Reader Question: Choosing Board Books for Babies

Black and white patterns are perfect for newborns.

Here’s another reader question from Sally Nurss. You can ask Sally your own baby questions here.

There are so many baby board books out there. How do I choose the best ones?
-Judith Sullivan, NC

When choosing board books for babies, it helps to consider what they can see. Thinking about what babies are drawn to visually in the first year can help you decide which books to choose.

If you’ve ever looked at a catalogue of toys for newborns and young infants, you know that they contain lots of toys with black and white patterns.  This is because infants up to two or three months are very interested in contrast. Color doesn’t seem to matter so much to newborns; they are more likely to be drawn to the contrast between dark and light. For very young infants, choose board books with big, simple contrasts in the illustrations.

By 6 to 8 weeks, babies become more aware of color and are increasingly attracted to shapes and angles. In these early weeks, look for board books with illustrations that show lots of angles, true colors and clearly defined edges.

At about three months, babies start to scan the environment. They’re searching for moderate novelty—something that is familiar enough to be reassuring and different enough to be interesting. That, of course, will vary from baby to baby, but it helps to think about what your baby sees every day, what he or she stops to stare at, and look for books that reflect those interests.  Most babies are attracted to board books that show pictures of dogs and cats or familiar objects like spoons and cups and clothing—especially shoes!  You’ve probably noticed that Babybug always includes everyday objects and activities among its selections.

From "New Shoes," art by Dawn Beacon, in the January 2011 Babybug.

Throughout babyhood, children are fascinated by faces. Very young babies will spend time looking at the outside edges of faces—perhaps it’s the contrast with the background.  As the weeks go by they work their way in toward a face’s features.  Be sure to offer your child lots of books with pictures with faces and clear pictures of eyes, noses, and mouths.

Above all, look for board books that you find attractive. Not only are you more likely to read them again and again, your baby will quickly pick up on your enjoyment and realize from the beginning that books are a source of pleasure—an idea that matters most of all.

February 28, 2011. Children's Books, Parenting Tips, Reader Questions.