Reading to a baby in their first weeks or months can seem premature — they do not yet follow the story or understand what the words mean. But at this stage, the value of reading is not in understanding the story itself; it lies in the language, interaction and connection that happen along the way.
You can start reading to your baby from birth, so that it gradually becomes a natural part of their day and their surroundings.
Language begins before speech
Long before a baby says their first word, they begin to recognise sounds, the tone of speech and the rhythm of the language around them.
Reading aloud exposes a baby to words and sounds again and again, and supports the development of language as well as cognitive, social and emotional skills.
And the benefit is not only in the words: being close to their parents, hearing their voices, watching their faces and having their own sounds and movements answered makes reading a chance to connect and build the relationship, too.
A book is more than a story
During the first year there is no need to finish the story or read the text word for word.
You can pause at a picture, name it, imitate an animal sound, change your tone of voice, or respond when the baby makes a sound. As they grow, you can let them touch the book, try to turn the pages and point at the pictures.
This way the book becomes a tool for interaction and for exploring language, not an activity the baby has to sit through and listen to in silence.
A few minutes are enough
A baby does not need long reading sessions or a large collection of books. You can start with a few minutes, at a time when they are calm and ready to engage.
In the first months, simple books with clear pictures suit them best; then the way they engage with books changes gradually — from listening and looking, to touching, pointing and trying to turn the pages.
What matters most is that reading is enjoyable and repeated — not a task to be finished.
In short
A baby does not need to understand the story to benefit from reading. From the first months, books give them the chance to hear language, interact with their parents, and gradually get to know words and pictures.
Years before a child learns to read books, books have already begun building their relationship with language and connection.