Why you should read to your baby

Babies are constantly learning sounds they need to know to learn language, and reading books to them can help them along in this process.

The more words they hear, the more will be added to that little bank inside their brains where all the sounds go. "The more babies and toddlers are exposed to language, the quicker they learn it. Since infants can't engage in conversation with you, reading is a much better alternative than talking baby talk," says child psychiatrist Dr. Stuart Jeanne Bramhall. "Children's whose earliest memories are of parents reading to them, naturally accept reading as a normal part of daily life. They are more likely to become strong readers and writers. Reading to children regularly before bedtime can help relax them and make them more amenable to a regular bedtime routine."

Your baby will love to sit with you and be close and snuggle and hear your voice, and know that all these positive emotions are connected to books.

"Close proximity and contact define attachment behaviors in children," says author and infant attachment expert Julia Simens. "When a parent reads to a child, the proximity sends the message you want to be close and connected. This is important to all children."