First Baby Books Under 1-year-old
First-year baby books
Table of Contents
As a first time mom, I did not realize that there is so much to learn in choosing the right book for my baby. After randomly buying baby books at the book store, I realize I have chosen many unsuitable books for her age.
I learned that there are so many things to consider. For example, what is the stage of development for my baby? How far have my baby’s senses developed? And then deciding on when to introduce what type of content to my baby.
So after some trial and error, I have learned a few things below:
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Lessons I Learned
Lesson 1- Firm Books
In my baby’s early days, I have a large book of maps, poems, and storytime books. But they were all paperback or hardcovered books. I realize as it was easy for me to flip the pages, it is not the case for my baby’s little hands. I was obviously clueless.
Sometimes, the books are too soft, they limp or crumple when the baby interacts with it. So getting board books or firm fabric books for babies under 1 year is most suitable.
Lesson 2 – Perspective Shift
As you read the list of books above, you will understand that they were way beyond my baby’s level of comprehension. They were educational material, but not something that could stimulate her yet.
So I realize the value and simplicity in board books. They may be simple in our eyes, but a whole new world in the baby’s eyes.
Lesson 3 – Guidance and Trial and Error
So your baby will not know what to do with a book. Even if you have the right books at the right stages, you need to model and show your baby how to interact with the pages at the beginning.
Babies pick things up, it doesn’t take long for them to figure out what the books are about. If your baby is not there yet, don’t worry. I realize that once they hit a particular milestone, they could suddenly interact with the book. As if a switch of a button.
That said and done, we never know when exactly the switch will happen. So as a rule of thumb, have the books of various stages ready and introduce to the baby from time to time. You will be surprised that they may interact with another book instead of the one you left out for weeks.
I understand sometimes it may be discouraging if the baby does not show any sign of interest. I know I felt that way and stopped reading to her for a while. But I realize that showing no sign of interest does not mean nothing is happening in their brain. I realize that I have started the exposure. When her brain compute what she can do with the book, she was interacting away with the book, on her own!
So our job as a parent is to provide suitable opportunities and exposure as much and as we can. As frequently as we can.
Lesson 4 – Book Longevity
Then of course, you will be surprised how quickly babies can destroy books in one sitting. They either flip a chunk of pages at one go, or they rip the pages! And not to mention, babies start exploring the world with their mouth. So obviously chewing the book is part of their exploration. My heart jumped when the pages ripped and chewed on!
Hence my advocating of board books and fabric books for babies under 1 year old! Believe me, I tried stopping her from chewing books and teaching my baby to be gentle with books.
But I realize that I was denying her of discovering the world the way babies do. It is their way of learning and understanding the world around them.
Instead of stopping them at every corner, I made sure that things can last for her to chew on.
Mind you the lift-a-flap pages could still rip in her exploration even when it is a board book. Things ripping is inevitable. At least the book itself is still intact and can still read and repair compared to a paperback book.
Lesson 5 – Have a variety of categories
There are many categories of books in general and I realize what I have was not comprehensive.
I have identified that we need at least one from each of these categories.
The categories are:
- story-based books, (eg. Gruffalo a made-up animal)
- books depicting facts or reality (eg.books with real images of animals)
- educational centered books (eg. ABC or counting books)
This way you have a good variety of information for your baby to draw conclusions. Allowing them to make connections between an illustrated animal versus a real-life animal.
Of course some books are a combination of categories, and those are great!
Alright, so let’s jump into the most exciting part which is the recommendation of books! I love books from bookdepository.com because they offer the best deals! They have a huge selection of titles and do free shipping worldwide!
First Baby Books
Fabric / soft books
As the name suggests, these are books made out of fabrics. These books have an interesting dynamic. There are crinkly materials between the pages, making it very interesting to touch. Some also come with interactive pieces with a velcro backing.
This is best for newborns to 3 months since they could not support the weight of the book. These books could fall on their faces and not scare or hurt them while they are on their back.
Note: Make sure the buy fabric pages reinforced with foam so the pages won’t limp when you lift the book.
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Baby sees Farm consist of farm animals and has a little mirror.
Usborne baby’s first cloth book is filled with fun crinkly pages.
