When should you start reading to your baby?

Mother reading to baby collage

by Anne Lora Scagliusi |
Updated on

Many parents wonder when to start reading to their little ones, and the answer is: right from the start! In fact, experts recommend introducing books during those early months. Reading to your baby not only introduces them to new words but also supports their language development and strengthens the bond between you.

Child development specialist Crystal Miles says, “A baby’s brain grows fast in the first three years, making a million new connections every second. Adding a few short books into your daily routine is amazing for your baby’s growth—it helps with language, imagination, intelligence, and builds a strong bond between you and your little one.”

And the numbers back it up! A study published in PEDIATRICS found that babies who were read to regularly starting at six months had a remarkable 40% increase in their vocabulary by the time they were 18 months old. So, snuggling up with a book is not just a cosy activity; it’s a powerful way to support your baby’s development!

When to start reading to baby

Your baby has been listening to your voice in the womb long before they entered the world, which is why they love listening to you talk, sing and read aloud too! That's why many parents like to read books to their baby's from the day they're born.

Of course, they won't understand the words that you're saying, but they'll love hearing the different sounds and rhythms, especially if it's a rhyming book. Reading to your baby will help boost their hearing and listening skills as they grow up.

As your baby gets older and you establish a regular bedtime with them, having some quiet reading time before bed helps them get used to that routine and boost your bonding time together.

Why is reading to my baby good for them?

Reading isn’t just about teaching your baby words—it’s also about connection. Hearing your voice helps them feel safe, and books introduce them to new sounds, colours, and ideas. Even though babies can’t understand the words yet, they love the rhythm and tone of your voice.

Crystal explains, “Reading together is a special time for cuddles and closeness.” Plus, kids who are read to regularly from a young age tend to have bigger vocabularies by the time they’re toddlers. A study found that children whose parents read them five books a day hear about 1.4 million more words by the time they start kindergarten compared to children who aren't read to at all.

Easy tips to start reading with your baby

Types of books for children up to 5 years old

When it comes to choosing books for your little one, different age groups have specific needs and preferences. Here’s a breakdown of recommended book types for various developmental stages:

0-12 Months

Recommended books:

Baby Touch: My First Book: a black-and-white cloth book, £10.25

“Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell, £4

See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book, £9.39

12-18 Months

Recommended books:

“That’s Not My…” series 4 books colletion by Fiona Watt& Rachel Wells, £21.49

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes” by Mem Fox, £7.35

Indestructibles: Baby, Let's Eat!, £4.99

18-24 Months

Recommended books:

The Gruffalo's Child Book, £8

Usborne Jungle Sounds, £9.75

“Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown, £7.45

2-3 Years

Recommended books

How You Got Your Name, £29.99

“Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Bill Martin Jr., £7.49

Lana The Llama Who Wants To Be A Unicorn, £7.19

3-5 Years

Recommended books:

Monty the Manatee: A book about kindness and anti-bullying, £7.24

“The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss, £7.51

Not Like The Others: A Hidden Picture Book About Diversity, £6.99

Part 1 Sounds to ReadingLovevery

Wondering when to start helping your little one learn to read? The truth is, there’s no rush — just lots of little steps. The Reading Skill Set is a beautifully hands-on way to support those early moments, using play and connection to build confidence with sounds, letters, and eventually, books.

Designed for ages 3+, this isn’t a program full of pressure — just meaningful, screen-free fun you can enjoy together, with books, games and activities that grow with your child at their pace.

Part 1: Sounds to Reading (Typically for ages 3–5)

Start with the very basics: learning the sounds that letters make, spotting rhymes, breaking up words into little chunks — all through fun, sensory games and stories. It’s a lovely introduction to phonics, especially if you’re not sure where to begin.

What’s inside:

The ABCs with Mr. Z – a charming letter-sound book that makes phonics feel natural
Sita’s Hike to the Beach – a storybook that builds early storytelling skills
Turn-Taking Book Series – read together, with fun bits for your child to join in
Rhyming Leaves Game – spot rhymes and build sound awareness
Syllable Race Game – race your dog around the track by tapping out word parts
Animal Letter Sound Cards – colourful flashcards for each letter and sound
Follow the Sound Maze – follow first or last letter sounds to find your way through
Compound Word Pairs Game – discover how words can come together
Wooden Letter Sound Blocks – match images to reveal the right letter
Skill Tokens – a fun way to revisit what they’ve learned
Letter Case Beehive Game – pair upper and lower case letters while racing to beat the bear
Movable Alphabet – build words using beautiful red and blue letters
Spell & Check Slider – spell 3–5 letter words and slide to check your answer
The Play Guide – full of ideas, tips, and explanations for parents (no teaching experience needed!)

Every child learns differently. While this set is typically for ages 3–5, it’s designed to move at your child’s pace — whether they’re just starting out or need a little extra confidence.

And when they’re ready, you can keep the journey going with:

Part 2: Words to Books (typically ages 4–6)
Part 3: Advanced Rules to Chapter Books (typically ages 5–7)

Pros

  • Screen-free and pressure-free
  • Clear parent guide with all the support you need
  • Montessori-inspired, hands-on learning

Cons

  • It does take up some shelf space (but it’s beautiful!)

Benefits of choosing the right books

Selecting age-appropriate books not only supports language development and cognitive skills but also nurtures a love for reading. Engaging with books that match your child's developmental stage helps them build vocabulary, comprehension, and storytelling abilities. It lays a strong foundation for future learning while creating special bonding moments between parent and child.

Stay attuned to your child’s interests and preferences as you choose books. Encouraging a positive reading experience will instil a lifelong love of reading in your child!

About the expert

Crystal Miles (CIMI, FdSC, DipION, DipHB) is an international trainer in baby massage, an infant bonding and communication expert, doula, and the founder of Connected Babies. Crystal passionately believes that a generation of responsive, nurturing parenting could change the world and that the nurturing touch provides an enjoyable and accessible way for every human being to experience the value and the far-reaching benefits of positive early interaction.

About the author

Anne Lora Scagliusi is a Senior Digital Writer at Mother & Baby. She is a Scotland-based journalist with over a decade of international writing experience, specialising in women’s health, maternal mental health, and wellness. Her work has been featured in Vanity Fair, Marie Claire, and Glamour and has appeared on several Vogue global editions. She is mum to a one-year-old bambino and lives between Italy and the UK. You can follow her on Instagram.

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us
How we write our articles and reviews
Mother & Baby is dedicated to ensuring our information is always valuable and trustworthy, which is why we only use reputable resources such as the NHS, reviewed medical papers, or the advice of a credible doctor, GP, midwife, psychotherapist, gynaecologist or other medical professionals. Where possible, our articles are medically reviewed or contain expert advice. Our writers are all kept up to date on the latest safety advice for all the products we recommend and follow strict reporting guidelines to ensure our content comes from credible sources. Remember to always consult a medical professional if you have any worries. Our articles are not intended to replace professional advice from your GP or midwife.