Do you read to your baby? If so, when did you start?

Question

I have recently started reading to my daughter (when she was about 5 weeks old). Someone told me there is no need to because the baby won't understand anyway, but I still like to do it. Anyone else read to the baby or have kids you read to at a very young age? Did it have any effect that you noticed on their vocabulary or reading skills?

Answer 1

I started reading to my son at 3mos old, i went and bought a huge children's book but i wish i had started sooner, they say that the earlier you read to your baby the better they will and can learn in life.

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Answer 2

Many people start reading to their baby before it's even born. While your child may not understand the words, they understand that it's your voice, and that helps them greatly. I would imagine it would also help with vocabulary skills, maybe not reading since they aren't seeing the words them self (5 weeks is a little too early to expect them to focus on words on a page).

I say keep reading, it can only be good for them, it's not like it's doing any harm.

Answer 3

I am about 30 weeks pregnant and I read to my baby now.  :-)  They may not understand the words when they are very young, but they like hearing your voice, and they are picking up on more than you think!  I read to my first baby when he was only 1 week old and in the NICU (I couldn't hold him but I could sit next to his isolette and read to him!), and he loved it -- you could see the positive effect it had on his vital signs.  I am trying to convince my husband to read to my belly too, but he feels weird about it......

Answer 4

i started reading to my baby at 3 mo old. I was told that if you start reading early to your baby it will increase there attention span when there older. Whenever i read to my baby he always loves the sounds and faces i make when i read and he looks at the pictures in the book.

Answer 5

I started at about 3 weeks. I am not sure he understands any of it but he loves to look at the bright pictures in the baby books.

Answer 6

I read to my daughter at least once a day. She's 3 weeks old. I know she doesn't understand it, but I enjoy the closeness it brings us.  

Answer 7

I started reading to my son the day we came home from the hospital.  He is only five months old, so I don't know how it has effected his skills yet, but I can tell you he is very vocal!  LOL

Answer 8

Yup, I've been reading since the first couple of weeks, Dr Suess books, my son likes the sounds of the rhyming and the up and down of my voice...i usually read facing him and let him stare at the cover of the book. He is now almost 4 months and is more interested and likes to look at the pages..

Answer 9

It's never too early! She'll get familiar with the sounds of words. Also this is a great bedtime ritual. It's a way of saying "It's bedtime" if you do it every night. This way when she is older she will automatically associate story time with sleep. If she memorizes the books when she a little older, she will probably look at them and she will learn to recognize written words too! Reading to her is great, she'll be smarter and it's great quality time for both of you!

Answer 10

I read to my oldest son since birth, and I am starting with my newborn.  My oldest son LOVES to read, he is three and already spelling out words and can identify all of the letters and numbers up to 100.  I am not saying this to brag--I know many other kids who learned to read at a young age, and I think it is due to mommy and daddy reading to them--and reading themselves!  I LOVE books :)  I try to get him books about cars and trains and airplanes (some of his favorite things).

And even though a newborn cannot appreciate a book like an older child, they LOVE to hear your voice, especially when you read books that rhyme.  It is NOT a waste of time!  Anything you can do to bond with your child is great :)  I would say continue to read!  It was a great decision to start early on your part, in my opinion.

Answer 11

I started reading to my son early, not as early as you.  But probaly 3 months.  I always enjoyed it and I think my son did too.  My son is now 21 months and has absolute love for books.  He always has.  And yes he started talking early and has a big vocabulary.  He always chooses to read books rather than watch tv.  I couldn't make him watch tv even if I wanted to.  I also read him books about colors and shapes.  He knew all his colors and shapes by like 15 months.  Now we are working on numbers and letters.  He can count to 10 and recognise the numvers to ten. And he is coming along well with his letters.  Everyone recongnizes it too.  Grandparents, friends, and day care provider always compliment on how smart he is.  I also sang to him constantly and now he sings all the time too.  Which we all LOVE.  Do what you love and enjoy with your daughter DONT listen to anyone elses negative ideas

Answer 12

We started reading to our baby while she was still in the womb because I read alot!  I just started reading out lound and my husband did too.  Even after she was born we were reading to her in the hospital...the nurse said she had never seen anything like it.  It's true she didn't understand what we were reading and couldn't see the photos but it was time for us to bond and even today (she's almost two) we read for at least 20 minutes every night and now during the day she will bring us books from her room and have them read them too her!  She sit and reads to herself her favorites (she can't talk but wow she is smart)!!!

Momma_Bear

Answer 13

I heard some people read to their babies while pregnant!

Answer 14

I read to my son, he his 11 weeks old, I don't do it every day because sometimes he is too fussy to listen lol but i do it a few times a week and he seems to enjoy it, so do I.  

Answer 15

It is AWESOME you are reading to your five week old. Yes, I read to my little ones at an early age. It helps calm them down when they are fussy, if I recite the book to them in the car. It does effect their language development and understanding of what you are saying. My children started talking when they were 6 months old. Such as hi, mom, and dad. Now at 1, he is speaking in sentences.