"They Don’t Even Understand You Yet" — What I Learned About Story Time With Newborns
I’ll be honest with you — when my son was born, I didn’t think story time was that big of a deal. I mean… the kid can’t even hold his head up, let alone follow a plot. Why read to a newborn who doesn’t even understand you?
That was my mindset — until I stumbled across some research that hit me like a firehose to the face.
Turns out, reading to your baby (even fresh outta the womb) actually does a ton for their little developing brain. I’m talking real, measurable brain-boosting benefits.
Here’s what I found out:
It helps build brain connections — babies absorb language and sound patterns like a sponge. The more words they hear, the better.
It improves language and communication skills later on — babies who are read to regularly tend to talk earlier and develop stronger vocab.
It strengthens your bond — story time creates calm, safe moments between you and your kid, even if they don’t “get” the story yet.
It sets up routines — especially at bedtime. Reading helps teach your baby that it's time to wind down.
After learning that, I started making story time part of our nightly routine — and it’s now one of my favorite parts of the day. My son might not understand every word, but he definitely feels the rhythm, the tone, and the love behind it.
Want a couple books to get started?
I made two myself:
🚒 Bedtime at the Fire Station – a cozy story about what happens at the station when Dad’s at work.
Both are available now on Amazon. Give your baby the gift of story time — and a few dad jokes while you're at it.
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