The benefits of reading to newborns
What does he understand? Is he listening? He sleeps all the time! There are reasons to be skeptical given the apparent limited abilities of this little being who has just arrived. And yet, we know today that a newborn loves it when their parents read books to them.
In this article, we explain why reading to a newborn is essential from birth. Between language development, stress reduction, and strengthening emotional bonds, reading offers a unique moment of comfort. Learn how parents' voices soothe babies and stimulate their cognitive abilities long before their first words.
What does he understand? Does he listen? He's always sleeping!
There are reasons to be skeptical about the seemingly limited abilities of this tiny new being. And yet, we know today that newborns love it when their parents read books to them. They will prefer their mother's voice above all, and their father's. But they will also greatly appreciate the attention given by their grandmother, uncle, older brother, half-sister, or even, a caregiver at the hospital. Reading isn't just about the story being told; it's about the time spent together. That's what matters most.
Inside the womb, babies have been hearing for a long time; hearing is one of the first senses to develop In Utero. From five and a half months, the fetus reacts to low-pitched sounds and vibrations. By eight months of pregnancy, it recognizes its mother's voice among other female voices. When it is born – this first great separation of life – it is suddenly cut off from all the familiar sounds that shaped it. Hearing its parents' voices is very reassuring for it. We also know that the mother's voice has an analgesic power, meaning it soothes pain. An infant needs to be spoken to; it's a necessity.
Reading is a moment of great comfort. When we start reading, our words are directed at the baby, and he understands that our attention is focused on him. Just a few minutes are enough for him to gain the certainty that you are there for him. This is the beginning of building the bond.
This particular attention through reading develops cognitive abilities (the exchange during this intimate moment activates neuronal connections) and allows exposure to a rich vocabulary. "Several studies show that the earlier one reads, the better language development will be until kindergarten," explains Adèle Boulanger-Hirsch, a speech therapist at Robert Debré pediatric hospital in Paris. When born, babies have already begun to store words; they are just waiting for one thing: to be nourished with language!
And then, reading soothes the parent. Young mothers on maternity leave often suffer from loneliness, those long days where time no longer makes sense and hope, at times, turns gray (this was my case). Their mental health often falls by the wayside. Studies show that reading reduces maternal stress. Indeed! Feeling that having a baby isn't just the labor of diapers and milk, of a dependent body, but that there is indeed a person on the other end of the line. Seeing them react, in tiny ways, to all these words, this good that we wish for them, seeing their eyes blink, their head turn slightly, is a joy. A shared joy... that can transform a day.
