Getting your baby books is one of the best ways to jumpstart their reading comprehension. Not only can baby books help you teach your child to read and write, but they’re also great for spending time with your little one before bed, energizing their imagination, and bonding with them. Many baby books are also perfect for recording photos and other memories.
Not sure which baby books to buy? Think about what you want out of a baby book:
- A picture book or coloring book you and your baby can go through together
- A photo book you can fill with the first memories of your baby and your time together
- A learning book that will help your baby get ready for pre-school
- A durable baby board book your baby can crawl over, chew on, and even color without worry
Any of these books could be perfect — it all depends on your needs and wants. Don’t forget that plenty of stellar baby storybooks are perfect to read aloud around bedtime, too!
Let’s look at the 10 best baby books you can purchase for your little one’s first year of life.
Best for Tummy Play Time: beiens Baby Books Toys
The beiens Baby Book Toy is exactly what it sounds like — a combination of a baby book and a toy. It’s a perfect pick for parents who want a book they can flip through with their little ones for a bedtime story, but also the ideal book to give their child to entertain themselves as they tackle chores.
This durable cloth book stimulates development in the optic nerve thanks to its high-contrast designs, bright colors, and interesting shapes. Little hands will love playing with the crinkle pages and peekaboo flaps while playing on their tummies and crawling around, as it’s sure to keep their attention for a good while once they discover it.
Made with non-toxic materials, the book is also hand washable and doesn’t have BPA plastics or other potentially harmful byproducts. Since the book has a handle on both sides, you can keep it on your stroller or a baby fence. Pair it with other fun toys to entertain your little one for hours.
Best for Parent/Baby Bonding Time: Lucy Darling Little Rainbow Baby Memory Book
The Lucy Darling Little Rainbow Baby Memory Book is one of the best book choices for bonding time with your little one. It’s a memory book and journal album that allows you to capture precious moments with your baby, as it includes several pages specifically for photos.
It also has additional pages you can fill in with a family tree, your new baby’s favorites you discover, and their “firsts.” Some pages are even meant for your baby to scribble along with you as a teaching tool when they learn how to write their first letters!
There are also 11 blank pages to customize according to your needs and what your baby wants to do. Overall, this is a great play and memory combination book, so it’s sure to be a favorite choice for many parents and children.
Best for Milestones: Baby First Year Book
As its name suggests, the Baby First Year Book is a yearbook and scrapbook for your baby’s first year. There’s lots of space to put photos and notes from the initial pregnancy up to the first year of your baby’s time with your family, plus a handy table of contents.
It’s a little pricey but easy to use, and it’s made of quality linen cloth with gold foil. Because of this, the baby scrapbook should last for several years. Plus, it’s wrapped in a cellophane bag for even greater protection.
Consider this interactive book if you want to record important milestones in your baby’s first year and ensure that you’ll be able to revisit them for a long time.
Best for Girl Baby Photos: Baby’s First Year Book – Baby Memory Book for Girls to Document
The Baby’s First Year Book from Lamare is another of the best baby books, especially for little girls. The book is an excellent keepsake scrapbook, featuring lots of spots for photos, plus a pocket that you can use to store additional mementos like artwork and keepsakes.
The memory book pocket is perfect for storing hospital bracelets and ultrasound photos. There’s plenty of space for recording your baby’s first words, their first steps, and more.
It’s designed as a simple yet comprehensive baby book to help you capture every moment right when it happens. Corner stickers even make it easy for you to add photos to each page. It’s a perfect choice if you want to treasure every step in your baby’s journey.
Best for Nostalgic Firsts: Ronica Farm Baby Memory Book
The Ronica Farm Baby Memory Book is a 62-page keepsake photo album. It’s the best baby book for new parents to record the “firsts” their little one accomplishes.
The baby growth journal lets moms and dads alike document the different milestones of their babies. The pages are durable, as they are thick and acid-free/lignin-free. There’s photo guidance throughout the book to help you print photos in the right sizes for proper storage.
