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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:
Laaalaaaa · 19/08/2020 09:18

[quote LittleHootie]@Laaalaaaa No one has said there's a lower limit. Managing to feel judged as a result of this innocuous thread is a real skill.[/quote]
Oh I don’t feel judged. More sarcasm 🤷🏻‍♀️

KrabbyPatties · 19/08/2020 09:19

You’re doing something fantastic

My children had a kallax between them stuffed with books

They read all the time and get so much pleasure from it

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 19/08/2020 09:19

@Laaalaaaa

My 10 month old has maybe 12 books - I guess I’m a shit parent.
No. The qty is mostly for me. Not reading to your kid would (imo) make a 'shit' parent. Even if you own 0 books, and read the cornflakes box or shampoo bottle or road signs to them, then that's being a good parent! 🤗
OP posts:
ellenpartridge · 19/08/2020 09:20

That's honestly a totally normal amount of books for a baby. I don't think it's weird at all. Your friend is a bit strange for thinking it's unusual. I'd just completely ignore and carry on as you are.

OverTheRainbow88 · 19/08/2020 09:20

We love books, have probs about 100, once we outgrow them I pass them on to my niece and nephew.

orangesandstrawberries · 19/08/2020 09:22

Your 8m old will happily read the same 3 books over and over. You however will be driven insane! We also have lots of books Smile

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 19/08/2020 09:23

@DocOfTheBay

No such thing as too many.

But lots and lots is unnecessary.

Because young children need and thrive in the familiar and the repetitive as well as exploring the new. And however bored you get, going through the same book with an 8 month old time and time again is what they enjoy. They learn anticipation, pattern, rhythm, and vocabulary from repeated associations.

We repeat the favourites lots. It's really boring LOL but she likes them.
OP posts:
minnieok · 19/08/2020 09:24

No such thing as too many books, as long as you can afford them. Unless money is no object, i would suggest trying to start saving a bit each month for when kids get more expensive rather than buying many more, try the library for variety.

Original poster
AliceTheCamelHasFiveHumps · 19/08/2020 09:33

@minnieok we're lucky enough to have two libraries, a free book swap and numerous charity shops nearby. Like I say, I think I've spent about £5 total on books! The ones I'm not so keen on get donated to village swap. One shop does 10 kids books for £1 😄

OP posts:
LittleLottieChaos · 19/08/2020 09:36

I think the variety in books is as much to keep you sane as your child... reading the same 3 books repeatedly must make people lose the will. Enjoy it while you can, my now 18 month old refuses to listen to us read to him...

Nixen · 19/08/2020 09:37

I’m a firm believer that there is no such thing as too many books.

Diceroll · 19/08/2020 09:38

For anyone reading who cannot afford loads, that's also fine!

Trashtara · 19/08/2020 09:39

DH was a primary school teacher and he loved buying books, lots of which he moved with him as he moved schools or class rooms. When he left teaching he gifted some to the school and brought the rest home. So we have 100s of them - I'm not joking, we must have about 300 books suitable for ages 0 - 7, possibly more. We rotate them. And people buy us more for Christmas and birthdays. and I take the kids to the library to choose books for themselves.

You can never, ever have too many books and research is really clear that an early love of reading has a life long positive impact on educational achievement and even mental health.

Trashtara · 19/08/2020 09:40

@Diceroll

For anyone reading who cannot afford loads, that's also fine!
Absolutely! Any amount of reading is good, kids will read one book over and over again! And library's are great for kids books - currently you can usually reserve and collect them.
Trashtara · 19/08/2020 09:41

We repeat the favourites lots. It's really boring LOL but she likes them.

It's also really good for younger children. Repetition helps their brains develop.

BikeTyson · 19/08/2020 09:43

Libraries often sell off their older stock too, we have about 10 books from ours that were 10p each.

Busybusybust · 19/08/2020 09:45

Fact: you can’t have too many books - EVER!

Sailingblue · 19/08/2020 09:49

Children’s books are lovely. It was one of the things that have me lots of pleasure when I was pregnant. I just loved browsing the lovely books. I’ve found I read a greater variety with a baby than I did with my toddlers so enjoy the variety while you can!

My 17m adores the that’s not my books and the acorn wood ones and has started to actively choose which ones she wants rather than being content for me to pick. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read that’s not my monkey. Probably thousands across both children. My 4yo is also very particular and goes through phases of the same books but she’ll generally swap every few weeks.

mylittlesandwich · 19/08/2020 09:52

We have loads of books. DS was born in November and everyone wanted to get us things for Christmas. We had all the things we needed so I suggested books as they don't take up as much space and he can enjoy them for years. As a result we have lots of books.

rc22 · 19/08/2020 09:58

You can never have too many books at any stage in life!! Smile

randomsabreuse · 19/08/2020 09:59

Lots of books is definitely a sanity thing for you as the parent. There's only so many times you can read any board book without losing the will to live. Enjoy while you can choose and don't have to do Meg and Mog plus Tiddler every bloody night

mogtheexcellent · 19/08/2020 10:37

We have loads of books but some were read every night for months. I can still recite several years later Grin

ReggaetonLente · 19/08/2020 10:48

DD probably has over 100 at not yet 2 😂 i bloody love buying her books.

She loves being read to, 'reading' to her teddies, she looks at books all the time. As pp say they will last for years and also be used by her future sibling and cousins.

I will say that her vocab and speech is bloody good for her age too. But that could just be coincidental- books here are all about the enjoyment really. A love of reading is an amazing gift that will last well beyond childhood.

Your friend is horrible - how can you be criticised for 'trying too hard' to nurture your own child?! We've had comments from people too when we've asked for books as gifts (SIL has proudly never read a book to her own kid and thinks its cruel for DD to have them as presents).

TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 · 19/08/2020 10:54

There s no such thing. If you have room for them and can afford them then you do not have too many.

Genuinely one of the saddest things I have ever been told was at my DDs 2 year check when I was asked if she knew how to turn the pages of a book. I was a bit surprised by the question and said that of course she did. The Hv just looked at me and said, you'd be amazed how many children we see at 2 or even 4 who know how to swipe a tablet screen but have no idea how a book works.

Books are just such a part of my life, part of my most fond memories that the idea of children never being exposed to the smell of an old book or the feel of pages and dogearred well worn corners, broken spine of a much loved and well used book saddens me.

NotHotPot · 19/08/2020 10:58

One of my favourite memories is dd crawling over to the book box (we had a shallow box full of books all facing forwards, so she could easily flick through and see the covers) and choosing one for her bedtime story.

Plus, rainy afternoons spent cuddling and reading to her on the sofa without repeating a book (I had a ‘only read the same book once a day’ rule).

Keep doing what you’re doing.