When to Start Reading to a Baby (The Answer Might Surprise You)
If you’ve ever wondered when to start reading to a baby, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most searched questions by new parents — often asked while holding a very wriggly newborn who seems far more interested in milk than books.
Here’s the reassuring truth: you can start reading to your baby from day one. And no, they don’t need to understand the words for it to matter.
When Should You Start Reading to a Baby?
The short answer? As early as possible — even from birth.
Newborn babies may not follow a story, but they do respond to:
- The sound and rhythm of your voice
- Repetition and familiar tones
- Facial expressions and emotional cues
- Close physical contact while being read to
From the very beginning, reading helps babies associate books with comfort, connection and calm.
Do Babies Understand Stories?
Not in the way older children do — but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening.
In the first year, babies experience stories as sensory events, not narratives. They’re absorbing:
- Sounds and patterns in language
- Cause and effect (a sound follows an action)
- Emotional signals from your voice and face
This is why babies are often captivated by how a story is told rather than what it’s about.
At Adventure Babies, we build on this natural response by combining stories with music, movement, lights and sensory props — helping babies feel the story with their whole bodies.
The Benefits of Reading to Babies in the First Year
(If you’re interested in how stories support wider development — including movement, curiosity and confidence — you might also enjoy our blog on how babies learn through sensory play and storytelling.)
Reading to babies supports development in ways that go far beyond words.
1. Brain Development
Hearing language regularly helps babies build neural connections that support future communication, memory and learning.
2. Emotional Security
Shared story time strengthens bonding. When a baby feels safe and connected, their brain is better primed for learning.
3. Early Communication Skills
Babies learn the rhythm of conversation — listening, responding, anticipating — long before they can talk.
4. A Love of Books (Before Literacy Even Begins)
Perhaps most importantly, reading early helps babies associate books with joy. Falling in love with stories always comes before learning to read.
But My Baby Won’t Sit Still (or Just Eats the Book)
Perfectly normal.
Babies explore books in age-appropriate ways, including:
- Chewing pages
- Banging books
- Turning pages randomly
- Fixating on one picture again and again
This is early literacy. It’s not about sitting quietly — it’s about curiosity and exploration.
Board books, fabric books and sensory elements all support this stage beautifully.
Why Repetition Matters So Much
If your baby wants the same book on repeat, that’s a good thing.
Repetition helps babies:
- Build memory pathways
- Predict what comes next
- Feel secure through familiarity
What feels repetitive to adults feels empowering to babies.
So… When Is the Best Time to Start Reading to a Baby?
It’s also reassuring to know this advice is backed by child development experts. The NHS Start for Life guidance highlights how talking, singing and reading with your baby from birth supports early communication and bonding.
The best time is now.
Whether your baby is a newborn, a few months old or approaching their first birthday, it’s never too early — and never too late — to make stories part of everyday life.
At Adventure Babies, we believe storytelling in the first year isn’t about teaching babies to read. It’s about helping them fall in love with stories, language and shared moments.
Because when stories feel magical, learning follows naturally.
