Best baby books for bumper baby bundles – nominate your favourites

Free ‘baby bundles’ for first time parents in Victoria are under development, and the Victorian Government is asking for nominations for favourite children’s books to be included.

Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos opened nominations yesterday, urging the public to nominate books by Victorian authors for children aged two and under to be included within the bundle.

The first bundles will be issued in July, and will include “all the essentials parents need to help guide them through the first few months and years of their child’s life, including a nappy bag, growsuit, safe sleeping bag, muslin wrap, teething ring, information on safety and parenting, and picture books for various stages of a child’s development,” Ms Mikakos said.

The books are an important inclusion in the bundles, which will provide approximately 35,000 new parents a year with an easier start for their baby, with research showing that children who are regularly read to and who have lots of books in their homes do better in their first years of school.

All book nominations will be provided to a panel of experts in early childhood literacy and development who will make a shortlist of recommended titles. The independent advisory panel of experts will also help choose the other items for the bundle, ensuring that new mums and dads are provided with the very best advice and products.

The baby bundles form part of a $232 million plan to give new parents information, care and support, offering parenting centres, more maternal child health nurses and round-the-clock specialist sleep advice. Seven new early parenting centres will be built, two parenting centres will be refurbished, and money has been earmarked to deliver a range of critical services, including day stays, longer residential stays and more support at home – helping more than 4,500 families each year.

Book nominations are open to the pubic until 24 March, and can be made by visiting the Engage Victoria website.