Because chewing the corners is part of the journey. Ever wondered how to help your baby love books—even when they’re more interested in trying to eat them? You’re not alone. At Adventure Babies, we see it every day: babies grabbing board books with chubby fingers, squealing at flaps, and staring (deeply) at animal illustrations. And while it might not look like “reading” yet, something magical is happening.
Helping your baby fall in love with books early on isn’t just a sweet idea—it’s one of the best things you can do for their development, imagination, and future. In a world full of screens and distractions, building a love of reading gives your baby a calm, connected, brain-building superpower that lasts a lifetime.
Why Start Now?
If you’re wondering when to start reading with your baby, the answer is: now. Even if they’re just a few weeks old. Even if they’re more interested in the dog walking past. Even if all they do is wriggle on your lap and stare at the pictures upside-down.
Research shows that reading with your baby from an early age supports language development, emotional bonding, attention span and even future school success. But more importantly? It helps them associate books with love, fun, and togetherness. That’s how to help your baby love books—by making it part of your everyday routine, long before they know their ABCs.
The Difference a Love of Reading Makes
Children who read for pleasure do better in vocabulary, communication, empathy and emotional regulation. Long-term, reading boosts wellbeing, academic achievement and even job prospects. It’s a small, consistent habit that makes a huge impact—and it starts with babies seeing books as something joyful and familiar.
They don’t need to understand the plot. They just need you. Your voice, your warmth, the closeness of snuggling up with a story. That’s how the love begins.
Screens Are Flashy—But Books Are Deep
Let’s be honest—screens are everywhere. They’re fast, colourful, noisy, and can give you five minutes to drink your tea while it’s still hot. We get it. But when it comes to learning, screen time can’t compete with story time.
Reading a book with your baby is an interactive experience. You point, pause, repeat words, ask questions, make silly sounds. That back-and-forth is the gold dust of baby brain development. It helps with language, memory and social skills in a way passive screen time just can’t replicate.
So, if you’re wondering how to help your baby love books in the age of iPads—keep it simple. Keep it human. Keep it connected.
But What If I Don’t Have Time?
You don’t need a perfect Pinterest routine to raise a reader. A story during breakfast. A board book in the nappy bag. A page or two before bed (even if you’re both half asleep). Repetition is brilliant for babies—so if they want That’s Not My Dinosaur ten times a day, that’s a win.
If you want to make reading even more engaging, try one of our Adventure Babies sensory storytelling classes. We bring books to life with songs, props, puppets, bubbles and sensory play—creating magical moments that show babies just how exciting books can be.
It’s not about performance. It’s about presence.
So… How to Help Your Baby Love Books?
Start early. Make it playful. Keep it consistent.
Whether it’s a bath book, a bedtime classic, or a sparkly board book with a squeaky duck—every story shared is a building block in your baby’s love of books (even if they chew it first).
Want to help your baby fall in love with books?
Join an Adventure Babies class near you and watch stories come alive—because raising a reader starts here.
For more on the impact of early reading, the National Literacy Trust offers helpful research and resources.
