Babies (0 - 15 months)
Reading together gives you a way to get closer to your baby and strengthens the bond between you. Your baby loves your voice and your touch. When you cuddle and share a book, your baby may not understand everything you read, but he will enjoy being held closely and listening to the sound and rhythm of your voice.
When you read with your baby, you are helping him learn how language works and what words mean. Read to your baby from books, magazines, or newspapers in the language you are most comfortable using. Hearing you read aloud gives your baby a chance to hear words that don’t come up in everyday conversation. It helps you give him information about everything—from airplanes to zebras!
Encourage other family members to read to your baby, too. Reading together with you and others also develops your baby’s understanding that reading is something worth knowing how to do. The more you talk, read, sing, play, and share stories with your baby, the more he will learn. You can choose to read together at any time of the day (not just bedtime!). So snuggle up and read to your baby—even for just a few minutes—every day.