You know that research says you should start reading to your baby from day one.

But can a baby that young really benefit from books? They can’t even hold their own head up.

Well yes! Yes they can!

Research shows that babies who are read to daily at 6 months understand more words at 18 months, and speak more, than babies read to less frequently. They also have better cognition (brain function) and social and emotional skills at 12 months than babies not read to. 

Read on for tips on how to pick books that keep them engaged, and how to read to them so that they get the most out of storytimes – and you enjoy it too!

Our top tip is this: don’t feel any pressure to read every word or every page. Success looks like letting go, tuning into your baby (follow her gaze to understand what she is interested in!) and enjoying the experience, together.

What books are good for babies?

Here is what to look for:

• High contrast books for newborns. This is best given their limited eyesight.
• Books you can sing. Research shows that babies prefer singing to speech, and that singing to babies helps them regulate their emotions. Books that you can sing (like “Jazz Baby” and “Babies on the Bus”) are wonderful ones to get your baby excited about storytime.
• Books with photographs of faces. Research shows that babies are captivated by images of faces, making books like “Shades of People” , and “My First Learn-To-Talk Book” instant favourites.
• Colorful books. Newborns have very poor vision but by 2-3 month old, their vision has improved, and research indicates that they prefer books with bold, bright colors. Bright, colorful books like “Peek-A-Moo” are perfect for capturing your baby’s attention at this age.
• Only a few words per page. Having fewer words per page means that you turn the pages more frequently, which can help to keep your baby’s attention.
• Simple illustrations. Simple illustrations help to focus your baby’s attention on a specific image, and helps them connect the image with the word you are saying.
• Books with flaps or other tactile features. It’s good to include these in the mix, although we suggest getting babies used to books without these features as well!

The below list features wonderful books for babies. We suggest experimenting with storytimes first thing in the morning, during tummy time, and before bed (some babies are so tired by the end of the day that they aren’t in the mood for books, so morning stories can be a great alternative!).