Story time for baby? When did you start?

[amywiz24]

I don't think Sam has gone through phases of not being interested in books yet; BUT, he goes thorugh phases where he doesn't like to sit still for them. I find if I keep reading, he will come and look at a few pages, go do his own thing and then come back again. If I keep reading, he doesn't want to miss out. Also, I try to do more "active" books during the day: lift the flap, push buttons to make noises, etc........and then more "passive" books before bed.
HTH

[mom2ene]

I think the earlier the better. It really helps with language development.  When my dd seemed bored I would juat start aking her where certain things were on the pages to get her attention back. We read a couple times a day together as a group(myself and both dds...3yrs old and 5.5 months old) and then we read at nap time and bedtime.

[NiknLily]

Thanks ladies.  I think I will just suggest story time get her to choose a book, sit together and start reading and just keep reading if she gets up and moves onto another activity, I guess if I keep reading while she plays she will notice my attention is still with the book and maybe come sit and listen to the end of the story.

I know what you mean about memorizing them, most of DD small board books I know by heart 

nap & bedtime stories aren't that snuggly at present either as we read in my room (she is still in cot so not practicle to read when she in bed) for the most part she torments the cat and mess's about it does nothing to wind her down at all but thats another problem altogether I think 

[dmills]

My ds would sit through books at all ages and stages.  I will say that if he started to wriggle, we would read to him while he was having his bottle.  My dd on the other hand just crawls all over while we are doing story time.  Is she at least getting some benefit from it?

[NiknLily]

I think she's getting some benefit from it, occasionally she will sit and look at the book with me, then wriggle of down the bed    I have largely started ignoring it, just giving her a look  and she will come back.  I think its just all becoming bedtime games to her but at this stage I can't be bothered to fight it.  When she gets into big girl bed and our wind down will be in her room, then I will take things mores seriously as I will want her relaxed enough to not want to jump straight out of bed the second I leave the room, Ha! I can dream 

We did however have quite a nice story time yesterday afternoon and she sat for most of the book, its quite a long one for her attention span, so I was pleased that worked and will keep that up from now.

thanks for letting me hyjack this thread 

[Naomi72]

One of my concerns was that DS cant sit still even at night time he has to be running around... I have no idea where he gets his activeness from.... not from my side thats for sure  lol

[Katet]

I've been reading since they were days old & infact when I had trouble getting ds#1 to sleep I used to put him in his cot & read to him & the sound of my voice seemed to lull him off to sleep, I still read my 2.5yo to sleep at nap time (he falls asleep during stories on my lap)
I think you will find that your ds will actually stop & listen & get involved if you make it a regular thing not just at bedtime, but during the day, show him books with flaps & pictures rather than actually reading stories... my 2 LOVED the "thats not my..." books & I remember at 9mo my ds#1 sat "reading" for at least 30mins one day, just flicking back & forth looking at the pictures.

[Aly Mac]

I also have the same problem as newmum.  I always try to read to L, but she changes teh pages back and forth etc.  I tried early on to read at bedtime but it excited her too much.  she has picture books that she like to look at and we go through the animals, but again, she won't look at it.

will try the advice with just a couple of books and persist as I would eventually like it to become part of her bedtime routine when we eventually wean.

[Naomi72]

I read to him yesterday.... the first book he was okay and the second book.... the third book he just started giggling like he does when he gets tired and is about to go to sleep.... It was priceless!! ..... He didnt go to sleep though! But it was very cute........

[esthere]

  Naomi ,

it does sound very cute, enjoy this time 

[Naomi72]

I tried again last night... DS just grabbed the book from me and rolled over with it!!
very funny! 

[GG]

I started showing him simple books at 6 mo.  His first book was "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You Hear?" I ad libbed a melody to the words (I figured babies prefer songs) and the photos were simply for him to look at. He LOVED it and was "turning pages" soon after.

DD didn't care for books when she was younger. She never gave her attention so I only showed her books on occasion rather than every night. However, she loves books now, probably because of being around all these books and the influence of her big brother.

[Ethans Mommy2]

We started reading to Ethan almost immediately, and by 8 months we could recite a phrase from his story book, and he would go and get the correct book.  We read to him several times a day, sometimes when he is about to have a mini breakdown, reading is the only thing that helps calm him.  IMO, I would start now, there is nothing better than giving your child a love for books!