If you want to write a book for babies, you’re in luck – it’s really not that hard.
In fact, you could probably do it in your sleep…which is probably when babies do most of their heavy reading, anyway.
Here’s how to write a book for a baby:
- Choose a baby-friendly topic and theme
- Create a writing space and schedule
- Write a rough first draft
- Use baby-friendly words and language
- Use baby-friendly colors and images
- Choose a cover design that a baby would love
- Edit and proofread
- Format your baby book
- Publish your baby book
- Promote your baby book
- Get baby book help
In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to write a book for a baby.
11 Easy Baby Steps for How To Write a Book for a Baby
Congratulations on writing a book for a baby.
Writing a book for a baby is a great way to create a keepsake that will be cherished for years to come. Or, to entertain babies while honoring their parents.
Here are 11 baby steps to get you started:
1) Choose A Baby-Friendly Topic & Theme
If you’re going to write a baby book, you might as well make it something that the little bundle of joy can actually enjoy.
That means no dry, academic tomes on the history of the Third Reich.
Instead, go for something that’s fun, colorful, and full of pictures of cute babies. And since babies are notoriously short on attention span, keep the text short and sweet. You could even throw in a few nursery rhymes to break up the monotony.
The important thing is to make it something that both baby and parent will enjoy reading together.
Ask yourself:
- What is your book going to be about? What are the themes?
- Who is your book going to be about? Who are the main characters?
- Will it be a story about the day your baby was born? A bedtime story? A collection of nursery rhymes?
Once you’ve decided on a topic, you can start brainstorming ideas for your book.
2) Create a Writing Space and Schedule
If you’re lucky enough to be writing a book for a baby, there are a few things you’ll need to do in order to make the process as smooth as possible.
First, you’ll need to create a writing space that’s conducive to creativity.
This means making sure there are no distractions, such as television or loud music. You should also have plenty of pens and paper on hand, as well as some snacks and drinks to keep you fueled during the writing process.
Second, you’ll need to establish a schedule for your writing.
This doesn’t necessarily mean setting aside specific hours for writing, but rather ensuring that you carve out some time each day to sit down and work on your book.
By following these two simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to writing a beautiful and timeless book for a baby.
3) Write a Rough First Draft
Don’t worry about making it perfect – just get your ideas down on paper (or screen).
You can always edit and refine your book later.
Once you’re ready to start, set a timer for five minutes and start writing. The goal is to fill the page with as much nonsense as possible; don’t worry about spelling or grammar, just let the words flow.
Once the timer goes off, take a break and stretch your legs.
Then set the timer for another five minutes and write some more. Keep going until you reach at least 500 words, then pat yourself on the back – you’ve just written a baby book!
4) Use Baby-Friendly Language
When writing a book for a baby, you want to use simple words that they can easily relate to.
Babies are just starting to learn the language, so you want to make sure that the words you use are short, easy to understand, and fun to say.
Think about the words that you use most often when talking to a baby – things like “baba,” “mama,” or “dada.”
These are all great examples of the kind of words you should use in your book.
If you want to get fancy, you can also use onomatopoeia to really bring your stories to life. Words like beep, boom, or whack are sure to get a giggle out of even the grumpiest of babies.
5) Use Baby-Friendly Images
Babies are simple creatures.
They like things that are bold and colorful, and they really don’t care about the plot of the story. As a result, when writing a book for a baby, it’s important to keep the images simple and the colors bright.
The main character should be easy to spot, and there should be lots of contrasting colors throughout the book.
Babies also love to look at other babies, so it’s always a good idea to include a few pictures of infants in the story.
If you’re not an artist, don’t worry – there are plenty of free online tools that you can use to create simple illustrations for your book.
Bonus tip: If you’re writing a book for one special baby, make sure it’s extra special by adding in personalization like pictures of the family, friends, pets, etc.
6) Choose a Cover Design
This is one of the most important aspects of your book, so take some time to brainstorm a few different ideas.
After all, it’s the cover that will first catch a potential reader’s eye and persuade them to pick up the book. If you’re writing a book for a baby, then you need to make sure that your cover design is especially eye-catching.
Here are a few tips to help you create a great cover for a book for a baby:
- Keep it simple. A busy or confusing cover design will only distract from the book’s title and might even discourage parents from picking up the book for their child.
- Make sure the title is big and bold. Babies are attracted to bright colors and clear shapes.
- Don’t forget about branding. If you have an existing logo or color scheme for your books, make sure to incorporate it into the cover design.
- Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. A truly unique and memorable cover will help your book stand out from all the other books on the bookshelves.
7) Edit and Proofread Your Baby Book
Once you’re happy with the content of your book, it’s time to edit and proofread it to make sure there are no errors or typos.
This is not because babies are very discerning readers and will not hesitate to point out errors in your work.
It’s about the quality of your craft and the fact that publishers are adults, as are the parents who will end up buying your book.
Reading your book out loud will help you catch any mistakes, and reading it to a baby or two will give you an idea of how they react to your work. If they seem bored or confused, it’s probably time to go back to the drawing board.
But if they coo and giggle and try to grab the book, then you know you’re on the right track.
8) Format Your Book
Now that your book is error-free, it’s time to format it so it’s ready to print or publish electronically. Again, there are plenty of free resources available online that can help you with this step.
Of course, it’s also important to make sure that the book is durable enough to withstand repeated chewing and drooling.
After all, babies are not known for their gentle treatment of books.
But if you can manage to find a balance between durability and visuals, you’ll have a winner on your hands.
9) Publish Your Baby Book
Print your book or publish it electronically.
If you’re printing your book yourself, there are many online printers that offer great discounts for small print runs.
If you’re publishing electronically, there are many different platforms and services that you can use – Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is one popular option.
10) Promote Your Baby Book
Whether you’re selling physical copies or publishing electronically, you’ll need to promote your book so people know it exists.
There are many different ways to do this.
Which ones work best will depend on the type of book you’ve written and the audience you’re targeting.
But some basic promotion tips include creating a website or blog for your book, setting up social media accounts, and doing author interviews and readings.
You might like my article about 10 eBook Marketing Strategies (2022).
11) Get Baby Book Writing Help
If this whole process seems overwhelming, there are many companies that offer full-service self-publishing packages that will take care of all the steps for you.
Here are some of my favorite tools and resources for writing a book for a baby:
- Jasper AI Writer & Jasper Art (Helps you come up with titles, character names, artwork, and the entire story)
- Canva (For Creating the artwork and formatting your book)
- Sqribble (For turning your draft into a formatted book)
Here is a good video about how to write a book for a young child or baby:
Final Thoughts: How To Write a Book for a Baby
The bottom line is that writing a book for a baby is a satisfying experience that can bring joy and delight to babies everywhere.
The most important thing is for you to enjoy it.
If you love the book, babies will, too.
Related posts:
- How To Write a Book Dedication They Will Love (23 Examples)
- Can Anyone Write A Book And Get It Published? (2022)
- How To Self-Publish a Board Book in 2022 (Ultimate Guide)