Reading to 8 or 9 month old?

[Anonymous]

I have been reading to my almost 9 month old before bed for a while, but it has gotten really difficult lately. He wants to hold, hit and eat the book and it's hard to turn the pages. Does this pass? Should I just stop for a while (I actually haven't been doing it much lately because it is frustrating)?

[zumbamama]

that happened to me too. I just let her turn the pages and inspect it...otherwise she gets mad if I try to do it. So no longer being able to read the story, I just point to the pictures and we say the word of what we are pointing to. That keeps her attention more than reading. But then when I read to my older child, she will sit and listen.

[Anonymous]

I read only lift the flap or other "interactive books" at this stage. Some to try to pick up at the library or otherwise are Where is Baby's Belly Button; Pat the Bunny; Who's Under the Hat; Lot's of Lamaze books are great. Books with mirrors etc. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I have had no luck reading to DS and it makes me sad. I can't get through one page w/out him trying to rip the book up and eat it. I want to read all the wonderful books we have but it gets to be too frustrating. I guess they taste better than they sound.

[Anonymous]

Don't stop! Keep trying, it's important. I know it's frustrating but as much as you can get through is better than nothing.

[Anonymous]

My 10 mo DS eats every book we have except the 3 page book we read to him before bed every single night. He listens and smiles at that one. It's frustrating, because I would like to expand his library a bit, but he is the same as yours.

I do remember it gets a little bit better at about 1 year, but then their attention spans are so short that you can only get through a page or two before they run around the room a bit. But just making books a part of their daily life, whether it be visual or oral, is important. By 2 they will beg for books and sit in your lap for an hour to read.

[Anonymous]

We give ours a different book to hold and chew while we read to him -- works like a charm!

[Anonymous]

DC will 'get it' soon. A really good one at this age is "Fuzzy fuzzy fuzzy" by Sandra BOynton. It's short on words, long on touchy feely stuff. We read that to DS every night for months. He loved feeling things and then playing with the book when we were done.