Won't sit for stories

[MeAndVee]

My one year old has never been interested in books.  I was just wondering if that is so unusual?  When will he sit for stories?  I would love to read to him but he just has more important things to do than sitting with me.

[lilmonkey]

It will come.  Didn't sit still for stories as well even though we have been doing it he was 4 mos.  DD loves to sit and read stories with me as a baby as I was kinda sad about it.  But just this last few weeks, ds actually sat through an entire short story (10 pages) and yesterday he actually initiated story reading.  We read 4 books on animals with dd.  So, don't worry just keep books available and he will enjoy it.

HTH

[chrissie1982]

Hi,
We have had the same problem with our ds - he has got far too much exploring to do to sit still for a book! Saying that though, he does love books and will quite happily sit and flick though books on his own and lets me point to things and name them for him but he won't let me sit and actually read to him.  But I have recently come up with an idea that lets me read at least one story to him at bedtime. Whilst he is having his bedtime bottle I cuddle him up in my lap and read to him then. This is the only time he will sit and let me read to him properly and it is lovely to have a nice long cuddle with him (He is also quite often too busy for cuddles too!)

HTH
Chrissie x

[linfran]

Ds was the same at one but now he's 2.5yo he loves books and some nights I have to read the same story three or four times!  It will come with time!

[Bryony's mum]

I used to get stressed about it when dd was a year old, and try to keep her on my lap and get through the book as quickly as possible, then dh told me he just let her wander around while he read the story.  So I took that approach too and after a while she would sit to look at the book.  Definitely by 22 months she loved books and enjoyed having picture books read e.g. the hungry caterpillar and would talk about them and point things out. 

Ds1 was even worse for sitting still, and at 18 months we were definitely still on board books with 4 or 5 pages and touchy feely bits.  Now at almost 4 he loves books.  He still fidgets a bit though and tends to like 'reading' his own book (very loudly!) while I am reading a book (that he has chosen) to him!

Now Ds2 will rarely sit through more than 5 pages, even of his favourite books, but I just finish the book without him and get on with the rest of bedtime!  IN a few months I know he will be able to concentrate for longer.  HTH