We have all heard that reading to babies is important, but it can also feel really awkward reading to a baby when they don’t understand what you are saying. Not to mention they are grabbing at the pages, trying to eat the corner, or wiggling out of your lap. You may wonder, is this really doing anything?

The short answer, yes- absolutely, it is doing something! Reading to babies, even in short, wiggly bursts supports language, early literacy, bonding and attachment, and sensory exploration.

Babies need repeated and meaningful exposure to language, pictures, and shared interactions. When reading to babies, it isn’t about finishing the book or reading every word on the page. It’s about talking, pointing, reacting, and connecting in a way that matches how babies learn best.

Why You Should Read to Babies In Your Infant Class

When you read with the babies in your class, you are helping them:

Hear the rhythm and patterns of language
Build vocabulary- literally thousands of words a year!
Learn how books work (pages turn, pictures have meaning)
- This is an early literacy skill we look for in early intervention assessments!
Strengthen social connection
Explore textures, visuals, and cause-and-effect

How To Pick The Right Books For Your Infant Class

As a pediatric speech language pathologist and early intervention specialist who spends a lot of my time in child care classrooms every week, I’ve seen firsthand how the right books can transform the entire book reading experience.

The key is choosing the right kinds of books that matches a babies developmental needs and capture their attention.

What to look for:

books to pick for infants in infant class - what infant teachers should look for when picking books — Questions to ask yourself:

Is there a sensory element? (sound, touch and feel, texture, etc.)
Is the book interactive?
Is the book short and simple?

Is there a sensory element? Books with sound makes reading a sensory experience and babies learn from exploring with their hands- hence why texture books are so important! Think touch-and-feel, crinkle pages, or fabric flaps.

Is the book interactive? Babies attention goes to where their hands go. So keep their hands busy! Look for lift a flaps, sliding doors, or mirrors to add an extra layer of engagement and encourage babies to participate in the story.

Is the book simple? One picture. One word. Babies are drawn to large colorful illustrations and high-contrast images and short and simple text helps keep them engaged from start to finish!