Why is it Important to Read to a Baby?

There are many reasons it's important to read to a child, but what about a baby? Do they really get anything out of being read to? They actually do. 

Here are a few things they get out of reading:

• It's important because they love the sound of your voice. 
• It helps the reader to bond with the baby.
• The baby starts to learn words when they make the connection with the pictures and the words. Reading builds vocabulary. You may not know they are getting anything from it, but they are. Kids understand words before they can speak them.
• Many books for babies sound be tactile. Bath books are great and so are fabric ones. Let them put them in their mouth. 
• If you have an older child, let them read to the baby in the family. They not only will bond with the baby, but also will become better readers themselves.

Want to win a book series?

Natural Baby Mama is giving away this book series by Scholastic.

I See Me

I think it's so important to read to your kids. It doesn't matter what age they are. They love the attention and they are learning while you read.

• Start out with fabric or bathtub books with they are tiny. You need the book to be durable.Your baby is going to grab, rip and drool on the pages. 
• Move on to board books as they get to be early toddlers. They still need a book that is durable. Toddlers are not very careful and drop things a lot.
• Later you can get to paper books. 

Personalized books help children to connect to what you are reading. I See Me! is great site that is full of personal book options. Right now if you order a book, you get 16 free Valentines to go with the book purchased.

My Organized Chaos is giving away Who Loves Me? This is a great book for siblings. You can add more than one name!

Good Baby Reads

Here are some great reads for pregnancy, breastfeeding and child development:

When you are pregnant:

What to Expect When You're Expecting

A Child is Born

Breastfeeding:

The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding



Breastfeeding 101

Baby Devlopment:

Brain Rules for Baby: How to Raise a Smart and Happy Child from Zero to Five

Your Baby's First Year - Third Edition

Solids:

Super Baby Food

Baby-Led Weaning

Barefoot Books Review

I can't stress enough how important reading is. Even when your child is a baby, they still love the sound of your voice as you read. They may squirm and act as though they are not paying attention at all. Eventually the squirming stops. Before too long they start handing you books.

About Barefoot Books:

Barefoot Books is all about exploration, imagination, creation, connecting and giving back. They emphasize nourishing the imagination. Their books have a creative spark that they believe everyone has within.  

About the Book:

I won my choice of a book from Barefoot Books.  I decided to let my five year old pick which book he would like. He decided on Jack and the Beanstalk. Mica had heard the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk before; but not like it was told in this book.


Retold By: Richard Walker
Illustrated By: Niamh Sharkey
Narrated By: Richard Hope 

The tale is clever! I love the illustrations. Illustration was my major all throughout college and grad school. Naturally it's the first thing I look at in a children's book. The story comes on a CD. It's not a dry read. I love the CD for when we travel and when I'm busy cooking in the kitchen. 

Mica decided to take this book over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. They read it more times then they could count. Isaak my three year old sits through it as well. Although Mica has claimed the book as his. 


I asked Mica to come outside to take pictures of the book. He decided to act like the giant. I think it's great how his mind works! Although if I knew he was going to act like the giant, I would have changed his shirt. ;)

Plant some magic beans. They will grow into something that will take you on an adventure!


Disclaimer:

The opinions on this post are my personal take on the products. This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. I am not compensated to provide my opinion except for receiving the products themselves to test out. Barefoot Books provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so choose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

If you have questions about this post please contact me at: alissa4illustration@hotmail.com

Good Night

Parents:

There is a book you can get on Amazon called Good Night. It has gotten 5 stars out of 5. Reviews are super important to me.

This can be found here.

What Parents Learn From the Book:

• An easy method to assist children to sleep in their own beds without hesitation!
• How to end temper-tantrums at bedtime.
• How to stop to fears, bargaining, and last minute wants that seem to drag out the process.
• A way to have more time for yourself at night!

Kids:

There is a book you can get on Amazon called Matilda and Maxwell Good Night. It has gotten 5 stars out of 5.

This can be found here.

What Kids Learn From the Book:

• How one child is afraid to sleep at night.
• A way to introduce method’s learned in Good Night.
• Your child will get motivated to follow the system!
• A funny book!
• Written & illustrated for ages 2-8.

Win These Two Books:

Mommy Moment is hosting a giveaway to give away both of these fantastic books!

Breastfeeding 101

• I have to say that this is one of my favorite breastfeeding books. I actually got this book through the hospital I delivered my boys.
• Do you have any favorite breastfeeding books?