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Where to start with stories - 6 weeks old baby

15 replies

solosunflower · 22/05/2023 23:08

Hello!
My baby is only 6 weeks old and four days, but I'm wondering where to start with stories and reading?

OP posts:
MaggyNoodles · 22/05/2023 23:12

At this age you can read anything, they'll just enjoy the sound of your voice and facial expressions.
Pick something you'd like to hear yourself because before you know it your going to be reading The Cat in the Hat for the millionth time!

solosunflower · 22/05/2023 23:24

Will do, thank you.
So when should I think about book boards?

OP posts:
MaggyNoodles · 23/05/2023 05:03

I'd say when they start to take an interest in their surroundings. You can start with fabric books first, and plastic ones for the bath.
There's a good guide here. https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/tips-and-advice/reading-with-your-child-0-12-months/#!?q=&sortOption=AtoZ&pageNo=1

ImustLearn2Cook · 23/05/2023 05:23

When I was pregnant I bought 3 board books for the nursery. I started reading them to her before she was born. I chose them because I was familiar with them from working in nursery and child care, they had a good flow and were enjoyable to read. And they seemed to be well liked.

And interestingly out of all the books I read to her, those three were her clear favourites for her when she was a baby and toddler.

These were the books:

Where is the Green Sheep by Mem Fox

Rudie Nudie by Emma Quay

Slinky Malinki, Early Bird by Lynley Dodd

Of course I added to them. Cloth books, bath books and board books.

Read books that flow well, that you enjoy reading. Because believe me the read it again Mum, read it again will happen. You might as well enjoy the books too. You’ll be reading them a lot.

solosunflower · 26/05/2023 23:17

@MaggyNoodles Thank you! Really helpful link!

@ImustLearn2Cook Thank you for the recommendations. I shall look those up on Amazon.

I've started reading to my baby whilst I breastfeed. He's very unsettled with colic, so that's pretty much the only time he's settled. We did have a short window this morning when be looked at a fabric book together.

OP posts:
user1471457703 · 26/05/2023 23:34

Black and white books are good because babies can see the high contrast pictures better. Songs and nursery rhymes are great. Cloth books with pages that crinkle when touched for when they are old enough to grab things.

mooner · 20/06/2023 11:27

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AliasGrape · 20/06/2023 12:05

My daughter screamed if I so much as opened a book in her vicinity for the first few months! It was frankly weird how much she hated them - and ironic too since, as an Early Years teacher and general nerd I'm really passionate about reading in general and good quality books for young children in particular. I remember actually stressing about it, and telling my friend who joked 'she can't be yours!'.

She did like looking at the high contrast black and white books sometimes, so we had a few of those. And as she got older she would enjoy the different textured cloth books, and any that had mirrors etc in. Around 9 -14/15 months was peak time for the 'That's Not My ...' books too I remember, although I think I bought about 50 of the bloody things and the phase didn't last long enough to justify that so maybe go easy!

We did lots and lots of nursery rhymes when she was tiny, and continued right through to now when she's nearly 3. She knows an incredible number of them which I'm pleased about, as I think they're really important for building those early language, rhyme and reading skills.

And I agree you can read anything when they're tiny - they just like to hear your voice, so read what you're reading whether it's a novel, non-fiction, the paper, a magazine, a recipe etc. I used to have an audiobook playing (for me) during nightfeeds too sometimes, just to keep me awake!

She did become less book-averse quite quickly and get into stories, and still loves them now. Some of the early ones I remember reading to her were:

Goodnight Moon
Each Peach Pear Plum
Peepo
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
A Recipe for Bedtime
Whatever Next
Peace at Last
Noisy Farm/ Farm Chase
Oh Dear!
Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?

She still likes most of those now.

The Works often has good deals on, and it's worth joining the local library too - then if you find something that stands out as a real favourite you can buy a copy or add it to your Christmas/ birthday list.

PenelopePoopStop · 20/06/2023 12:20

All Lynley Dodds books have great rhyming patterns and are ones that will be returned to as baby gets older. Albergh board books are also great, Peepo is brilliant as are Each Peach and The Baby Catalogue.
The Places You’ll Go by Dr Suess is also lovely and flows well, baby will enjoy listing to you ❤️
Enjoy the magic baby days.

mogtheexcellent · 20/06/2023 12:27

I read 10 little fingers and ten little toes board book to DD every night for a year. I think I picked it up in ASDA when she was newborn. Obviously for most of that time she was oblivious that it was a book but the sound of my voice and repetitive rhyme was good.

Avoid guess how much i love you. The one upmanship from the parent is very annoying.

Danikm151 · 20/06/2023 12:35

Have you claimed your book start pack?
that has lots of tips around reading to little ones.

In general any book is good. Dear zoo, noisy farm, car car truck jeep, each peach pear plum. Even making up stories about your day is brill. Grab 10 for £10 at the works and get reading.

my son has lots of books( I have a big collection myself) and will enthusiastically ask for more stories at bed time now he’s 3.

CurlewKate · 20/06/2023 13:06

At this age, read aloud whatever you're reading yourself. The sound of your voice is what's important- and instilling the idea that reading is enjoyable and a thing people do. Don't add an extra layer of parenting responsibility until you have to!

AliasGrape · 20/06/2023 19:24

mogtheexcellent · 20/06/2023 12:27

I read 10 little fingers and ten little toes board book to DD every night for a year. I think I picked it up in ASDA when she was newborn. Obviously for most of that time she was oblivious that it was a book but the sound of my voice and repetitive rhyme was good.

Avoid guess how much i love you. The one upmanship from the parent is very annoying.

I really dislike Guess How Much I Love You for that reason, and also because it just doesn’t scan well.

There’s a whole genre sprung up if ‘I love you so much and I’ll always love you and you’ll always be my baby even when you’re 100 and you’re my everything and did I mention the depth, breadth and sheer expansiveness of my love for you my tiny infant who will grow up and leave me one day (and then also I’ll be very old and maybe dead but that’s only hinted at). I’m sure there’s some lovely ones but most of them seem like cynical attempts to make the parents cry whilst actually being quite boring for children - we have a few which were given as gifts and DD loses interest after the first few pages.

Danikm151 · 20/06/2023 22:47

When your baby is a little bigger-
the ten minutes to bed books are great
there’s a … in your book

and can’t go wrong with the dinosaur that pooped books 😂

But seriously don’t stress. At 4weeks old I read my son books off my kindle. It’s about your voice and tone too.

Emad · 07/07/2023 20:16

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