Reading to babies under 1 may seem like a pointless activity, but it’s actually very beneficial for their development. Babies’ brains are rapidly growing and developing during this time, and exposing them to language and visual stimulation can help enhance their cognitive and language skills. Not to mention, reading to your baby is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. In this post, we’ll show you our recommendations for the best baby books that are perfect for this age group. While books for 1 year olds are also great, we will focus a lot more on books that they can feel, with high contrast, and great rhymes or songs.
beiens High Contrast Black and White Book
This cloth book with high contrast black and white patterns, touch and feel crinkle cloth, and mirror is perfect for babies under 1 year old. The book is designed to stimulate visual development in the early stages and attract the baby’s attention with bright colors and contrast background. The crinkle paper, bibi sounder, and different materials also encourage exploration and develop the baby’s touch and feel.
Indestructibles: Hello, Farm!
This paperbook is designed for babies and newborns. It is marketed as chew-proof, rip-proof, non-toxic, and 100% washable. It consists of 12 pages and features colorful and simple illustrations of farm animals. The book has received glowing reviews, with many parents praising its durability and washability!
Ocean Who Do You See Soft Cloth Book
With this fun baby book you get interactive activities such as lift-the-flap, touch and feel textures, a baby-safe mirror, and crinkle pages. It also includes a teething ring that also makes it easy to carry. The colorful book aims to stimulate key skills such as language, reading, communication, imagination, and sensory skills. The material is non-toxic and of high quality, making it durable and washable. Your baby will love it!
Ocean Friends – Touch and Feel Board Book
This sensory book is made to engage young readers’ senses through interactive fun and tactile learning. The book features many different textures and also includes real photography of ocean friends like dolphins, seahorses, starfish, seals, and more, and offers fun facts about each creature. It will be a great addition to your baby’s library!
My First Book of Baby Signs: 40 Essential Signs to Learn and Practice
This book is a great resource for parents who want to learn baby sign language alongside their baby. The book features engaging text and illustrations, as well as written and visual instructions, to make it fun and easy to learn helpful baby signs for everyday communication. Sign language helps your baby communicate their wants and needs better than before.
The Wonderful Things You Will Be
This is a great book to read to a baby under 1 year old and also makes a cute baby shower gift. It’s one of our favorites in our collection of children’s books that can be read for many years! The rhythmic rhyme and beautiful illustrations are engaging for young children, and the message of love and acceptance is perfect for parents to share with their little ones. It’s a heartwarming, timeless, and sweet story that celebrates the potential of children and the dreams that parents have for them.
My First Book of Nursery Rhymes
This padded board book filled with classic nursery rhymes that are perfect for reading to babies and toddlers under 1 year old. The colorful illustrations and fun rhymes will capture their attention and help develop their language skills. Also, the soft padded cover and sturdy board pages make it easy for little hands to hold and turn the pages. This rhyming book is a great addition to any child’s bookshelf.
Hello, Baby Animals: A High-Contrast Book
This board book is a great choice for introducing newborns to the world of books and developing their visual connections. It’s the perfect book for for tummy time! The high contrast black-and-white images are perfect for babies who are just beginning to see the world around them. It’s great as baby’s first book and will be so much fun!
Welcome Little One
We can highly recommend this adorable board book as a gift as it also doubles as a special keepsake with space to record birth details and a section to write a personal message to your baby. This elephant board book celebrates the unique bond between parents and their babies. This sweet book is filled with fun illustrations and gentle rhymes that express the love and joy parents feel when their baby is born.
Benefits of reading to babies under 1
Enhancing language skills:
Babies’ brains are like sponges, and they absorb everything around them. When you read to your baby, you’re exposing them to new vocabulary and sentence structures, which can help them develop their language skills.
Stimulating brain development:
Babies’ brains are rapidly growing and developing during this time, and exposing them to visual and auditory stimulation can help enhance their cognitive skills.
Building a love of reading:
By making reading a part of your baby’s daily routine, you’re setting them up to develop a love of reading that will last a lifetime. Reading fun bedtime books for story time in their night time routine gives babies consistency and they will love it as a ritual. We have our books in the nursery bookshelves, where you can add books for 2 year olds and later even kids cookbooks.
Bonding with your baby:
Reading to your baby is a great way to bond and spend quality time together. It’s a calming activity that can help both you and your baby relax and unwind. You can use the picture books on a comfy bed or sofa, but also on a tummy time mat like the Lovevery playgym.
Types of books for babies
You will want to look for age appropriate books with gorgeous illustrations to give your younger baby something to look or grab as you’re going through the books.
Black and White Books:
Babies under 1 are drawn to high-contrast images, so books with black and white illustrations are perfect for this age group. Kids love looking at these images, especially younger babies.
Board Books:
Board books are sturdy and easy for babies to hold and manipulate, making them a great choice for this age group. Board books are thicker and more durable to withstand wear and tear.
Touch and Feel Books:
Touch and feel books are perfect for babies who are starting to explore the world around them. These books have different textures and materials for babies to touch and feel, which can help enhance their sensory development.
Nursery Rhymes:
Nursery rhymes are a great way to introduce babies to language and rhythm. They’re also easy to remember and can be recited anywhere, making them a perfect activity for car rides or outings.
A few tips for Reading to Babies Under 1
Choose a time when your baby is calm and alert:
Reading to your baby when they’re calm and alert can help them stay engaged and focused on the book.
Use different voices and facial expressions:
Young babies are drawn to different voices and facial expressions, so make reading time fun and engaging by using different voices, making funny sounds, and making silly faces.
Let your baby explore the book:
Allow your baby to touch and feel the book, even if it means they might drool or chew on it. This can help them develop their motor skills and learn how to manipulate objects.
Make reading a part of your daily routine:
By making reading a part of your daily routine, you’re helping your baby develop a love of reading and setting them up for a lifetime of learning.
Don’t worry about finishing the book:
Babies have short attention spans, so don’t worry if you don’t finish the whole book in one sitting. It’s more important to focus on engaging with your baby and making reading time a positive experience.
Follow your baby’s lead:
If your baby seems uninterested in the book you’ve chosen, don’t force it. Follow your baby’s lead and choose a different book or activity that they seem more interested in.
