Reading to your baby – What’s in it for you?

Reading to baby is mostly about helping him form connections and new networks in his brain. About language development, comprehension, vocabulary, communication skills and all those other wonderful things your baby experiences every time you read or communicate with him.

But, beyond all that – the improved memory, the enhanced understanding, the enriched vocabulary for your baby – is there anything in it for you?

You might be in for a surprise.

I think reading with my baby has been just as beneficial to me, if not more, as it has been to my baby. And I suppose the same could be true for any parent who reads to his or her child regularly.

The established fact that reading with your child has a lasting impact on his life ought to be enough for anyone to start from day one.  However, if you’re wondering how you’re going to squeeze in reading time in the midst of a gazillion chores and work and bills and feeding and diaper changing…maybe, looking at it in a different light will help.

Read to you baby not because it is one more thing you have to do for him, but because it is something that has several benefits for you.

- Reading with your baby relieves stress. It’s a great way to unwind. You don’t have to worry about pronunciation, punctuation, diction or speed. (Although paying attention to these isn’t a bad thing.) Simply pick up a book, pick a quiet corner, cuddle up, forget about life, work and the next meal and start reading. Keep going for at least 10 minutes. Trust me. They will probably be the most relaxing 10 minutes in a new parent’s life.

- Reading helps you bond with your baby. If there’s any doubt at all in your mind whether your baby will like you, or if your very best efforts will be good enough for your baby – just spend a few minutes reading to your baby everyday. You will feel your doubts vanish.

- Reading provides you much needed rest. Babies are supposed to sleep 20 hours. Yeah right. In a month, maybe. It’s no secret that you won’t get much shut eye during the initial weeks, when you probably crave it the most. Which is why you have to master the art of sneaking in rest, when your baby’s not looking. What better way to do that than to trick the little bugger into thinking you’re bonding (and maybe you are), when you’re really just enjoying some down time. Just pick a comfortable spot and position – maybe in your favorite couch or rocker, settle down with baby and a book and rest..err..read. Reading involves almost zero physical activity and hence is a great way to relax your body. It’s not the same as sleeping, but it’s close.

- Get your own reading done. Who says it has to be Goodnight Moon or Peter Rabbit every night? Pick up the latest issue or Vogue or the paperback you’ve been wanting to read. Your baby won’t know the difference. No insult to his intelligence intended, but, in the initial months, what you read to your baby is not as important as the fact that you read to him everyday. So, if you enjoy reading yourself, there’s just no better way to have the cake and eat it at the same time.  Reading your favorite magazine columns out loud to your newborn may feel somewhat awkward at first. But, consider the fact that you will enjoy this indulgence only for a few more months, before your baby discovers that he has a mind and will of his own and that he can actually exercise it. I bet, now, this suggestion probably doesn’t seem all that silly, eh?

- Reading to baby now, frees up your time in the future. Think of it as a long term investment. You read to your baby every night for the first few years. He gets hooked onto reading. He can’t wait to get his hands on books. He can’t help reading every chance he gets. He doesn’t need you to keep him engaged all the time. He knows what to do when he’s bored. He simply picks up a book and reads. Just like his mom or dad used to when he was a baby. Can you see how much more pleasant this will make future plane rides, road trips and wait times?

- Read to save. Reading’s got to be one of the most inexpensive hobbies around. If you use your library card well, it might actually cost you nothing. Also, every minute you spend reading to your baby, is a minute saved from shopping or mall hopping or other indulgences you can actually do without. Reading to your baby when she is very young instills in her the love of books early on. So she is less likely to be attracted by other stimuli and more likely to want to read or be read to.  I’m not suggesting you deprive your child of toys or fun outings which are more expensive and perhaps more entertaining ways of engaging a child than reading. (And I acknowledge they’re life savers.) But in the long run, you will probably end up spending less on gadgets and toys compared to those parents whose kids haven’t been exposed to reading. Books need no batteries, less storage, can be borrowed free of cost and require no accessories to be enjoyed. So if you’re reading to your baby, you’re probably closer to your dream retirement already.

So, read to your baby, not just for his well-being, but for yours.