Reading to six-month-old

[Anonymous]

I have always read to my charges and have always started with newborns. This new position, I'm starting with a very bright and happy six-month-old charge who has never been read to. So when I try to read to him, he grabs the book - tries to chew it - and generally doesn't know how to sit and look at the pictures. Since I've always read to my charges since birth, by six months they were all happy and eager to sit and listen/look.

I don't know how to handle a six-month-old who has never been read to before.

Any tips from BTDT nannies? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Read very quick stories that involve interacting with the book in some way. If he tries to chew the book, hand him an appropriate toy he can chew on instead.

[Anonymous]

Just look at a few beautiful pictures in a book and talk about them. Most books have cartoonish illustrations which I'm generally not a big fan of. They're ugly.

[Anonymous]

yah - I would just talk about the pictures and turn the pages more quickly. "ohhhh look at this blue truck, trucks go vrooooom vroom" then turn the page. You don't have to read every single word. I think it is totally normal to chew on the books. I read to my son from birth and still he would not sit still and listen to entire book at 6 months. He'd chew on it too. By 2 all he wanted to do was sit and look at books. I was so concerned I raised it with the pedi and she laughed at me. But I was concerned he wasn't up an running around. He grew out of that stage obviously, but still loves books.

[Anonymous]

My first kid would sit still for a long Dr. Seuss book from birth. My second kid couldn't get through "This is Not My Dinosaur" until he was 2.5. My third kid would listen to short books only until 2. #4 alternates between listening and chewing/grabbing at 6 months. They were all read to all.the.time.

[Anonymous]

I've always read to my charges from birth too, and what you're describing is standard 6mo behavior. Talk about the pictures, give him a book to chew while you read another, move the pages as quickly as he'd like to.

[Anonymous]

I am a mom and have read to my seven month old daughter from birth, but she still loves to slam the books shut and chew on them. So I am not sure its as much about not being read to, as maybe the little one just wants to chew on the pages!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am a mom and have read to my seven month old daughter from birth, but she still loves to slam the books shut and chew on them. So I am not sure its as much about not being read to, as maybe the little one just wants to chew on the pages!

Yes! Ha ha. We've read to our son since birth, and as soon as he could grab them and shove them in his mouth that's all he wanted to do! And when we'd sacrifice that book as the "chewing" book and get another, he seemed to know to grab and eat that one instead.

Finally at 10 months he seems to show more interest in what's inside the book.

[Anonymous]

How many six month old charges have you had that honestly sat still and looked at the pictures for the whole book?? I've been a nanny for 14 years and yes I read to the children since day one (usually 8-12 weeks of age), but I haven't known very many six month olds who will sit and listen and pay attention to an entire book! This post just screams "inexperienced" to me. Have you considered that he's probably teething?

[Anonymous]

Six month olds have such a long attention span, don't they? I did not read to any of my three children at six month and, wonder of wonders, all three of them are intelligent and two of them have received full academic scholships to major colleges.

[Anonymous]

Six month olds have such a long attention span, don't they? I did not read to any of my three children at six month and, wonder of wonders, all three of them are intelligent and two of them have received full academic scholships to major colleges.

[Anonymous]

I think this varies by child. My first loved listening and looking at books from birth. My current, 5 months, tries to immediately grab and chew it even though we've been reading since day 1. I usually give her something else to hold/chew and attempt to get through it. Also, we use board books that don't get damaged.

[Anonymous]

I think he is a little too young to be read to, but if you have done so in the past with babies younger than him then that proves me wrong.

I would start off with quick stories for him. Short and sweet. Let him get used to being read to in a progressive manner.

Also, during tummy or playtime, allow him to play with cloth or plastic books. Some of them come with a squeaky feature.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Disregard the "you must not be experienced" nonsense. A lot of nannies on this forum are simply too lazy to read to their charges.

Try various positions where the book is out of the baby's reach. My favorite early-reading position is both of us on our backs on the play-mat with the book held over us. Even if the baby gets distracted and rolls off to do something else, continue to read if it is a rhyming text like Dr. Seuss or a text that is in complete sentences. I have also read while the baby is snuggling after naps/wake up. Any calm time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think he is a little too young to be read to, but if you have done so in the past with babies younger than him then that proves me wrong.

I would start off with quick stories for him. Short and sweet. Let him get used to being read to in a progressive manner.

Also, during tummy or playtime, allow him to play with cloth or plastic books. Some of them come with a squeaky feature.

Good luck.

Our nanny has always read to our DS since birth. At 8 months he was crawling over to choose books for us to read to him from his bookcase. At six-months he would happily sit through even a long, verbal text like "Green Eggs & Ham". She aslo began taking him to "Baby Story Time for Non-Walkers" at 8 months.

He is three now and still loves books. We definitely credit our nanny.