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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How many books is 'too many' at 8m old?

100 replies

AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 19/08/2020 08:40

Ok, I'm not stealth boasting. I promise. Cross my heart.
My DD 8m has a collection of about 40 board books. Mostly for me really. Because I know she won't get bored of the same three books, but I sure do. She has some upstairs for bedtime and the rest down, on her shelf of the bookcase along with her box of toys.
My friend made a comment and said I was trying too hard :(

OP posts:
DappledThings · 19/08/2020 08:41

Your friend is a dick.

Books will last for years. The good ones get picked up over and over again and it's great for children to have a lot of choice of them when they are big enough to pick.

DonLewis · 19/08/2020 08:41

Your friend is a div! Enjoy the variety of books, long may it last!

JuniperFather · 19/08/2020 08:42

@AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps

Ok, I'm not stealth boasting. I promise. Cross my heart. My DD 8m has a collection of about 40 board books. Mostly for me really. Because I know she won't get bored of the same three books, but I sure do. She has some upstairs for bedtime and the rest down, on her shelf of the bookcase along with her box of toys. My friend made a comment and said I was trying too hard :(
Your friend is not being a friend, and just feels insecure because perhaps he/she isn't providing enough books for their DC, or they just are being snarky if they don't have DC.

I don't think there's such a thing as "too many books". I do think however how toys and books are presented is a "thing" in that if you lay out 50 books in a circle around a child, they can get frustrated quickly being overwhelmed by all the choice. Pulling a few books off the shelf for them to browse through, lovely.

So no YANBU, great that you've got so many books and that your DD is into them. Love it.

timesareachanging · 19/08/2020 08:42

My 6 year old DS has so many books I think it might be well over 150 and probably closer to 250

I am a reader and for the kids I buy second hand books on Amazon, ex library books, the 5 for a fiver in The Works etc.

I’m never sure you can have too many books 🤔

CentrifugalBumblePuppy · 19/08/2020 08:43

There is no such thing as too many books.

Having no books is concerning.

Your friend is an arse.

WisestIsShe · 19/08/2020 08:43

I really don't think you can ever have too many books.

sweetheartyparty · 19/08/2020 08:44

I think its lovely. I read to my little girl from 6 months old and she had well developed communication skills and a wide vocabulary for her age range.
I maybe wouldn't buy many more as they take up so much space.

HazelWong · 19/08/2020 08:44

That is quite a lot of books - but we have tons too :D They don't take up much space and it is nice to have some upstairs as we as downstairs.

I recommend charity shops and Ebay for kids books - often people give them away on Facebook as well

FinallyHere · 19/08/2020 08:44

This won't be the last time some random person comments unfavourably on your parenting style.

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

There, fixed that for you.

sweetheartyparty · 19/08/2020 08:45

You'll be wanting to replace some of them with paper books

steff13 · 19/08/2020 08:46

Do you all have Dolly Parton's Imagination Library there? It's a program you sign up for and they send you a book each month from birth to 5 years of age. It's free. We have it here in the US, but I think they do it in other countries too.

Findahouse21 · 19/08/2020 08:46

I don't buy many board books as I don't think they last that long but we used to borrowoads from the library. Once they're past the board book stage though, I think the more the better

Mogtheforgetfulmum · 19/08/2020 08:46

You can't have too many books. Its brilliant you are reading so much with your dd! Her language skills will be much better as a result. Your friend sounds jealous and insecure.

LittleHootie · 19/08/2020 08:46

I totally get what you mean about it being mostly for you. It can get so boring reading the same books every night.

Yanbu

TrashKitten10 · 19/08/2020 08:47

Your friend is a cock. Reading is one of the most important things to do with young children. I probably have a similar amount of books for my 9 month old as, like you, I would lose the will reading 'That's not my penguin' on repeat. As an early years teacher in a disadvantaged area, I often encounter children who have never owned or read a book and their first experiences of enjoying, memorising, reading and re-enacting books in nursery or school are magical. Your little one is very lucky to have so many books, definitely don't stop :)

mogtheexcellent · 19/08/2020 08:48

In my opinion you can never have too many books.
(Although if you have 40 different versions of the 'That's not my... ' books I could understand where your friend was coming from.)

However at that age I had the luxury of the library being open so prob had about 20 board books. I would start buying a few paper books and keep on a high shelf to vary it a bit as board books have a shorter interest phase.

Buying books for my DD is one of my hobbies so probably the wrong person to comment Blush

thepeopleversuswork · 19/08/2020 08:51

You can't ever have too many books. Your friend is a dick who is probably jealous and is put you down. You need better friends.

NoIDontWatchLoveIsland · 19/08/2020 08:52

You'll be wanting to replace some of them with paper books

Why would she? As her child ages the titles suitable for an older child will be paper ones anyway. My son is nearly 4 and still enjoys lots of the board books along side longer paper stories.

OP we have easily this many board books and probably 100+ paper books suitable for preschoolers (kipper, mog, Alfie etc). its absolutely a good thing. I was horrified when I went to a friends house who has only a handful of books for her two children and has never taken them to the library, but spent nearly £100 on a trendy monochrome ballpit. I know which way I'd rather be.

Hercwasonaroll · 19/08/2020 08:53

No such this as too many.

Plus ordinarily libraries would be open and you could get new ones every week. Ours still isn't open. This stopped me buying loads when mine was younger.

wigglerose · 19/08/2020 08:53

Good grief. Why don't people keep their opinions to themselves.
No, no amount of books is too much.
There's no way you can spoil an 8 month old or anything silly like that if that's what she thinks.

TitsOutForHarambe · 19/08/2020 08:53

There is no such thing as too many books at any age. Tell your friend to try harder.

MintyCedric · 19/08/2020 08:54

No such thing as too many books at any age!

Newbameforanewdecade · 19/08/2020 08:54

There is no such thing as too many books whatever your age!

Newbameforanewdecade · 19/08/2020 08:55

@TitsOutForHarambe @MintyCedric great minds!

Diceroll · 19/08/2020 08:57

If you can afford it then sure, if you're putting yourself into ridiculous debt for it (sounds like you aren't) then it's probably too many.