When did your baby become interested in books?

[Anonymous]

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

It was gradual. We started reading regularly to her at bedtime when she was around 4 months old and at first, she didn't really pay much attention but I think the sound of us reading aloud was soothing to her. By around 6 or 7 months, she was excited to turn the pages. And at 9 or 10 months, she was pointing to pictures and sometimes feeling textures in those books. Now, at 16 months, she loves books and sits quietly and immersed while we read. I think you just have to start reading to your DC as early as possible and they'll start becoming interested in different kinds of ways -- all ways that are very helpful for development.

[Anonymous]

My baby is interested now and he is 3 months old. I have been reading Goodnight moon to him since he was about 2 months old and he really likes it. I also have a soft baby book and he likes looking at the pictures and turning the pages and putting it in his mouth! I also have an interactive book and he loves to try to press the buttons that play music and he turns the pages and loves looking at the pictures. I think it is never too early to introduce books.

[Anonymous]

I read from Day 1 as well, but my son didn't become truly interested in books until about 1 year old. And then he went through phases of liking them, not liking them, and then back to practically begging for them. I never forced him to read, and it was really interesting to watch these phases, because when he did come back to enjoying it, his level of participation in the book reading process jumped tremendously each time. He's almost 3 now and has wanted to read books daily for most of the past year now. He's "reading" them to me now. But in the beginning, I was sure I had a non-book lover on my hands.

[Anonymous]

My daughter just turned 1 and her interest is mixed. She loves to sit surrounded by all of her books and open them up and babble to herself, like she's reading. But if I try to get her to sit with me while I read to her, she is too busy trying to turn the pages quickly to actually hear the story, and she usually loses interest midway through the book. It's kind of frustrating because I'd really like it to be a tradition with us to read before bedtime.

[Anonymous]

I was surprised when my DS became very interested in certain books at 2.5 months. Now, at 5 months, he laughs and squeals with excitment as I turn the pages of his favorite books, even the ones without good pictures. All kids are different.

[Anonymous]

My first-born - from the get-go he couldn't get enough. My second-born - my husband was truly worried that he was going to be the athlete of the family (if you know what I mean) since he showed NO interest for the first two years, but then in the last year has started loving his books, and even "reads" them to me at night.

[Anonymous]

It depends - my 16 month old DD LOVES books as toys - as in she loves to go take them from her bookshelf and flip through them. She definitely has her favorites and goes to certain pages for certain pictures.

But she is not so great in quietly sitting and having a story read to her. She is anxious to get to the next page. So I often do abridged versions of the stories! But I feel like as long as we keep trying she will get more patient and engrossed.

[Anonymous]

i can't remember my DS NOT loving books. from day one, we read to him (what else is there to do?)...he seemed really interested in watching us read...and dragged his soft books everywhere....he's 2 and is so crazy about books. we go to the library all the time. he wants to be read to before bed every night...and on weekends, at any moment he could request a book. i hope he stays like this forever!

[Anonymous]

My daughter, 23 months, is just now showing some interest in reading books.

[Anonymous]

When wondering what to get my son for his 1st bday, my SIL asked if he liked books. I replied, "yes, he thinks they're delicious!" But now at 2.5 he demands to be read to!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My daughter just turned 1 and her interest is mixed. She loves to sit surrounded by all of her books and open them up and babble to herself, like she's reading. But if I try to get her to sit with me while I read to her, she is too busy trying to turn the pages quickly to actually hear the story, and she usually loses interest midway through the book. It's kind of frustrating because I'd really like it to be a tradition with us to read before bedtime.

My DS is exactly the same, and also just turned one.

Also, If I try to read a book and he can see other books, he'll grab those and want to move from one to the other very quickly.

I have found the best time to read to him is while he's having his before-bed bottle, or before nap bottle.

[Anonymous]

We read to my 8-month-old at bedtime. There are a small handful of books that he loves, a small handful of books he will tolerate, and pretty much anything else he will only last a few pages before fussing and trying to twist out of my lap. I think familiarity is important to him--his favorites are ones that we've read lots of times. I am working hard to get new books into the mix, but it feels like hard work. We are also talking short and simply board books for the most part. I know that forcing reading is simply not possible, but if anyone has tips about how to get DS interested in different books and longer books I'd love to hear it!

[Anonymous]

I remember that my dd seemed interested in books at an earlier age than ds. I was actually a little concerned if my ds would ever take to books. He has -- just took a few extra months- and I think he loves them a smidge more than dd.

[Anonymous]

i started after my dd's 1st bday 5 months later she's inlove and has her fav's that she brings to me to read and reads to herself ( pretend reads, tries to repeat back the words I've taught her)....i didn't have the energy to do this b/f her first bday but by 1 she was really into it!