Ahead of our Take 10 to Read campaign, we sat down with Specialist Health Visitor for 1001 Critical Days, Sarah Cartner and Early Years Library Services Co-Ordinator, Amy Rose to ask all your questions on reading to your bump and baby.
Do I need to start reading to my baby yet? They can’t understand what I am saying!
Amy: It’s never too soon to start reading to your baby! We have met many mums at our sessions who say that they waited before coming along to our parent and baby groups, as they worried the baby was too young. However, we always say it is never too soon to start reading to baby, and this includes sharing a story to your bump!
Sarah: Reading to your bump is important because your baby is starting to learn language even before they are born. Reading, sharing stories and talking to your little one is really important. It helps ensure that babies hear different words which prepares them to learn and understand them as they grow.
Amy: Reading together has other brilliant benefits too as it can be a time to snuggle up close, switch off any distractions and share special time together. Babies might not recognise words, or even understand what you’re reading, but they will enjoy looking at the pictures. Most importantly, they will enjoy the time together and listening to your voice.
I have been told I should talk to my bump but I don’t know what to say! Do you have any tips?
Sarah: One thing you could try is to read to your bump. We find that families often find it easier to read out loud. You could read baby books, like your favourite story as a child, or even a magazine or book you’re interested in yourself. If you’re not a confident reader, just talking about the pictures in baby books is great.
I’m not a confident reader and I get self-conscious when trying to read to my baby. Do you have any advice for me?
Amy: It doesn’t matter if you’re not the most confident reader, or best singer of nursery rhymes; your baby just loves hearing your voice. We lead many storytelling sessions and find that parents gain tips and confidence from watching someone else read first. To help build your own confidence try finding similar sessions local to you.
You could also check out some of the National Literacy Trust resources here with helpful guidance for reading with your baby:
Life is so busy now I have a little one, do you have any recommendations for helping find time for story sharing with my baby?
Amy: Bedtime is the perfect time to have a go at reading with your baby as reading can be a great way to wind down together. Sit somewhere cosy, comfortable, and quiet to snuggle up together. Find books you both enjoy - board books with flaps and touchy-feely parts are always popular with young babies- and most importantly, make it fun!
Sarah: I agree, incorporating story time into your bedtime and family routine is a great way to start building a habit of reading with your baby. Creating a flexible but consistent bedtime routine can also help babies to sleep better. Sharing a cuddle and a story to prepare for bed after a busy day helps babies, and busy parents, wind down. It's important to read the baby’s cues, such as when the baby may be ready for the story to pause or stop even if it’s not the end of the book. So, don’t worry if the story is cut short, this can be beneficial.
Where can I find more resources?
Amy: Apart from the National Literacy Trust’s Words for life website, another website for parents is the BookTrust where you can find book recommendations by age, stories being read aloud that children can watch and listen to, and lots of tips and advice. The Tiny Happy People website is also great.
Sarah: NSPCC Look, say, sing, play is a great resource to learn about your baby’s development and ways to play and interact to help with brain development.
You can also explore our Chat Play Read booklets which are filled with simple and fun activities to support your child to learn new words and develop their language and communication skills. You can download the booklet here.
Thank you to Sarah and Amy for your time and great advice.
There are lots of practical ways you can get support from the National Literacy Trust both online and in your area. Our teams in towns and cities across the country run
events all year round and are available with advice and resources to support you and your family. Find out what is happening in your area.
Our Words for Life website is filled with activities and tips to help your child develop a lifelong love of books and reading, which can help them to develop the vital literacy skills they need to succeed in life.