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How to Choose and Buy Books for Babies and Toddlers

Think back to the books that helped shape your childhood. Some of us really enjoyed reading books – some of us preferred comics and magazines. The important thing is being able to show babies and children that reading can be fun and there's a whole world of books out there.

There are a couple of government and charitable schemes that are worth talking about aimed at helping families help their children to read.

National Reading Schemes – “Talk to Your Baby” by the National Literacy Trust

“Talk to Your Baby” is run by the National Literacy Trust to encourage carers and parents to talk more to children from birth to around three years of age.

The Literacy Trust fully believes that in talking to your baby more, you are helping your child to become a good communicator, which is a basis for building a happy life at school and beyond.

The Literacy Trust is also asking parents to listen out for baby's first words and to share them with others whether at nursery or at home.

National Reading Schemes – Bookstart

The second national initiative is called Bookstart which is a programme aimed at encouraging a life-long love of books. It is based on the principle that every child should enjoy and benefit from books from the earliest age possible.

Bookstart is for every baby and it is estimated that it currently reaches around 90 per cent of UK babies. But the aim is to make sure every baby aged between 7 and 9 months in the UK receives a Bookstart pack – another is given out at 18 months and another at three years.

You can obtain the Bookstart packs from health visitors, libraries and Bookstart. The books in the packs are chosen by independent child experts designed to excite babies' and toddlers' imaginations.

So Why Read Books to Babies?

Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a great way to help encourage language skills and help children to understand the world around them.

Child experts believe that the first five years of a child's life offers the best time to learn to talk – most of a child's language comes from wherever baby spends most of his time – usually his parents. Also babies and toddlers that absolutely love exploring books tend to read earlier which can give them an edge at school.

Do try to spend some time each day reading to your baby as they do love to hear your voice and will come to expect some time together.

In this section we look at books that are suitable for babies and toddlers for the following ages:

• From birth
• From 1 month
• From 3 months
• From 6 months
• From 9 months
• From 12 months
• From 18 months
• From 2 years

The books suggested on this site for babies from birth to around two years of age have been road-tested by babies, toddlers and mums. Everyone is different but these books have proved popular.

To find out more about what to look out for when choosing and buying nursery toys visit our How to Choose and Buy a Baby Toy for Helping to Develop Different Skills section and How to Choose and Buy a Baby Toy for Different Ages section.

To find out more about the different online baby and nursery toy shops and stores visit our Top Sites section.

To see what different nursery toy manufacturers offer visit our Brands section.

You can also find out more in our How to Play with Baby section.