Have you wondered which are the best books for babies you can buy? Are you wondering what is the right time to start reading to you baby? In this article, we will talk about the best books for babies under 1. If you want to know when to start reading, read the post, What is the Right Age to Start Reading to Babies?
As a new parent, you are always confused about when to start new things and about everything the baby does. When it comes to milestones and growth spurts, your pediatrician is the best person to guide you. But, when it comes to decisions that are the best books for babies, you look for suggestions and recommendations.
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Table of Contents
Why Should You Read to Your Baby?
A book can be your best friend and thus, introducing a baby to the amazing world of books is important. There are many benefits of reading to your child, and some of these can be read in the post, Top 10 Benefits of Reading to Your Child.
Research shows that reading aloud to the babies enhances their brain stimulation, listening and learning skills. It remains a general concern for the parents if the baby understands what they read out to them. So the good news is, they do!
The Best Books for Babies
Babies under the age of 1 understand by seeing the pictures in a book and through your voice modulation. They learn through expressions and emotions. There are a variety of books available out in the stores which you can pick for your baby depending on the age group.
As a parent, you will wonder which ones are the best books for babies. Let’s have a look at all the available options which will make your baby’s reading time more interesting.
Books with Images
One of the best books for babies are the ones with high contrast images. Babies and even grown-ups learn from illustration. Pick up books that have large and colorful images. The images may vary from alphabets to pictures of animals and things the baby sees every day and can relate to. The famous The Eye Book by Dr Seuss is one such book with bright and colorful images.
Rhymes and Lullabies
Rhymes and lullabies are what we grew up listening to. The musical notes and rhythm are a good choice for books for babies under 1 as these keep them engaged and make the reading session enjoyable. Nursery Rhymes board book has all the first nursery rhymes that you would want to sing along with your kid while the colorful illustrations make the learning process fun and engaging. A little book of rhymes is a must-have for your baby’s first library.
Activity Books
Activity books like the peek-a-boos highly entertain the babies and are recommended as one of the best books for babies. The books are sturdy and are made of cardboard which makes them durable and saves them from your baby’s biting, chewing and other abuses.
Babies have a habit of putting things in their mouth and if you want to know how, you should read, How to Stop Your Baby From Putting Everything in His Mouth.
Your baby starts curiosity first by chewing the pages and then by flipping them. Include books that come with the surprise element in them; like pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, soft fabrics to touch and feel. Animals (Baby Touch and Feel) Board book can be bought online at an affordable price and it keeps your baby engaged and enhances the sense of touch and cognitive skills.
Alphabet Books
A little book of numbers and ABCs has no replacement. ABC My Small Board Book is recommended for books for babies under 1 and has pictures of items for each alphabet. Singing the alphabets and coupling the book with props like ABC and number blocks makes the baby learn easily.
You can also start teaching your kid alphabets and names of objects starting with the specific alphabet and showing them the image.
Colors and Shapes
Include books of colors and shapes. Pick up books that have bright and prominent colors and shapes. Show them the shape and color and then ask them to identify any object of the same color. Baby Touch Shapes introduces your baby to various shapes.
Show them the shape on the book and ask them to identify an object of the same shape. It not just boosts their cognitive skills and develops their brain but also makes learning fun!
Bedtime Stories
Bedtime stories are an all-time favorite and undoubtedly, the best books for babies. Make it a habit to cuddle up with your baby and read out bedtime stories. Books with stories with a few lines, great illustration and your modulation will do the trick! Some of the recommended bedtime storybooks for babies under 1 are which I started reading to Little Miss A when she was a few months old are:
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See
Another book that Miss A loved as a baby was The Gruffalo. This one and in fact, other books by Julia Donaldson are still her favorite as a 4-year-old. I had bought the 10 Book Set by Julia Donaldson which I again highly recommend as these books are used for many years. The books by the other are one of the best baby books for babies and toddlers and also preschoolers.
Things to Keep in Mind When Reading to Your Little One
- Never rush to quiz your baby. They learn through patience and developing curiosity. They start by chewing and playing with the pages to blabbing pointing at images in the book. Give your little one the time to learn and comprehend.
- Do not expect or force your baby to sit through the entire reading time. Introduce books while you feed or during playtime.
- Enact while you read. Books with pictures of animals showing varied emotions along with your expressions make an interesting learning session. Buy books that have images of stuff the baby sees every day- butterflies, birds, ball, dogs etc.
Get the Best Books for Babies
The learning sessions are never enough. Keep the habit of reading going even when your child starts going to pre-school. Listen to their stories and imagination. Start reading out to your baby as early as possible, within the first 9 months and see their imagination and interest grow over the years.
A bedtime routine of reading does wonders and is one of the best ways to spend quality time with your child even if you have a busy day. If you have not started reading to your little one yet, choose one of the best books for babies and start reading. It is never too late.
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