Guide to Baby’s First Ten Books

I’ll admit it might be a bit unusual, but I enjoyed purchasing books before my first baby was born. I don’t regret it a bit. In fact, I believe that her baby book library and my commitment to reading to her for at least 30 minutes a day truly inspired her love for books. Now, all those same beloved baby and board books fill her baby brother’s bookshelves!

I realize buying books is a luxury, but if your current budget does not allow for book purchases often, there are many ways to receive free books for your baby and littles. There are programs like Books from Birth which provide “all children under the age of five who live in Washington, D.C. a free book each month from birth until they turn five” and the Little Free Library, a non-profit that “expands book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led little libraries.” Not only as a new parent but also as your littles get older, a library card is a great way to explore the kind of books that spark their interest, capture their attention, and inspire them most. You can also find board books, baby books, and early reader books seriously discounted at your local HomeGoods, Marshalls, or Five Below.

Below are ten of my personal favorite baby books that every baby library should have, and they are listed in no particular order. I hope some of these wonderful books make their way onto your little’s bookshelves!

1. Goodnight Moon

2. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar

4. The Going to Bed Book

5. Please Baby Please

6. Brown Bear Brown Bear What Do You See?

7. I Kissed The Baby

8. More More More Said The Baby

9. The Snowy Day

10. Guess How Much I Love You

“May your life be full of laughter and your shelves be full of books.”

Baby Book Nook: Before + After

Every baby room, nursery, or corner in the master dedicated to the baby needs a book nook. I loved our first baby nursery so much! I still swoon over the pictures to this day. It was my Pinterest dreams come true minus the uber small square footage. And when I say small, I mean teeny tiny! This book nook was my favorite corner of her little nursery, and it was so simple to create. I transformed what was essentially dead space in this corner of her room and created a colorful, stylish, and inexpensive book nook with some of her very first books. The framed artwork is original art I created when I was a little girl and could be found all over Parker’s nursery. Continue reading for all the details on how to re-create this nursery book nook!

To create the kid-like framed artwork, you can use some of your own artwork (that is, if your mama hoarded artwork from your childhood). Or you can create original artwork, use artwork of a younger family member, or purchase an art print that looks like it was created by a child. For the artwork framing, I used a simple and inexpensive white RIBBA frame from Ikea.

Since the nursery was super small, I did not want to waste any space on a bookshelf. So, the invisible floating shelves were the perfect solution! I recommend one of the heavy-duty or thicker lucite shelf options because board books can be heavier than standard picture books. I have decorated all my littles’ rooms with these invisible shelves, and I included a few options that I recommend below.

I hope your baby’s space is full of books, and if you can’t accommodate a baby library yet, find a few of your favorite books and place them nearby or in a basket for easy access. If you need any suggestions on your baby’s first books, read my blog entry, Guide to Baby’s First Ten Books.

On Parker’s Plate – Baby-Friendly Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and although most of us mamas tend to skip it, that’s not an option for our littles. As parents, we should try to prepare breakfast for our littles and ourselves to ensure that our bodies get the fuel needed to get through the day and model healthy eating habits. I don’t make it a priority to make myself breakfast every single day but the girls and baby boy always start the day with a well-balanced, nutritious meal.

Oatmeal is a staple in our household, and I’m grateful all three of my littles enjoy oatmeal as much as I do. While steel-cut oats are the holy grail of oatmeal, a mama with three little ones doesn’t always have the time or patience, so I often opt for the Whole Foods 365 Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats or 365 Organic Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack when I’m super short on time. Oatmeal has high amounts of iron, fiber, magnesium, and zinc, essential to a baby’s growth and development. Oatmeal is also gentle on digestion, provides a great way to introduce textures, and transition to solid foods. Oatmeal pairs well with a variety of fruit, and as our baby gets older (he’s 19 months), I’m experimenting with how I cut fruit. If you haven’t tried oatmeal with your littles, I recommend giving it a try. Don’t be afraid to add some flaxseed for the added nutritional value, or add some blueberries for organic sweetness!

Explore our hashtag, #OnParkersPlate, for simple, toddler- and baby-approved meal ideas!