To use audio books with toddler

[Flamingogirl08]

I read with my 18 month old everyday and also at bedtime.

However I have got into the habit of having audio books playing when we're just pottering around. I thought this would be good for her however I've just read that having tv on in the background can be bad for their development even if they're not watching.

Is this the same for audio books? Is it just distracting?

I would have thought it could only be a good thing! YANBU

Having constant background noise can be detrimental for speech development so I would say, yes, if you're not actively listening to it, turn it off. If you're listening to it, then it's fine. Just not as a constant background noise that you're then talking over. Same with TV.

I only used audio books after I had read to my child at night time. Especially when they got to school age. This was back with the Ark when audio books were on cassette tapes and you could buy them weekly in parts. Each tape had a few chapters of a few books on it. DS listened to lots of the classic children's books on it that he probably would never of read.

I think it’s fine, and I think it could be helpful if the right audiobooks are on!

If you're not listening to it turn it off I think..18 months probably way too young to get anything from an audiobook. A tape of children's music or nursery rhymes would probably be better. Or just put radio 4 on!

Why would the radio or nursery rhyme be better than an audio book? Can't see the logic

I think if you’re not actively listening to it then there’s not much point. I’ve found my little one won’t play talk when there’s background sound on but when it’s silence she makes up little stories and chats away to her toys. At snack time I put on a little Tonie on her Tonie box and she enjoys listening to the stories and songs .