Reading time was integrated super early in our household when I was growing up. Some of my earliest memories besides traveling with my family was connecting with my parents over books. I actually can recall vividly my mother reading to me super early on. So early, she barely believes me when I tell her. The different voices she would use for each character when she would read Robert Munch’s, “The Paper Bag Princess” will forever be etched in my mind.

When Max was about three or four months, it was my father who had told me about the importance of consistent infant reading and encouraged us to to integrate story time at home. This happen to occur right around the time we started sleeping training so reading became part of her nap and bedtime routine with us reading to her 3-4 times a day. Now 30+ years later, it has become one of my favourite ways to bond and connect with my daughter.

Story time with my parents gave me the confidence and interest to want to start reading on my own from an early age and I have a distinct feeling it will be the same with Maxwell. As parents, we have a tendency to repeat the same words  to infants and babies. Not consciously of course, but if you read to your little one even for just 20 minutes a day, that’s 1.8 million new words and phrases for them to learn every year. Shocking, I know! It’s as if every single page you turn sets your child up for a bright future in school, with advanced vocabulary,  language, and literary skills.

Indigo is the first place that comes to mind for books and all things reading. I can easily spend countless hours in their Sherway location and shopping online, especially since I can earn Aeroplan miles with my online purchases. We were given all the class Dr. Seuss and Robert Munsch classics at my baby shower so lately I have been focused on age appropriate books for the 6-12 month category and fell absolutely in love with Petite Boutique. It’s a line of baby books and they even have a few titles that have been designed exclusively for Indigo. Each book in this colourful and cute collection was created with babies in mind, covering core concepts like counting and colours, while engaging young kiddies in learning and literacy from day one. Maxie is OBSESSED with the touch and feel pages, mirrors and silicone buttons like in “Five Little Dinosaurs“. She is in a stage where she loves textures, which is really cute so I have to read this to her a few times in a row before sleep time so she can press and play with the dinosaurs.

Video By Shawn Pinnock & Photos by Jess Baumug

I’ve been posting our story time quite a bit on my IG stories and I love how many of you have been sharing photos and videos with me of your own reading time with your baby. It’s really never too early to start reading and it’s actually recommended to begin while you’re pregnant. Babies are always listening, learning and remembering during the last stages of pregnancy. IndigoKids online is an excellent resource to assist parents on the reading journey for their children. I refer to it all the time and have found amazing tips and things to focus on while reading to Maxie. They have even gone as far as breaking the tips down into age categories; newborn, 6-24 months, 2-4 years, up to 8+ and even french immersion. I am not sure if many of you know, but Réjean is french and it’s his first language, so it’s important that M becomes fluent in it as well. We actually have a ton of french language books. I have chosen books that she knows well in English and have found the French version hoping that because she already knows the story in English, it will help her quickly learn and enjoy it in another language; like Marion Dane Bauer’s “Je T’aime Comme” and  the english version “How Do I Love You“.

Indigo is a mecca of course for reading but guys, but it is SO MUCH MORE! I ordered almost all of the decor for Maxie’s nursery from Indigo via Aeroplan’s eStore and tons of my baby shower registry items were also from there. Whether you’re pregnant, just welcomed your bundle or already in the swing of things in your first year of parenthood, I’ve highlighted some of my absolute favourite Indigo items for Maxwell and her nursery that are perfect items for the first 24 months with baby.

 1. Skip Hop Tuo Convertible High Chair  |  2. The Pieces Doubled Sided Play Mat  |  3. Oliva Rose Rosette Onesie Pettiskirt   |  4. Petite Boutique We Live In Canada  |  5. Aden & Anais Classic Sleep Sack  |  6. Happy Cactus Silicone Teethers (2 PK)  |  7. Kushies Aqua Splash Bath Mat  |  8. Bee & Coco Ava the Unicorn Piggy Bank  |  9. Beaba Formula Snack Container  |  10. Ergobaby Three Position Bundle of Joy Carrier  | 11. Indigo Baby Elephant Bath Wrap |  12. Little Unicorn Muslin Swaddle Blankets (3 PK)  |  13. Lorena Canals Washable Area Rug 

This post was done in partnership with Indigo for monetary compensation and/or product however all views and opinions are my own!