Your Baby’s First Year:
What to Read to Them at Every Stage
by Janssen Bradshaw
The difference between a newborn baby and a 1-year-old is so amazing! In that one year, they grow and change so much.
Here are some of the things your baby may be doing and learning over that first year and some books and reading techniques that may work well for them during each of their various stages.
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0–3 Months
Babies are so little at this point, without a lot of ability to interact. But they love to be held and touched during this time, which makes it the perfect time to hold them on your lap with a little book and start helping them develop a love for reading. They should also be doing tummy time, so you can lie next to them on the floor and hold a book in front of you both, which gives them something look at as they strengthen their chest and neck muscles.
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All of Baby, Nose to Toes
Available from:Featuring the cutest roly-poly baby, discover your baby's body parts with this adorable book. Start with the eyes and ears and work all the way down to their tickly legs and toes!
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RELATED: Must-Have Board Books for Baby’s First Library
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Huggy Kissy
Available from:We love these simple, yet clever board books. When you have a baby at home, everyone wants to love on their tiny growing body any chance they can get. This book features affection in a lot of different ways and ends with the perfect snuggle!
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Dinosaur, Dinosaur, Say Good Night
Available from:Sleep (or lack thereof) is probably on your mind a lot during this period, so this fun rhyming bedtime book might be just what you both need to make bedtime a positive experience.
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3–6 Months
Toward the end of this period, most babies will be able to sit up on their own. Let them sit next to you on the couch or sit on the floor together. They’re also are starting to see in full color, loving sounds, and starting to develop motor skills. Since most babies aren’t moving too much yet, this is a great time to spend a lot of time reading before they get too mobile.
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National Geographic Kids First Board Book: Wild Animal Sounds
Available from:The real photographs of these wild animals are perfect for learning more than the basic animals and their sounds. And if there’s anything cuter than a little child howling like a wolf, I don't know what it is!
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Hey, Baby!
Available from:Filled to the brim with lively illustrations and photographs of a baby, it showcases the love between a child and their mom as the duo goes throughout their day!
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Don’t Mix Up My Farm
Available from:Farm animals and their noises are one of the first things babies learn and pick up on! Babies not only get to look at the cow, sheep, pick and duck, but will love to touch the various textures — from smooth to rigid and glossy to furry.
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RELATED: Moo! Quack! Why We Teach Babies and Toddlers Animal Sounds
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6–9 Months
Your baby is probably pretty wiggly now, starting to crawl and maybe even cruising along the furniture, which means it can be more challenging to get them to sit still for a book. Don’t push it — you don’t want them to associate reading with unhappiness — but try a few times a day. They’re starting to learn names and also object permanence (meaning that something is still there, even if they can’t see it) and they’re really interested in seeing themselves in the mirror.
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Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb
Available from:The silly monkeys are drumming along to the beat in this rhyme and repeat book! The fun illustrations and sturdy pages are perfect for keeping your little one engaged and having fun. Plus a little drumming with some chubby baby hands never hurt anyone!
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Noisy Babies
Available from:Babies love to see other babies, especially when they are doing activities they are familiar with! Talk with your baby as you go throughout a regular day of waking up, playing, eating food and getting ready for bedtime. Each page has a touch-and-feel experience, allowing your baby to feel all different kinds of textures, providing even more interaction.
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RELATED: Tougher Than Your Toddler: Robust Lift-the-Flap Books
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FUN FLAPS: All About Me!
Available from:I love this book for teaching parts of the body. The flaps are big and sturdy, perfect for little hands. And seeing the babies behind the flaps is great practice for understanding object permanence.
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9–12 Months
Now your baby is probably really mobile and starting to think about first words. They can identify different objects by name now, so books where you ask them to find items are really fun for them. They also love to move, so any book that encourages action is sure to be a hit. Many babies, now a little more used to being mobile, will be happier to sit on your lap and read.
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The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eats Breakfast
Available from:The Very Hungry Caterpillar is still hungry, but specifically for breakfast this time! Pore over this brightly illustrated board book and find all of the things your baby enjoys eating and talk about the new foods they aren’t familiar with!
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100 First Words
Available from:This book is the kind of thing little ones love to look through again and again, identifying things they know and pointing to pictures when prompted. I’ve never met a child who didn’t want to look through this and show what they know.
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Elmo Says… (Sesame Street)
Available from:Now that your baby knows a few words and can follow some actions, this “Simon Says” book is the perfect way to play with your up and coming toddler!
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You might also like:
- It’s a Jungle in Here: 11 Animal Books for Babies
- 10 Classic Board Books for Your Little One’s Library
- The Best Informational Books for Toddlers
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2015 and updated in 2024.