Introducing Baby Books:
For Learning and Bonding

Have you started reading your baby books yet? A good foundation for wellness involves regular mental and emotional stimulation.
It's never too early to begin using books as a way to connect with your child and instill a love for reading.

The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages reading a book a day as early as six months. Others say reading is a great way to bond with a newborn.

Whenever you start reading to your baby or toddler, you may need a few tips and/or ounces of patience to create an atmosphere of enthusiasm about reading.

Reading Baby Books to Younger Babies

• Go at your baby's pace.

  If your baby wants to stop and admire, pull or grab the book, don't insist on finishing the story right away. Let your baby explore the dimensions of the book and associate good feelings with touching and playing with books.

  Of course this is a good reason to start out with thick and durable, board books. Even when you're not reading together, take joy in seeing your baby reach for the books, flipping the pages and laying them all over the house. You are fostering a love of literature!

• A little means a lot.

  According to the National Institute for Literacy you and your baby should read together everyday, even if it's only for a few moments.

• Be engaged.

  When your child starts to babble with his or her own stories, listen as though you understand and like the story.

• Be animated when you read.

  Sound out the words in a rap, song or poetic rhythm. Change the inflections of your voice to match the "emotion" of the story. Why? Your baby will love it and want to read together more and more.

  If you need help with this, take a trip to your local library's story time. It's not only a good source of ideas, but a way to interact with other babies and moms and add variety to your reading selections.

• Talk to your baby about what's happening.

  Even when you're not reading, you can tell stories. When you're out and about, tell your baby where you are going and what's happening around you and who the strangers are.

  This not only instills vocabulary skills, but helps you connect with what your baby may be feeling and thinking in new and uncertain situations.

• Be prepared for your baby to chew.

  Books, like everything else will be fair game for your baby's mouth. You may want to have a few books that are teething-friendly as you discourage them from chewing on the others.

  My daughter has a couple of the Usborne Chunky Board Book series. They are thick, durable and made with vegetable-based dyes.

Reading Books to Toddlers

• Choose baby books with varying textures, themes and skill sets.

  You wont talk to your baby about all of these concepts at the beginning. However as your baby matures you can focus on new aspects of the same book.

  For example, you can move from just reading the words to talking about the types of animals on the pages, then the color of the animals and the number of the animals, etc.

• Involve all of the senses.

  Point to the baby book's pictures. Name them. Scratch and sniff them. Take advantage of all of the books features and encourage your toddler to do the same.

• Have patience.

  If your child wants to read the same book again and again - it's okay. Let them choose their favorite book and follow up with one of your favorites - a new book you hope they will like just as much.

• Look for opportunities to connect.

  Is your baby making eye contact with you when you read aloud? This is a sign they are paying attention. My favorites are books with hugs and kisses like Sandra Boynton's Snuggle Puppy.

• Let them scribble. Your baby doesn't have to write on the books. Try giving him a sheet of paper while you read and let him pretend to write or make pictures about the story.

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What is Attachment Parenting?
The Benefits of Using Baby Slings
How to Select the Right Baby Sling For You

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