassurance is what your baby needs. Kids need to know that you will always be available for them, even at the most challenging moment of their lives.
10. Where Is The Baby’s Belly Bottom?
This book by Karen Katz helps your kid to identify different body parts. Its lift the flap feature makes it more interesting to explore. After asking about a specific body part of a baby, you both need to lift the flap to the next page to find the answer. Flapping the pages to find answers makes the reading process interactive and fun.
11. Little Green Frog By Ginger Swift
This board book is about a little frog who introduces his friends in the pond. A duck, fish, turtles, and newly hatched ducklings are some of the funny characters you will interact with reading this book with your baby.
The book is vividly colored and asks questions that have answers on the next page. Flipping the book eager for answers makes the whole process interactive and fun.
12. Pat The Bunny By Dorothy Kunhardt
When your baby is past that stage of putting everything they get on their little hands to their mouth, you can introduce this book. Pat and bunny is a touch-and-feel book ideal for your little one. There is a different texture on each page which provides an engaging experience for your baby.
13. Baby Faces By Kate Merritt
Baby faces book is among the indestructible series for babies. It has a baby-friendly title and all the emotions your kids need to know. Babies learn about different faces, such as gnawing and tearing from this book.
14. Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dwedney
Parenting is tricky at times. Although parents treasure their babies, they have to leave them when duty calls. This book is about baby Llama, who is sad and scared because mom isn’t around. Baby Llama needs comfort, and mama Llama reassures him.
Kids who aren’t always with the mom will need the same reassurance. In this case, this book is the best suit. It has rhyming words and loveable characters. Additionally, stories in this book are simple for your kid to relate to in real-life situations.
15. Goodnight Moon By Margret Wise Brown
The book is poetic. Goodnight moon revolves around a little rabbit preparing for bed. The rabbit wishes everything around his room and the world outside a goodnight. The book has illustrations and drawings that attract the attention of babies.
16. Pantone: Colors By Helen Dardik
When stocking your child’s library, it’s imperative to have enough bedtime storybooks and learning books. Pantone teaches your kid about different colors. Your baby will know about the nine primary colors and the other 20 colors that shade the primary nine colors.
Best Reading Practices When Reading To Babies
Having looked at some of the best books, let’s explore how best to read to your baby. Here are tips to keep in mind.
Cuddling While Reading
While reading to younger babies, it’s good to do it while cuddling them. Doing so will establish a bond that’s far from just reading a book together.
Make It More Fun
While it’s simple to have the kids’ attention, the same is true when it comes to losing it. To make sure you have the kid’s attention, add various facial expressions while reading. Also, reading with different tone variations may cause the reading process to be more fun.
Don’t Read Word By Word
To make reading more interactive, don’t read word by word. Instead, ask questions to your little one in the middle of the reading process. Although some kids may be too young to respond to inquiries, it lays a good foundation for future secessions.
Make Use Of Nursery Rhymes
Singing nursery rhymes and making different animal sounds create an excellent atmosphere for learning. Remember, your main aim is to raise young readers.
Don’t Be In A Hurry
After reading a page:
- Don’t be in a rush to go to the next page.
- Give kids a chance to look at the pictures and giving their views if they can.
- Take an interest in the images they like and spend more time on them.
The Bottom Line
Baby books are essential for child development. Reading books to them from the day they are born improves their chances of knowing their languages in good time. It also gives them a wide range of vocabularies to use when they start communicating.
As kids grow, the same you need to change books for them. Board books are most suitable for babies since they are hard to tear or chew. Also, books with no or less text are ideal for babies since they can’t understand the text.
It’s also imperative to master the best practices while reading for babies. While reading text to text may be ideal for you, it may do more harm than good to your baby. Ensure you make the reading process more fun and interactive.