how do you read to your baby?

[turtleschell]

excuse the lack of grammar i'm one handed at the moment.
i love reading to DD but she only likes it for 2 mins, then she just plays with other thngs. I continue reading, but shes not even listening or looking at the pictures.

Just wonderibng what everyone else does?

[Arimeh]

How old is she? I have the same problem with DD2, and she's 13.5 months, but I'm not worried cos my other two started listening intently when they were about 18ish months? DS was always into books so he would often make me read heaps at a time, from about 14 months, but I'm pretty sure it got a lot better when 18 months came along.

Attention span is so limited before that!

[Snacks]

P is really only interested in pictures and books with very few words. So with her I just flip through the pages and we comment on the pictures. Eg, I ask her what noises the animals make, or "can you say... xyz?" etc. She is gradually getting happier to sit for longer periods, but generally looking at and talking about the pictures is enough for her.
Natalie was similar at that age, perhaps she had a slightly longer attention span... can't really remember. Now she LOVES her books and will sit for aaaaaaaaages if some sucker will read book after book to her

[Santosha]

We just looked at really simple board-books - 1 pic per page, usually with pics of animals and familiar objects. Hammed it up with silly animal noises, gesture and baby-sign. Some days she only wanted to chew the pages but bit by bit she got really into it. Now our little bookworm brings me 'tories' all day long and has been known to keep bringing one after the other until I got over it at 19 books!

[turtleschell]

She's nearly 13months, sounds like I've got lots to look forward to in the next few months! I'm looking forward to reading and reading and reading to her!
She always goes and gets books for me to read, just doesn't wait to hear the story Ahh I'm glad she is showing interest.

[Calluna]

If she can only concentrate for a couple mins at a time (totally normal btw). Then I'd either read her very short books or just a few pages and leave it when she loses interest and come back to it later/ start again, you will probably notice that you get further and further through a book as she gets older

[LimeSlice]

We just kept reading the book til it was finished usually.
She would come back sometimes, sometimes not.

DH reads and makes up stories for the pictures sometimes, uses big voices and acts bits out lol Kept DD occupied much longer than my "Play School" reading Still does actually.

Ham it up a bit, but as PP said, she has a very short concentration span at this age, so don't stress.

Oh, Charlotte LOVED The Cat in the Hat. I had a board book of it, a shortened version, and we would read that over and over and over as it was the one she engaged in. Still loves it now

[Shanti]

DD has always loved books and her attention span for them has always been pretty good, although she did go through a 'busy' distracted stage of not being that interested, can't remember how old she was though sorry! But I never pushed her to listen to the story, they have to want to listen.

I have always chosen books that aren't too long otherwise it gets boring for them (and me!).....keep it interesting, mix it up, read them the books that you know they just love and you can read them over and over and they don't seem to get sick of some of their books.

I love reading with DD they really do learn so much from their books. Just remember to keep it a short story (until her attention span improves) and use different tones of voice etc!!! I use lots of actions too sometimes depends on the book.

[turtleschell]

LimeSlice, sounds like your DH had the right idea! I think DD would love it if I made dramatic animal noises etc, I will start doing it that way!
Thanks for the tips ladies, will try these new techniques tonight!

[Melbournemumma]

My ds loves books always has but when he was littler we'd read short books to him. Theres a fantastic lot of books called "that's not my...." they are touch books and ds has always loved them. You could try something like that.

[Miss.September]

My ds loves books always has but when he was littler we'd read short books to him. Theres a fantastic lot of books called "that's not my...." they are touch books and ds has always loved them. You could try something like that.

Yeah, they're the Usborne touch and feel books, beautiful things. DD loved "That's not my mermaid". Also, maybe things like Spot books - the lift the flaps might keep her involved for a little longer as they are interactive and she needs to lift the flap to see what Spot is doing. Another massive hit with young toddlers is the John Butler books "If you see a kitten" etc. Really simple, great illustrations and DD (21 months) says the noises on each page.

I used to work in a children's specialist bookshop. You're going great and the biggest key is don't give up

[Calluna]

John Butler's books are fantastic! I LOVE "ten in the den" and "ten in the meadow".

[Winter]

My DD loved "Dear Zoo" from a really young age. Lift the flaps to reveal different animals and the words are repetitive so now she knows the story and says some of the words.