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AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.

Reading To Your Baby

One thing all the experts agree on is that babies love the sound of their mom’s voice. They love being talked to, sung to, and most of all they love being read to. Reading to your baby is a wonderful way to spend time with him, from the early days right through his childhood. Not only will reading together help you bond, but you will be giving your child an amazing gift – the gift of books. 

So many children grow up in a world where they never read a book themselves until they start school (and some not even then) – and many have never had a book read to them by their parents. In an age of computer games and hi-tech play, it is easy to forget the power of books to stimulate the imagination and encourage creativity in children. 

And it is never too early to start. There are a number of ways you can introduce reading into your baby’s day, starting with their bedtime routine: 

The Bedtime Story

Even when your baby is too small to understand the story, they will be soothed and calmed by your voice. Used as part of a bedtime routine, after their bath and milk feed, a story is a great way of creating an association for your baby; of letting them know it is now time to wind down ready for sleep.  

When your baby is older and begins to understand the content of the story, it can be used to help them make sense of things that have happened during their day. Many children’s books are structured to follow the events in the life of a particular character (often a child your son or daughter can identify with), and many of the stories end with the child going to bed, happy and secure, to dream. 

Children and babies love rituals and routine. As soon as they see you sit by their cot with a book in your hand, and hear you begin to read, they will learn to relax. This is a great opportunity for dads to get involved too – often the bedtime story will be after work so your baby’s father can read it regularly. 

Understanding and explaining

Stories are a great way of helping your infant understand what is going on around him. In times of change, stories can be used to explain, in an indirect (and therefore non-threatening) way, how the events should be handled. Stories about a small child starting nursery, for example, will help your own child cope when it happens to him. If a beloved pet dies, a story can be a way of allowing your child to deal with his feelings about the event. 

Reading to a smaller baby

Even a very young baby can benefit from being read to. Just sitting down with his mom or dad, safe and warm, and listening to their voices as they read, will bring comfort and engender a sense of well being in any baby. As your baby gets a little older and begins to reach out and touch the world, he will love to watch the pages of the book turn and see the new pictures appear. This is the time to invest in some of the ‘touchy-feely’ children’s books, with different textures, colors and sounds. Help your baby to become familiar with the world of books and he will have a gift to treasure for life.

More Things To Do With Your Baby

You might also be interested in:

Read our Diary Of A New Mum and discover what happens when Jessica-Ann comes home from the hospital and during her first year at home. This fun read is perfect for new mums and experienced mums alike! New episodes weekly.
Diary Of A New Mum

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