This cloth book is black and white with simple faces in it.
Board books
This type of book is best to introduce when your baby mastered tummy time. This is because the baby can explore the book that is in front of them.
These books have hardboard in all its pages. When your baby first starts out, they have not developed their pincer grasp. Having a huge chunky book makes it easier for the baby to turn and flip the pages. Plus your baby does not know how to adjust their strength yet, so with the hard pages, it will not rip easily.
Note: There is a difference between hardcover books and board books. Hardcover books like the name suggest only have hardcover in the first and last pages. A board book on the other hand is made out of hardboard in all its pages.
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Hello Baby! has beautiful illustrations! The animals look almost real. Its story is simple and engaging.
The Wonky Donkey is a funny little book! It is a rhyme and a song. It is also a very descriptive book about a peculiar donkey.
Dr. Seuss’s ABC learns ABC in the form of a fun rhyme / song.
Textured books
These books generally come in the form of board books. These books are most fun from 5-9 months. This is because babies start to pay attention to their surroundings and start exploring the world. These books have fur, feather, reflective or embossed textures. Making them very fun to interact with.
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Eric Carle’s Touch and Feel Play Book have all sorts of textures in it.
Hairy Maclary’s touch and feel is a story-based book and focuses on dog breeds.
This baby animals touch and feel book consist of furry farm animals.
Lift-a-flap
Lift-a- flap books are interactive books. It has small flaps within the pages that reveal more once you lift the flaps. This type of book helps babies with the concept of object permanence. By interacting with the flaps, the baby learned that there is something hidden behind the flap. Plus it’s exciting to lift the flaps since you never know what’s hidden behind them!
I find these books most effective when the baby learns to sit. This way, they could explore the book themselves and lift the flaps on their own without the parents helping too much.
Note: Make sure to get lift-a-flap on hardcover pages for babies under 1 year old. Since babies don’t know their strength, the lift-a-flap on paperback will rip much faster than the board books!
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Spot’s First Easter is about the puppy searching for easter eggs. The flaps reveal easter eggs.
Who Lives Here is part of the Gruffalo series. The flaps lifts to find various animals and finally revealing the Gruffalo.
Eyes, nose, toes peekaboo! Is filled with real baby faces and teddy bears. The flaps reveals different parts of the baby’s or teddy bear’s face.
Sound books
These books generally come in hardboard books where they embed sounds into the pages. This is another way to engage your baby’s senses. Babies from 3 months old onward loves sounds and sound effects. I blow raspberries and make “new naw, nee naw” noises to my baby and elicit a laugh or two. But I find my ability is limited at the kind of noise I can make. These books are great because it does not just make any sound, but sounds that are recorded in reality.
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Noisy Things That Go is a combination of sound book and touch and feel book. It has many sounds of vehicles.
The London Noisy Book visits different parts of London and has sounds of the big Ben and the marching soldiers.
Usborne’s Bird Sounds has various real-life bird noises. It has a switch at the back that allows the user to turn the book off. Saving battery.
Picture books
These books are as they suggest, only have pictures and do not have any interactive elements in them. Sometimes, they are wordless, purely pictures. Allowing the parents the freedom to make up the story every time they revisit the book.
It is good to have a few of these around so the baby knows not all books need interaction. It is good to just sit down and listen to the story sometimes. I find my baby will only start to comprehend these books when she is much older, like after 9 months.
Note: There are board books and paperback picture books. It is best to get the board picture books so it will last longer in your household!
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Dr. Seuss’s Hop on Pop is a fun poem / rhyme book. Good for babies when starting to learn to speak.
Eric Carle’s Brown Bear is an engaging book with different tabs to open the pages. It is also repetitive, creating a rhythm that’s easy for babies to follow.
The Very Hunger Caterpillar is a story of a caterpillar’s journey in searching for food and metamorphosis. In his journey, the baby is exposed to counting, all sorts of food, and days of the week.
Final Thoughts on first baby books
These are my recommendation for babies who are under 1 year old. A lot of these books are fun and beautiful to keep.
I hope you find this post helpful. Have a good time starting your collection!
Comments
Leave a comment below on what are your favorite baby books out there!
I’d like to hear about it!
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