Baby doesn't like books :/

[jinglet]

I have a 5 month old who I've tried reading to since birth. Sadly, he'll look anywhere else but at the book. He shows no interest in any of it. Should I give up? Try again when he's a little older?

I’d just stick with it and get some books that have pages that make sounds, different textures, or have mirrors on to try to get interest. DD1 wasn’t interested in books for ages and then loved them from about 18 months onwards (and still does now).

You can still read away even if the book isn't being looked at just to normalise books. At 5 months though I wouldn't worry - plenty of time to get to enjoy them later.

What are the books like? At that age my children only liked books with large simple pictures and bright colours.

He is 5 months old he has a nanosecond concentration span get your baby feely touchy books and let them play with them.

Think about how you are sitting as well. Mine loved sitting in my lap which reading.

Read to him but don’t expect him to interact, he is 5 months!

I don’t think my 2 even looked at a book until they were nearly 2 tbh. They are 5 and 3 now and enjoy books! Try just picture books, or those plastic bath books he can hold/chew/squeeze himself. Don’t pressure yourself he’s still tiny!

Reading to babies is lovely. They like the cuddles, focused attention (no turning, or getting up to do something quickly) and your voice. They don't give a toss about the actual book until quite a lot later. Keep with it, it makes it a normal activity, which means they do start listening to stories well much earlier.

Lol, stick with it.

Keep at it. Try the "That's not my" books with different textures, or books with mirrors etc in, or ones with pictures of real things inside. Read with enthusiasm! They'll get there.

At 5 months like others I’d suggest bright simple pictures, textures and books that rhyme and have rhythm are probably of most interest but mainly just being cuddled and hearing your voice. You could probably sit and read out loud a magazine of your choice and they’d be just as happy!
I read quite a lot of the first book of the chronicles of narnia to DS when he was a few weeks to months old whilst I was feeding him as I was trying to avoid just spending hours on my phone. That was mainly for me but he got to hear my voice instead of the TV and was too small to have a clue about the content. DD gets no such luxury, she hears whatever I am reading to her brother if she happens to need a feed at his bedtime or in the morning when he gets up! I’m not actually reading anything specific to her in the daytime yet and probably won’t until she can sit up a bit on my lap and look at the book so a few more weeks (currently 13 weeks).

5mo? DS 7yo has only just picked up a book of his own volition! We have read to him, he reads to us, we he has a reading corner with Ikea-hack bookcase and a beanbag chair, he has all sorts of books. He just preferred running around and Lego than reading, but recently he's started to pick up a book rather than play with his Playmobil....

We gave a houseful of books and both DH and I studied literature to MA level, but we haven't pushed DS. His reading level is just fine and he has no problems at school in this aspect.

Your DS is soooooo small, in the kindest way: calm your tits x

Oh my! He's 5 months fgs! My boy is 13 months and its only in the last month that he really likes them and one is a book that he turns over to reveal hiding things and the others are puppet books. He will sut for a sort while at night and let me read him a very short book- but we have to be quick. Really cant believe you are worried about this at five months- I suspect all he will want to di is eat it or destroy it at five months.

I think it's lovely you're worried about this! Don't give up. Just keep books around, get some from the library for him to explore. I run baby groups and set up the room with some treasure baskets and books, as if they are toys and something else to explore.

Let him see you read too and have actually books for you around, not a kindle! I enjoy reading on my kindle and with real book but like to make sure they see me with a real book more often than not. I'm a proud mm to two bookworms!

Make sure you aren't reading anything too wordy to try and keep their attention. I'd recommend something simple and repetitive with flaps to lift for a baby. Something like 'Where's Spot' or 'Dear Zoo' or 'Where's Mr Lion' (that has a mirror in the back). The 'That's not my...' books are good too. If there is any opportunity for animal noises or silly voices these will keep baby amused. 5 months is very young though, keep at it and they will get it eventually. If nothing else they will like cuddling up and listening to your voice.

Your DS is soooooo small, in the kindest way: calm your tits x

Exactly this!!!
Jeez,the child is 5 months, not 5 years for goodness sake!

5mo?

Not 5yo?
Chill. Jesus.

I remember having to read to mine in the bath as it was the only time I could keep them still enough! No lasting issues :)

Supposing the kid never likes books?
What's the problem.
One if mine loved them, the other didn't.
Admittedly they were more than 5 months before I found out for sure!

My 15 month old loves books... They are perfect for flinging across the room or sliding on Give it a bit of time, like a few years! Read short age appropriate books when you can just to get him used to it but don't worry about it and just put it down when he loses interest, ie after about 30 seconds.

What type of books? I only ask because both my children love books and have seemed to pay attention to them since about 3 months old, but only rhyming books until about 1 year (DC1, DC2 is still under 1). DC1's favourites were things like Each Peach Pear Plum, Peepo, Gruffalo's Child. I think they like the rhythm. After 1 he started to let me read non rhyming books like Meg and Mog, Funny Bones and the blasted Where is the Very Hungry Caterpillar which I do not recommend because I hate reading it 20-30 times in a row.

They don't seem to be interested in the That's Not My... or picture/texture books. DC1 likes me to read What Car to him

Leave books until your baby is 1. 5 month olds are not interested in books!

Keep reading to him!!
He's not going to be looking at the words at that age but your voice will be soothing him and you will be setting him in a routine.

If it makes you feel any better.
My first loved books from the get go. He's a book worm

My second wasn't interested in anything, books, toys, anything. It took me 2 years to realise she was blind

Yours will be the normal in between that just wants to play.

Oh crikey you are over thinking this. Your baby is 5 months old, and his concentration skills are pretty much zero. Just keep reading and try other things too. It's completely normal for them to be disinterested. Same applies to food!

@Acopyofacopy They are interested, I have a video I took of DC1 at 8 months old crawling around, as I started saying the first words of one of his books he turns around and charges towards the book before collapsing in front of it to listen. I also have several videos at around 6 months of me finishing a book, saying 'The End' and him starting to cry until I start reading again with him miraculously shutting up.