Thursday Thots on Mommyhood - Books for Baby

Yup, you read correctly, the title IS "Books for BABY" And no, my baby is not a genius. He is just the same as all babies, curious and active, touching this and tasting that.

 

I did however noticed something different from my two older kiddos. He seems particularly taken with books! From the time he could sit upright by himself, give him a book and it will keep him quiet for at least 15mins! Now that is a LONG time in baby's world and I was truly amazed at how he would patiently flip through the pages of his board book and "ohhh" & "ahhh" especially if its a new book or a new old book which we had kept from him for awhile.

 

These precious minutes allowed me some breather, a chance to
 #1  go toilet
(without him screaming his head off cos he can't have me in sight - separation anxiety at its max!)
#2 stretching time 
(from carrying him around and preferably going in whichever direction he wants to go)
#3  a chance to sit back and rest my poor lower back that bears the brunt of all the weight.
It was a treat and sometimes I actually had time to do all 3! For that, I am more than willing to get him more books!

 

Some of his favourite books to date....

 

 

This was one of the very first books I bought for him. Its front and back covers were foam-ed thus minimizing dangers. It was a simple nursery rhyme of Itsy Bitsy Spider which I had started to play with him ending with a tickle. He loves the song and the playtime. When I showed him the book, flipping the pages and singing the song, he grinned from ear to ear, recognizing the song :)

 

 

 

This is a book that I bought mainly for the squeaky toy in front. As you flip the pages the toy remains in sight and being able to press it makes him laugh :) He got a scare the first time he pressed and it squeaked! Promptly looked at me as if to say "What did you just gave me?"

 

 

 

He loves Elmo the character. When he sees him on TV, he could sit still there and watch him throughout! This book was a steal as Elmo is textured. He is made with a velvety material and my boy loves touching just Elmo as he flips through the pages.

 

 

 

Another of the foam-end books that was introduced to him during one particular night when he simply refuses to sleep. At 2am, I was seriously groggy and would give anything for him to nod off. At the end of this book, the bear says goodnight and the picture shows him sleeping. After reading the book countless times, I finally got my "sleeping bear" phew!

 

 

 

Last but not least, this is a "flip-flap" book, a term coined by my firstborn as each page has a part that either flips up or down, revealing the answer to the question. It was amazing watching his face lights up when he realized that there was another part to be flipped!

 

All my books were bought at $1, yes ONE DOLLAR. I generally buy them at roadshows or secondhand book stores, clean them thoroughly before giving it to him. Not that I don't believe in buying new books but for now books are more of a plaything to him. It keeps him entertained enough for me to get back my sanity (part of it oh! and don't forget my bladder too thank them!) I also only gave 2 books at most at any one time, so that the books can be "recycled" and he wouldn't be sick of them so fast! If I keep a book from him for say, like 1 week, it will be forgotten and when we give it again, it will be re-discovered with glee :) Talk about recycling at its highest efficiency! However I do notice that he gets tired of these re-discovered books alot faster than actual new books. Its as if his brain telling me "Mommy, you kid me not!"

 

Do you give your baby any books? Are there some favourite ones that you want to share? Any good haunts for such secondhand bookstores? I am all for more books (and more 15mins break!)