Tips for Reading Aloud with a New Baby

It’s never too early to begin reading to your baby!

Notes for Moms, Dads, & Caregivers

Reading together is one of the best ways to spend time with your baby. You can help your baby develop important language and literacy skills by reading aloud each day. Here are some ideas on how to make reading a fun activity to enjoy together

  • Hold your baby close to you so she can feel your movements and hear your voice.
  • Communicate with your whole body by looking into his eyes and gesturing with your hands.
  • Use your voice and sound effects to engage the baby’s interest.
  • Encourage your baby to use his or her senses to explore the book.
  • Point to individual pictures and explain what items are included in the pictures.
  • Be patient. Let the baby investigate a picture until she is ready to move to something new.
  • Improvise. Look through the pages and make up a new story using the pictures.
  • Have plenty of books to choose from that cover a variety of topics and different characters.
  • Use books to help establish a daily routine—from bedtimes to bath times to everything in between!