We all envision those sweet, quiet moments of reading a bedtime story to our infants, but for many parents, the reality is a little different: a baby who wants to chew on the book rather than look at the pages!

If you find your little one is more interested in eating their library than listening to your expressive voice modulation, don’t be discouraged. This is a completely normal part of their sensory development. At this age, babies explore the world—and everything in it—with their mouths.

How to Manage the 'Chew Phase':

• Embrace the Exploration: Let your baby touch, grab, and yes, even mouth the book. This builds a positive association with books as interesting objects. They are learning that these items are fun to hold and interact with.
• Choose Durable Options: Board books are essential during this phase. They hold up much better to drool and chewing than paper pages.
• Keep it Brief: You don’t need to finish a long story. Read a few lines, follow their lead, and if they lose interest, that’s okay. The goal is to build a habit of connection, not to finish the chapter.
• Model, Don't Force: Simply having books around and letting them see you hold or flip through them is a great way to encourage a love for reading before they are ready to sit still and listen.

Be patient with the process. One day, the chewing will stop, and they will start pointing at the pictures instead. Until then, just enjoy the time spent cuddling together.