There is a huge variety of books to choose from for infants and toddlers. Every parent wishes to choose the right books to put them on the road to building vocabulary, learning new things, and object recognition. As the baby grows, introducing him/her to age-appropriate books will help them become more passionate about learning. This buyer’s guide will help you choose the best baby books.
What Things Should You Consider Before Buying Baby Books?
Before you get your hands on the best baby books, you should get answers to the following questions.
Is the book age-appropriate?
Board books made of sturdy cardboard or easy-to-clean plastic can be the best choice for toddlers and babies. Older kids can handle paper pages.
What will your child be learning?
Different books tend to teach different concepts to babies and preschoolers. Some will focus on phonics and ABCs, while others will introduce shapes and colors.
What Factors Should You Consider While Buying Baby Books?
The best baby books should have at least these basic features.
Baby-friendly
Choose something that is non-toxic for them. Apart from being easy to grab and safe to use, the book should be sturdy enough to take a bit of biting or slobber.
Little text with more illustrations
Babies cannot decipher words, so overloading them with information can turn them off. Don’t go for word-heavy books. Rather, choose books with lots of colors and shapes.
Textures and shapes
To help your little ones with retaining information, you should opt for a book that has elements or different textures. Babies tend to remember the things that they have seen or felt.
Infants
The eyesight of infants is not completely developed at birth. While choosing books for infants, you should opt for a smaller-sized, easy to hold, black and white design, and highly contrasting books with only one or two images per page.
Older Infants
As the baby grows, oral language becomes more important. So, you should choose books with single works alongside pictures to help them in the learning process. Moreover, board books with thick pages and nursery rhymes are more appropriate for them. Pop-up, peek-a-boo, or lift-the-flap books with hidden surprises can be the best choice.
Toddlers
Most toddlers hate to sit in place for a long time. However, they enjoy books that they can relate to everyday experiences to help them understand and explore their world. Look for colorful books with simple storylines to help them with sensory exploration.
Baby Book FAQ
Q: When Should You Introduce Books To Your Little ones?
A: It's never too early to start reading to your child. You can find books for every age group, and introducing books to infants will only benefit them.
Q: For Which Age Group Are Cloth Books For?
A: Babies from 0-2 years can use cloth books because they don’t have the strength to lift heavier books. Besides, they are in the habit of chewing on everything. Hence cloth books are a safer option.