This adorable high contrast DIY baby book may be the simplest toy to make for baby, but it has some of the best benefits that you can offer your newborn at this stage. Read below how you can put this black and white book together in 3 quick steps!
Since new babies are born with very little perception of color, it is important to start showing them high contrast images as soon as they start doing tummy time.
This visual stimulation not only grabs their attention, but it also…
- Helps baby learn to focus
- Develops their growing attention span
- Cultivates a priceless connection through interaction with you and baby
- Strengthens their eye muscles to work with their brain
Since newborns aren’t able to see color just yet, simple black and white pictures are the best way to introduce the world to your infant!
How can I incorporate showing high contrast patterns into our daily routine?
When I say this is one of the easiest activities to start doing TODAY with your little one, I mean it! Seriously, ANY black and white pictures or imagery will catch your baby’s attention. This can be done several ways like:
- Black and white family pictures
- High contrast books with sharp outlines
- Flash cards
- Black and white toys or wall decoration (think nursery decor!)
It doesn’t have to be complicated or take a bunch of time! Which is why I created this adorable black and white picture book. It is a free download that has 9 high quality and FUN images. Each page also has a quick little story/quote on it as well.
To download the book, check out my post here – then read below how to easily put the book together so you and your baby can start enjoying it.
Once you have the book printed and cut out, now it is time to quickly put it together. You only need 3 items to put this book together (and most will already have these things around the house!)
Supplies needed to make DIY baby book
The black and white picture book
Go ahead and download the book from your email, and print it out. Make sure to set the print settings to ‘Actual Size’, and it works best to set the page to ‘Landscape’ so it doesn’t cut off any of the book’s edges.
Check out this post if you still need to head over and grab the free printable.
Duct Tape
Any kind and any color of duct tape works! You just need something to put over the edges of the book to hold the pages together.
If you don’t already have this lying around your house somewhere, definitely check out your local dollar store to see if they have something that will work!
Plastic Sandwich Baggies
The book pages are 5 x 5 inches, so anything over that will work.. Just BEWARE – most of quart baggies have the white label on the outside of the bag, which will hide your book pages if you use them. It is best to look for the ‘sandwich’ size bags. They are just a tiny bit smaller than the quart bags and slightly thinner, but still work great and are completely clear for viewing the book pages.
See picture below of supplies and an example of the ‘sandwich’ baggies.
And that is it! Probably the easiest craft you’ll ever make for your child. No glitter or expensive supplies here… just a little bit of time and printer ink. 😉
How to make the black and white DIY baby book
As straightforward as the supplies list was, you’ll be blown away by how simple this DIY baby book is to put together. Seriously, it will probably only take 10 minutes of your time!
Before we begin putting the DIY baby book together, I must preface this and say please do NOT ever leave baby unattended with this black and white picture book. This toy is meant to be a learning tool for baby under direct supervision with the parent. The plastic should not ever go in baby’s mouth or around his/her face.
Okay, back to normal programming. Let’s get started making this book! 😉
Step 1
If you haven’t done so already, print and cut out the pages for the book and get them ready for whatever order you’d like for them to be in. I recommend printing the pages out with cardstock if you can, that way it stands up nicely if you want to prop it up while baby is having tummy time. All the pages go together with the same ‘theme’, but can stand alone too so it doesn’t matter what order they are in.
Step 2
Once you have the pages for the DIY baby book in the order you’d like, start putting them all in the sandwich bags. Do 2 pages per ziploc (so you’ll need 5 bags total).
When putting them in the bags, place the pages as close to the ‘zip’ part as possible. We’ll be putting the tape over the opposite end, so you’ll want that part clear.
Step 3
Time to start taping! Lay each baggie on top of one another in the order you’d like for them to go in.
After you get them nice and lined up, take a small piece of tape and place in the very middle. This is just to hold the pages in place while you put the rest of the ‘binding’ on.
Then you will cut a longer piece of tape and put this piece under the stack of baggies, along the entire side of that edge. Be careful not to go too far towards the pages with the tape, otherwise it could keep you from being able to turn the pages.
Fold that piece in half lengthwise to place on the other side of the stack of baggies.
At this point, I go ahead and fold the ‘leftovers’ on the edge up towards the book on both ends. This is just to give the book a nice polished edge with the tape.
To hide the ‘leftovers’, I cut one more piece of tape and placed it over the front of the book again, and folded it lengthwise like before.
This time instead of folding over the excess, I went ahead and cut it off right at the edge of the book. (If you’re using duct tape, it will hide nicely and not show a big raw edge there!)
You’re all done! Open it up and make sure you can turn each page. See… I wasn’t lying when I said that this is the single most easiest thing you will ever make for your child, ha!
RELATED: Grab your free printable newborn daily care log here.
How to use the DIY baby book
Tummy Time
Set this book up which baby is enjoying some time on their belly, and watch as it quickly grabs their attention. If you use cardstock for the pages, then this book should easily prop up so you’re little one can see it clearly!
Story Time
This DIY baby book has a quick little story or quote on each page, so feel free to enjoy it with them by having story time with your newborn.
Get comfy in the rocking chair together and enjoy that special bonding time with your little one.
Wall Decoration
If you choose not to put the pages in the Ziplocs, you can totally use them for decoration that your baby can gaze at. These are perfect to put on the wall by your changing table or play area so baby can easily enjoy them.
Final Thoughts
Black and white imagery is key for newborn babies’ visual development. There are several ways to incorporate this into your daily routine that are fun, grabs baby’s attention, and creates lasting connection for you and your little one.
This is such a special time with your newborn that goes by way too quick. I hope you enjoy this sweet little book with baby! Let me know in the comments if you made it, and make sure to tag me on Instagram with a picture at @mommythehomemaker.
Thank you for stopping by, I hope you have a great week ahead!
Hi there
Could you please send me the link for the baby’s first story book?
Hi Kendyll, if you go to the link below you can sign up to receive the free story book – sent straight to your email. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
https://mommythehomemaker.com/help-babys-visual-development-with-this-free-black-and-white-pictures-for-babies-book/