The Most Interactive Books for Babies

A parent’s job is never done.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents and caregivers start reading to their babies as early as possible.

We know that this may not be easy, especially if you already are physically exhausted. However, you can make reading to your baby one of the best parts of your day. It’s a time when you can sit down (BONUS!) and just enjoy your time with your baby.

Best of all, just the simple act of reading to your baby can add huge benefits to your child’s development.

Why is Reading to Your Baby Important?

Not only is regular reading time with your child a great way to spend time together, but it is also really beneficial for the following reasons:

Bonding time together where you get to snuggle and cuddle.
Stimulation where your baby gets to see your face, hear your voice, feel your physical closeness, look at the book and interact with it.
Stimulate imagination.
Teach listening skills.
Develop attention span, focus and patience.
Build up memory skills, especially if your child learns the words.
Aid in language development and increase the number of vocabulary words that your baby hears.
Useful to establish a stable routine before bedtime.
Introduce an early understanding of how our world works.
A convenient way to teach about pictures, colors, shapes, concepts, morals, ideas etc.

Best Types of Books for Babies

There are many types of storybooks out there. Some are great for babies, some are not. It’s important to choose the right kind of books for your baby’s particular phase of development as this may impact both you and your baby’s enjoyment of reading time together.

For example, if you choose a book with thin paper pages, you will find yourself frequently trying to release your baby’s curious but deadly grasp on the pages as he or she tries to explore the book. If your baby is especially feisty, he or she will happily tear those pages. Some babies will try to put the cover of the book or pages in their mouth and gum them until they ultimately are destroyed.

Soft/Cloth/Fabric Books

For very young babies, soft books are generally better. Not only are soft books lighter so that it’s easier for your baby to pick up, but the softness of the book will reduce the likelihood of your baby hitting themselves with the book. It’s also better for sucking as opposed to a paper-based book where even the thickest and toughest board books will eventually deteriorate with extended sucking. Plus, after all that sucking, you can plop the cloth book into your washing machine for a good wash.

From our experience, the best kinds of soft books for babies have at least some of the following qualities about them:

Have lots of colorful pictures.
Don’t have too many words on one page as your baby will constantly be trying to turn the page.
Books are short and sweet as babies don’t have a long attention span.
Encourages tactile stimulation such as cloth flaps to flip over, different textures within the book such as crinkle pages, soft toys to touch etc.
If there are attachments such as buttons, string or beads, they are sewn on very securely to the book. Otherwise, these would pose a choking hazard if ripped off.

Hard/Board Books

Soft books are great for any baby but they are limited in numbers and supply. To extend your child’s reading library, hard books are great for babies too, especially if they have sufficient finger and hand strength to start holding these books themselves.

From our experience, the best kinds of hard books for babies have at least some of the following qualities about them:

Thick hardcover.
Thick cardboard pages that will allow baby to turn them more easily and not skip too many pages at once.
Still have lots of colorful pictures.
Still don’t have too many words on one page.
Books are still short and sweet but could go a bit longer.
Encourages tactile stimulation such as flaps to flip over, different textures within the book, soft toys to touch, gears to turn etc. Beware that some flaps are designed better than others- those that flip open easily are less likely to be ripped off the book.
Battery-operated books may have flashing lights, play short music or rhymes that you can sing along to.

Interactive Books

The best books for babies are interactive. Books that stimulate sensory and motor development, play music or allow you to interact with your baby while you read are great. For example, a book that requires you to make animal noises while you read, sing a nursery rhyme, flip open flaps or touch and feel books.

Best Interactive Books for Babies

Soft Books

VTech Peek and Play Baby Book – Purple – Online Exclusive

This VTech Baby Book is a soft book that has been designed very well to be used in your home or on-the-go. It has a plastic ring on a string attached to the book that allows you to hang this book on your car seat or stroller. This is great for 2 reasons- you don’t have to worry about your baby throwing it out of the car seat or stroller and second, you can hang the book up so that it becomes a batting toy for your baby and can help with the development of spatial awareness.