It can last less than a minute, but makes a big difference

We often hear that reading is important down the line, but why exactly should I read to my baby right now? How long should it last? What if my baby doesn’t seem interested? What are the best books for this age?

Here are some considerations for reading time with your baby:

Read to your baby now

• Most child development professionals believe that children who are regularly exposed to language and books in early infancy develop higher IQs and more language fluency.
• Books offer ways to expose your baby to new vocabulary words you might not commonly use, rhyming and rhythm, and different language structures than they are exposed to in everyday conversation.
• Reading builds positive associations: reading time = cosy time. Creating a habit of reading to your baby helps them learn to love books because they love being close to you and hearing your voice.

What to expect from reading at this age

• Reading can last for less than a minute.
• Babies generally take an interest in board books sometime between 6 and 9 months. Your baby may or may not show an interest in books at first. Keep reading each day even if they don’t seem to be interested yet.
• Try reading face-to-face with your baby supported by your crossed leg, so they can see your face while you read.
• Your baby will probably not want to read the book beginning to end. Flip around to follow their interest.
• Your baby might prefer that you stop reading, so they can chew on the book instead. It’s all good—they’re still learning about books through their mouth 😉

The Lovevery board books have been specifically developed to capture your baby’s attention with real-life photographs of people and objects they are interested in right now. In addition to the Lovevery books, here is a list of our top favourites for babies and toddlers:

Babies:

Mother Goose by Mary Engelbreit

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr and Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Peek-A-Who? By Nina Laden

Where is Baby’s Belly Button? By Karen Katz

Freight Train by Donald Crews

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox

Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt

Go Dog Go by P.D. Eastman

Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault

Ten in the Bed Jane Cabrera

The Mitten by Jan Brett

Owl Babies by Martin Waddell

There’s a Wocket in my Pocket! By Dr. Seuss

Whose Toes are Those? By Jabari Asim

ABC by Alison Jay

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Everywhere Babies by Susan Meyers

Toddlers:

The Hat by Jan Brett

The Turnip by Jan Brett

All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

Nursery Tales by Mary Engelbreit

This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen

Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

Llama Llama Collection by Anna Dewdney

So Much! By Trish Cooke

Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton

He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands by Kadir Nelson

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson

The Wheels on the Bus by Jane Cabrera

No David! By David Shannon

Fred and Ted Go Camping by Peter Eastman

Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi

A Good Day by Kevin Henkes

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