As soon as they are born, babies are learning about the world around them—and books play a surprisingly powerful role in those first few months. Reading together with babies starting at birth helps support early brain development by building connections related to language, vision, and bonding. At this stage, the best books are simple, sturdy, and engaging for developing senses—such as high-contrast black-and-white images, bold patterns, baby faces, and engaging textures. Sharing these kinds of books doesn’t just introduce babies to reading, it creates comforting routines and joyful moments that lay the foundation for a lifelong love of books and learning.
To help us better understand the power of reading in the earliest months of life, we spoke with Dr. Anna Miller-Fitzwater, MD, MPH, FAAP, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. She provides both direct clinical care and resident supervision in the newborn nursery and outpatient general pediatrics clinic, and is a co-author of the AAP Policy Statement on Literacy Promotion in Pediatric Primary Care. Her expertise highlights how simple, everyday interactions—like sharing a book—can play an important role in healthy brain development during infancy.
Why is it beneficial to start reading to babies as early as birth, even before they can understand words?
Babies’ brains are making connections that foster learning even before they are born. Brain growth and solidifying neural pathways really goes into hyperdrive during infancy. With respect to shared reading, the neural networks for seeing, hearing and language grow the quickest during the earliest months and years of life. During these so-called critical periods, learning is rapid and provides lifelong benefits. Neural connections that are used more are connected stronger than areas that are not used as much, which may be “pruned” or eliminated entirely. By sharing language with babies, caregivers help babies strengthen these areas. Shared reading and language also help build routines that promote positive childhood experiences early. Equally as important, shared reading is a way to help form bonds between caregivers and their children. This helps babies feel secure and safe, improves their social-emotional skills and is a fun activity for caregivers to do to promote attachment with their babies.
How can literacy programs help caregivers feel confident reading to very young babies?
Literacy programs can help caregivers feel confident sharing language and reading with young babies by providing age-appropriate books that are interesting to both caregivers and babies, as well as supporting caregivers with tips on how to interact with babies and books. In this age range it is important to demonstrate or provide advice for how caregivers can share books with their young babies. Young infants don’t interact as obviously as older infants and children, so shared reading can seem awkward. Most importantly, caregivers should be told that being close together, sharing face to face interactions with their babies, is the most important “ingredient” of book sharing with their child. In the younger ages especially, the book is a tool to foster engagement and give caregivers ideas of things to talk about. It is not the main point of focus for either caregiver or baby. Keep in mind that very young babies see best at 8-12 inches away, which is also the average distance between a baby and their caregiver’s faces during feeding. It’s helpful to rest baby face to face in the caregiver’s arms or on their thighs if sitting on a level surface, with the knees bending up. Importantly, literacy programs can help remind caregivers that this is something that everyone can be successful doing and there isn’t one correct way to read to their baby. If it’s not an enjoyable experience or they don’t have time in the moment, take a step back and re-evaluate another day. As long as they are sharing language and interacting with their baby in a positive way that is all that matters!
Specific Benefits of Books with Baby Faces for Infants
Many infant books feature photos or illustrations of baby faces. Why are babies naturally drawn to faces? I suspect babies are drawn to faces because humans are a social species that relies on connections with others to survive and thrive, so we naturally gravitate to be curious about others!
How do books with baby faces support early brain and social development? By watching faces, babies can learn how to identify trusted caregivers by sight. Babies learn about emotions through the observation of others. They will mimic facial expressions, such as sticking out their tongue or making a particular mouth shape, from very young ages. Babies learn about their ability to effect change in others by doing certain tasks—for example, when a baby smiles or laughs it causes their caregiver to smile. As babies progress through infancy, they learn about language and how to make sounds by watching caregivers’ mouths move and associating the movement with the sounds.
Do babies respond differently to real photographs of faces compared to illustrations? Babies’ preferences for illustrated versus photographs of faces seem to change over time. Older babies are able to differentiate more complex photos than younger babies who cannot see in as much detail. Researchers have seen that by a few months of age, babies seem to prefer real photos because on average they will interact or stare at them longer than illustrations.
How can caregivers use books with baby faces to encourage interaction? Caregivers can use books with baby faces to talk about emotions that they see in the photos, to tell a story in the book, or tell a story they make up from clues in the photos. Caregivers can mimic the facial expressions and connect those expressions to sounds that would accompany the expression, such as laughing when a photo of laughing is represented. The best way to do this is face to face with the baby with the book taking a supporting role!