Best new baby books 2018

And most of us no longer live with our own parents, who in times gone by could be relied upon for mostly solid advice. The wisdom of a paediatrician, a professional nanny or just an experienced mother can be an invaluable guide through the myriad questions and concerns that new parents often have. There are a few different types of parenting book. Some are written with a specific problem or area of development in mind, such as helping your baby to sleep. Then there are more general books that promote broader approaches to child-rearing. Finally, there are reference guides that collect together informative facts and helpful tips. You might find it useful to invest in a few complementary titles — for example, a simple guidebook for advice on feeding, changing and bathing your baby, plus a book covering a parenting philosophy you may like to try.

Some are traditional favorites. Others are modern classics. Many fall into classic board book categories, teaching shapes, colors, numbers, letters, and feelings. Animals, transportation, community, and nature are all popular themes, along with nerdy topics like quarks and chemistry. There are also more literary titles that include song lyrics, rhyming text, or characters that early readers will fall in love with. Add to Bag.

Studies show it's never too early to start reading to infants. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that reading out loud to your kids starting from birth strengthens your parent-child bond and gets your baby started on important language and literacy skills. Add these books to your child's home library, and get ready for snuggly storytime. Yusuke Yonezu's clever lift-the-flap illustrations offer surprises on every page — what looks like a lollipop turns into a chameleon, or a hard-candy wrapper transforms into the tail of a fish. Newborns only see black, white, and gray at first, which makes these high-contrast, black-and-white illustrations all the more engaging to young eyes. When Leo goes to the library for "baby time," he gets to do exciting activities, like singing a happy song or playing peek-a-boo with scarves — things you can play at home, too! In , The Very Hungry Caterpillar will be celebrating its 50th anniversary — and it's easy to see why it has endured, because it combines so many things that babies love: counting, cute animals, and food.