Reading with Infants

We love reading to our babies! It is never too early to start reading with your baby.

Kim at Tiny Little Explorers

6/5/20243 min read

It Is Never Too Early to Start Reading with Your Baby

Reading to your baby from an early age can have profound effects on their development. Even though infants might not understand the words, the act of reading and storytelling can create strong bonds and lay the foundation for a lifelong love of books. This fact sheet provides valuable insights into the benefits of reading with your baby, the types of books they love, and how to incorporate books into their play and learning spaces.

Benefits of Reading and Storytelling with Infants

Strengthens Bonding: Reading together creates intimate moments of closeness, helping to build a strong emotional bond between parent and child.
Language Development: Listening to words and sounds during storytime helps babies begin to understand language patterns, enhancing their early language skills.
Cognitive Development: Books introduce concepts like numbers, letters, colors, and shapes, stimulating an infant’s brain and encouraging cognitive growth.
Encourages Imagination: Storytelling introduces babies to new ideas and worlds, fostering creativity and imagination.
Develops Listening Skills: Regularly reading to your baby helps them learn to focus and enhances their listening skills.
Soothing Routine: Reading can be a calming activity that becomes a comforting part of your baby's daily routine, especially during naptime or bedtime.

Types of Books Infants Love

High-Contrast Books: Babies are attracted to bold colors and high-contrast images, which are easier for them to see and focus on in the early months.
Board Books: Sturdy and durable, board books are perfect for little hands that love to grab and explore.
Touch-and-Feel Books: Books with different textures (e.g., soft, rough, bumpy) engage a baby’s sense of touch and make reading a multi-sensory experience.
Interactive Books: Lift-the-flap and peek-a-boo books are exciting for babies as they can participate in the story.
Simple Rhyming Books: Rhymes and repetitive language are enjoyable for babies and help them learn the rhythm of language.

How to Incorporate Books into Babies' Play and Learning Spaces

Book Nook: Create a cozy corner with soft pillows and a small shelf or basket of books within reach, encouraging your baby to explore books independently.
Play Area Integration: Mix books with your baby’s toys. For example, place a book about animals next to plush animal toys to create a thematic play experience.
Routine Reading Time: Incorporate reading into daily routines like diaper changes, feedings, or as part of the wind-down before naps and bedtime.
Outdoor Reading: Take a book outside and read under a tree or in the garden to change the environment and make reading a part of your baby’s exploration of the world.
Storytime During Tummy Time: Place a high-contrast book or picture book on the floor during tummy time to encourage your baby to lift their head and engage with the images.

What Types of Books Are Best for Infants?

Soft Cloth Books: Safe for babies to chew on, easy to wash, and often come with interactive elements like crinkly pages or mirrors.
Bath Books: Waterproof books that can be taken into the bath for more reading fun.
Books with Faces: Babies love looking at faces, so books featuring close-up images of babies, animals, or familiar characters can be very engaging.
Nursery Rhyme Books: Books that feature classic nursery rhymes with simple illustrations can be comforting and fun for babies.
Books with Real-Life Pictures: Simple books with photos of real objects, animals, or people help babies make connections with the world around them.

Starting a reading routine with your baby is one of the best ways to nurture their development and create cherished memories together. By choosing the right types of books and incorporating them into everyday activities, you can make reading an enjoyable and integral part of your baby’s early life. Remember, it’s never too early to start reading with your baby!

If you would like a list of lovely books to read with your baby grab your FREE COPY of Books for Infants here.

Our factsheet "Books for Infants" includes: