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, Mathilde Toulot, founder of Editions Charlie Crane, explains 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? Is he listening? He's always sleeping!
There are reasons to be skeptical of the apparent limited capacities 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 in the hospital. When it comes to reading, it's not just about the story being told; it's about the time spent together. That's what matters most.
In the womb, the baby has 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 sounds and vibrations. By eight months of pregnancy, it recognizes its mother's voice among other female voices. When it is born – this first major separation in life – it is suddenly cut off from all those 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 calms pain. The infant wants to be spoken to; it is a necessity.
Reading is a moment of great comfort. When we start reading, our words are directed at the baby, and they understand that our attention is focused on them. A few minutes are enough to give them the certainty that you are there for them. This is the beginning of bond formation.
This particular attention through reading develops cognitive abilities (the exchange during this intimate moment activates neural connections) and provides exposure to a rich variety of words. "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. When a baby is born, they have already started storing words; they are just waiting for one thing: to be fed 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 sometimes 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 at the other end of the line. Seeing them react, in tiny ways, to all these words, this well-wishing, seeing their eyes blink, their head turn slightly, is a joy. A shared joy... that can transform a day.
Discover "To you who are here ", the collection from Editions Charlie Crane which contains 30 unpublished poems written by 21 poets specifically for Editions Charlie Crane. This anthology is unique because its texts are not only for the baby but also for the adult, so that they can share a privileged moment, far from the tumult of the world.
This is THE perfect gift if you are looking for a gift full of emotion. This book will forever be etched in the family's heart.