On top of that, when you buy this baby book, you’ll get 12 free stickers and 20 free holiday stickers. All in all, it’s a phenomenal baby memory memento book for families of all sizes.
Best for Memories Month by Month: Lucy Darling Little Captain Baby Memory Book
Lucy Darling’s Little Captain Baby Memory Book is a journal album designed to help you chronicle your baby’s most important moments month by month during the first year. This milestone keepsake book is made of durable paper and eco-friendly materials, so it’s also great for expectant parents who want to be eco-conscious.
There’s lots of space to add photos and writing, and the pages are decorated with charming drawings and cartoons. The book is made in the United States and printed using soy-based ink.
Since the book has different pages for each month of your baby’s life, it’s easy to record specific milestones or events as they occur. With this baby book, you’ll never run out of space or worry about being unable to find a treasured memory when you flip back to the book later.
Best for Teaching to Talk: Our Little Adventures: Stories Featuring Foundational Language Concepts for Growing Minds
The Our Little Adventures board book set is perhaps the best baby book for parents who want to teach their little ones how to talk as quickly as possible. That’s because, unlike other baby books, this includes watercolor imagery and stories to help kids learn definitions.
The book’s author, Tabitha Paige, is a licensed speech pathologist and artist. As a CCC-SLP, she knows how to teach young kids to talk and recognize language. This book could be great for supporting your little one’s speech as they grow.
There’s plenty of space in the book for play, and each page is artfully decorated with bold illustrations depicting stories about different animals. Parents who want to get a jump start on children’s books and ensure their kids are early readers will like this baby book.
Best for Photos and Mementos: Peachly Minimalist Baby Memory Book
The Peachly Minimalist Baby Memory Book is another great keepsake book with plenty of pages and spots for photographs and other mementos. With 60 pages and a timeless, modern gray linen cover, it’s much more durable than a regular paper cover.
Sticking photos in this baby book is easy, as you won’t need to cut them down to a specific size. It fits 4 x 6-inch photos perfectly, or you can use square photos — it’s up to you.
The heavyweight inner pages are well-made and come with easy-to-fill-out prompts and instructions. Overall, it’s a good baby book for traditional families, single parents, same-sex parents, adoptive families, and everyone in between.
Best for Memories for Five Years: Baby Journal Memory Book for Boys or Girls
The Baby Journal Memory Book is an excellent baby shower gift for parents because it has enough space and pages to record memories from the first five years of a little one’s life. Its size makes it one of the most comprehensive and long-term keepsake baby photo books on the market.
It features a “forest dream” design and aesthetic, so it works for any baby. The first year of life has plenty of spots for “firsts” and memories, while the later pages are great for recording how your child grows into their unique personality.
With so much space, there’s room for your little one to participate in the memory-making. You can have them jot down their scribbles and thoughts as you fill out the pages. Pick this if you want a baby book with room for photos and more for longer than the first year.
Best for Teaching About Animals: Lucy Darling Little Animal Lover Memory Book
Lucy Darling’s Little Animal Lover Memory Book is a favorite among kids, especially since most kids love animals. This artfully decorated baby book is quite stylish and made with eco-friendly paper. It’s filled with art showing cute, charming animals.
This book helps you teach children about animals, their names, and what they look like. You can fill in the pages with pictures, scribbles, and drawings as you go. The book has a hardcover, so you can store it for a long time without worrying about it fading or wearing down over time.
On top of that, the book is made with soy-based ink and no harsh chemicals. That’s great for the sensitive skin of your little one, plus good for the environment.
The Bottom Line
There’s no wrong answer when it comes to buying a baby book for newborns. Still, consider what you want from a baby book before purchasing one. For example, the Our Little Adventures: Stories Featuring Foundational Language Concepts for Growing Minds book may be best if you want to double down on education, while the Baby First Year Book is better as a photo album and memory archive that will stand out on a family bookshelf.
Whatever you choose, fill out your baby book with your little one — you’ll both have a great time doing so!
Sources:
