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Original poster

Bedtime books for baby

35 replies

Bluecarrot · 21/07/2014 23:43

Looking recommendations for board books with calm and gentle "storyline" for my 6 month old. I'm trying to start a proper bedtime routine and would love to get a few special books that we only read then. She will sit for upwards of 45 mins at a time looking at books with me.

OP posts:
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NeverNic · 29/07/2014 22:36

The Gruffalo etc. books are a bit long for bedtime stories at that age. My 2yo still isn't a fan. Oliver Jeffers books were hugely popular in our house and he still loves them. They are beautiful to look at and funny. We also used to read Alfie books a lot before 18mths. Other favourites for us have been 'Tell me what it's like to be big', Jill Murphy's books and Rainbow Rob. I haven't found a child that doesn't love Rainbow Rob! We also own a lot of 'That's not my...' Books which we put in the cot once he was big enough to play in the cot. They're close to indestructible and good for pretending to read on their own once at that stage.

minimuffin · 29/07/2014 12:11

"The Going to Bed Book" by Sandra Boynton - recited/read it most nights to all 3 of mine from when they were tiny babies. Most of her other board books are fabulous too.

Also "Each Peach Pear Plum" and "Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes" by Mem Fox & Helen Oxenbury. Enjoy! Reading bedtime stories is still my favourite part of the day and mine are 8, 6 and 3 now

bumpiesonamission · 28/07/2014 22:05

Has anyone mentioned Shirley Hughes and Jill Murphy???

My lo (6m) enjoys the Large Family books and Elmer!!

Atthebottomofthegarden · 28/07/2014 21:34

Ooh look I can do this Dragon

Atthebottomofthegarden · 28/07/2014 21:33

Most of mine have been mentioned before, but here goes anyway:
That's not my... Especially my DD's favourite the dragon
Dear zoo
Buster at the farm
Some dogs do - real feel good book, she might be a bit young for it yet but the words have a lovely rhythm
There was a old lady... The version with the hole in the middle for her to stick her fingers through Smile

ConcreteElephant · 28/07/2014 18:26

Peepo
Guess how much I love you
Stormy weather and No Matter What by Debi Gliori
Big Red Barn

...all nice sleepy books

Laundryangel · 25/07/2014 22:41

Buster's Day
Dear Zoo
Peace at Last
All of the Julia Donaldson ones, my favourite being Sharing a Shell

leeloo1 · 25/07/2014 22:37

This is a lovely book, which I must have read a few thousand times at nap/sleep times over the last few years - and I used to chant it from memory to ds in the middle of the night when he wouldn't sleep... and I still enjoy reading it to newest dd so it must be a good book. :) Lots of tactile bits and nice rhymes.

Bluestocking · 25/07/2014 22:23

"I like it when" by Mary Murphy is a sweet board book which is about a penguin parent and baby and their day together.
You can't go wrong with the Ahlbergs - Peepo, Burglar Bill, The Baby's Catalogue, Cops and Robbers.
The Mog books are lovely but steer clear of "Goodbye Mog" - sob!
"The Tiger Who Came to Tea" is lovely too.
Mini Grey's "Biscuit Bear" and "The Pea and the Princess" were our favourites of hers but they're all lovely.
Shirley Hughes seems to have fallen out of favour somewhat but her books are lovely, really cosy and comforting. You could try "Bathwater's Hot", or any of the Alfie series, to see if you get on with them.
It's so lovely to read a bedtime story to a baby, enjoy it while you can.

2and2makes5 · 25/07/2014 22:14

I would second (third? Fourth?) Goodnight Moon.
Also Old lady who swallowed a fly.

Original poster
Bluecarrot · 25/07/2014 22:09

Oh, I remember burglar bill from my childhood!

Thanks for all the recommendations. Our library selection is small so will be ordering a few of these suggestions in to try them out. :)

OP posts:
strawberrie · 24/07/2014 20:17

This one was a big fave when my DD was very little-

www.amazon.co.uk/Angel-Baby-Gillian-Shields/dp/0007180063

It's a day in the life of a little baby from waking through to bedtime, simple rhyme, and just a nice gentle story for wrapping up the day.

Catmint · 24/07/2014 20:12

The Bedtime Bear

DeathMetalMum · 24/07/2014 20:11

Others I like have been mentioned but Mog in the garden is a nice short story. My 16 month olds favourite at the moment.

Kitkate78 · 24/07/2014 20:05

'You're my little bunny' or' I love you Little Bear'. Both beautiful calm books which my son loved when he was a baby.

Lovelydiscusfish · 23/07/2014 20:03

Cleo the Cat was also a favourite with her when she was small, as it rhymes nicely. It is very short, though!

dinkystinky · 23/07/2014 14:40

Each peach pear plum
Peepo
Burglar Bill

all by Alan Ahlberg

Julian Donaldson books are sweet too - the Gruffalo, snail and the whale, night monkey day monkey are my favourites

LabradorMama · 23/07/2014 09:58

I love the Nancy Tilman books but they so make me a bit teary! I can't even pick a favourite, they are all so beautiful and the text so meaningful. DS is only 9 months so hasn't expressed a preference yet Smile

Orangeanddemons · 23/07/2014 09:58

Little Bunnys bedtime. I still have to read this to dd age 8 every night, it's her favorite book ever. The bunnies in it are printed with soft flock stuff, so you can stroke them. It's fab. It makes me fall asleep reading it

www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Bunnys-Bedtime-Jane-Johnson/dp/1854309927

CommanderShepard · 23/07/2014 09:49

Hugless Douglas
I Took the Moon for a Walk
I Dreamt I was a Dinosaur

littlemonkey2013 · 23/07/2014 09:49

Peeps baby and what a busy baby.

fertilityFTW · 23/07/2014 09:47

Goodnight Train is a favourite here, it starts off at a jolly pace and then slooooows right down. Definitely has me yawning by the end! DD loves the rhythm and rhyme and the sounds.

Chaby · 23/07/2014 09:31

Guess how much i love you, dr seuss sleep book (there is a baby board book version), can't you sleep little bear

mabelbabel · 23/07/2014 09:29

Seconding Good Night Moon, and The Snail and the Whale.

daisydalrymple · 23/07/2014 09:24

We also loved guess how much i love you and goonight moon. At 5 and 7 my dcs still insist on us all holding hands and saying goodnight moon (now known off by heart by us all! ) together everynight before goodnight. Ours also loved my mum and my dad books by anthony browne.

Not so much the 'classic' board books - e.g. never enjoyed we're going on a bear hunt. Try some at the library maybe, before buying?

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