Reading a bedtime story to a newborn baby may seem like a pointless exercise, but it’s never too soon to start reading to your baby!

Even if your little one doesn’t understand a single word you say, she’ll love the lilt of your voice, the snuggling in your lap, and the cozy comfort of your arms – which means you could read to her from the manual that came with your Cuisinart and she’d still be processing plently.

Picking the right books will help you and your child get the most out of story time, so here are our top tips for choosing books for your baby.

Sturdy board books
Sturdy board books that are built (and bound) to take it.  Babies love to devour books – literally.  so look for chucky board books that can be chewed on, sucked on, tossed around and othewise baby abused.  Another benefit of board books: Their pages are easier for tiny fingers to flip.

Books with interaction and sensory senses
Books with mirrored pages in which your baby can see his own reflection: a source of constant fascination.  Cloth books are also ideal for the same reason, and many of them double up as sensory toys with features such as textured fabrics and inbuilt bells and rattles. Both of these types of book will help your baby get used to the sensation of handling a book. Rather than looking for in-depth stories for babies, choose books that have just a few words on each page.

Books with simple rhythm
Simple rhymes and repetition are always winners, as your child will love the sing-song rhythm of sound.  A sing-song rhythm is music to baby’s ears – which means she’s bound to listen up when you’re reading a simple rhyme.  Exaggerate with silly voices, and you’ll double the listening pleasure. Read aloud to your baby and encourage her to join in, for example by making animal noises.

Enjoy the great bonding time with your little ones through reading bedtime stories.