To those moms who read to their babies

[Beemommy]

...how do you manage to do that?? I would love to read to my 10 month old DS but he won't concentrate on one thing for more than 20 seconds. He constantly wants to move around and gets bored with everything very quickly. He wouldn't even play with one toy for more than a minute even if it's new!! Is it normal?

Mine is only just interested. He's 3

Don't fret

Try cardboard books, eg each peach pear plum, where the sounds are interesting.
And don't beat yourself up - not liking books at 10 months isn't a problem.
Mine always had a particular story last before sleep, for years, it was more like reading poetry than story telling, so maybe think about books at different time having different purposes, so it doesn't feel futile to read to an unappreciative audience.

Never really thought about this, but I have always read to them, since the day they were born. But I like reading, I find it calming, so if I had a grouchy baby (and I did!!) then I would just pace up and down reading.

They loved the card books, and song books. The ds1 got into anything with wheels, and ds2 loved animals, so it just continued.

We never really had a set time, although I always read at bedtime.

Mine weren't interested in books til nearer 18 months. What's the rush?

I only read board books. And sometimes very very fast with a firm grip/abandoned it rapidly because of them trying to steal and eat it. But still, the thought was there.

At some point they started bringing me books to read them in the day which was easier.

My kids didn't stop trying to eat books until they were 2+! I started a daily bedtime story as soon as they started being fairly awake at bedtime. Which I guess was probably closer to 1.

Short lift the flap books are best at this age.

The illustrations should be simple and bold and you should move on quickly. Your child may want you to read it over and over - that's good (good for them, you'll be inwardly dreaming about one way tickets to Switzerland).

Hi, my lb is like your little one he won't play for more than few minutes before getting bored but I like to read to my lb every night before bed. It's like a bedtime routine for us. Once he's been washed/bathed we'll lay on my bed and I'd read him a book while he drinks his milk but while reading the book I keep interacting with him showing him pictures or talking about them, then off to his room and fast asleep.
I think even if you get to read a couple of lines of the book to him each night he might start relaxing/enjoy listening to you. Anything is worth a try xx

Maybe try a few different types of book?

DS1 loved the "That's not my.... " type books when he was that age, with the touchy feely patches.

DS2 was completely disinterested in that type of book at 10 months, but would be entranced if I read a book where the words had a good rhythm e.g. We're Going on a Bear Hunt.

I was reading to me DS from very young. It was a way of passing the time when everything entertained him. We moved on to 'reading' books. Now at around 20 mo, we mainly point at pictures and say what there is in them. He is not normally interested in just listening to a book being read, but him pointing and me saying what it is, or discussing the pictures while pointing we can spend quite some time doing.

Give it a few months. My DS wouldn't sit still for anything - reading, nursery rhymes etc. From 1 year he loved sitting down with books and would now happily sit down for an hour reading. Go to the library, try lots of different books and see what he likes. I don't think you need to push it. Dr Seuss and Richard Scarry are favourites.

Usborne books are really good. They do the 'That's not my...'range with touchy feely bits. They also do noisy books with lovely, not annoying sounds.

I read to my 16 month old when he's sleepy or I just let him turn the pages and we point to the pictures. I just chat to him about the different colours and get him to copy the sounds.

I don't think they really get interested in the stories until they're older but I think it's great to get them used to books.

We cuddled them in our laps with their milk once they were old enough. As tiny babies they liked looking at the books and bashing them about.

Both love books now (7&4)

interactive books, the only way. DS was about 16 months when I finally resorted to interactive books, he had zero interest before that.

Another recommendation for 'That's not my...' books. DD is 15 months and I have read to her since she was around 3 months old. She is a total livelier but will sit still for a book. We do it every night before bed, straight after her milk so she is tired and relaxed. If I tried to do it while she was playing there would be no chance! The past couple of months she has started getting books off the shelf and bringing them to me to read to her. We joined the local library and she loves having a new set of books to look at. They get bored looking at the same things at this age.

They used to sit on my lap while I read to them and their siblings. When they got bored they went off and did something else.

DS2 (12 months) isn't as interested in books as my other 2 were, he likes musical ones though but will just press the button over and over, and he likes feely ones
He mostly likes to just turn the pages which is a skill at least so I let him crack on

I read to him when he's in his high chair eating

Dear zoo is a good one; each pear pear plum (helps if you know the words off my heart to counteract the speedy page turning!), anything with touchy feely bits gives you a chance to read the words while they play with the pages - "that's not my..." excellent for this. The very hungry caterpillar and any little puppet books - I have a hey diddle diddle one and a mary had a little lamb.

Basically, the books need to catch their attention and get them into the idea of books and then later you can do nice stories!

I think it comes down to the individual child, definitely. We started doing a story as part of bedtime at about 4 months but it was always the same story as we always forgot to bring any more books up to her room.. Hairy Maclary and Zachary Quack. Every evening for probably 3 months! She did just sit on our laps and seemed to listen from quite an early age - my mum remarked how she would relax when we started reading this particular story to her. Even now, at 2 yrs old, we read lots of different books to her, but when we get out Zachary Quack she just goes all still and quiet. She went through a phase from about 7-12m where she would grab the pages and try and turn them, so board books all the way then. But she never tried to wriggle away or anything.
My niece is 1, and having a very similar upbringing, and is just not interested at all. She will wriggle off your lap if you try and read to her for more than 10 or 20 seconds!

At 16 months old we just point at pictures and I chat about them. If I try and turn the page in order, she just finds another page. Now she "talks" back a little. "Reading" doesnt take very long and can be any time of day.

I did more with DC1 mainly because I thought it was good to talk to him and instead of talking out my inner monologue, I thought books would be more interesting. they covered their ears when I sang

By now the house is full of conversations for her to watch/people who talk to her.

We started with touchy feely books now have a lot of lift the flap books so they hold DS's attention

I always read to mine before sleep be it nap or bedtime. Sat in the rocking chair, tucked them into the crook of my arm, read a board book or two before bed. just became the expected routine

Agree with CatatonicLadybug , choose something with rhythm and rhyme and read in a lively voice. Ditto whoever suggested Hairy MacLary and Zachary Quack! I would lie on my stomach on the rug and just start reading, and 8 month DD would generally crawl over with a huge grin and sit watching.

Started off with cloth,black and white,crinkly books from birth. Then move on to touchy-feely board books with lots of repetition. Pick books with pics of things they like. One or two with buttons to press. Keep piles in baskets they can get to everywhere. Don't force and just keep trying. Read/ attempt to read every day.

Eventually move on to picture books.

I think a lot depends as pp's have said, on each child. Some (baby DGD) seemed to be obsessed with books from about 6 months old onwards and still is. DD when she was small just wasn't interested till she was around 2 or 3.

Agree that lift the flap books, books that make sounds and ones with different textures and very bright colours are most likely to grab the attention. That way they aren't just passively listening but can take part.

When you put a selection of toys out for DS to play with you could include some chunky board books and leave them around for him to pick up and look at if he wants to. Those really small ones (about 3" x 3" ) with just pictures of everday things are great because they can pick them up easier than a larger book. DGD loves the one she has with animals in and the one about bedtime. She has favourite pages in each - the duck in the animal one and the teddy in the bedtime one. I know when she has reached the pages that our her faves as she gives a vile, ear-piercing squeal.

Advice - always choose books you like. You're going to read them hundreds of times.