You can start sharing bedtime stories from birth. A newborn does not need to understand a plot to hear you reading, and you do not need to wait for pointing, sitting or talking. At first, reading may mean a few sentences beside an open book. Choose a comfortable moment when your baby is awake and receptive.
The aim is a pleasant encounter with your voice and a book. Finishing the story, teaching words and making a baby fall asleep are separate matters. None is a requirement for a worthwhile first reading.
What reading looks like at the beginning
Hold the book where you can see it without having to balance it above your baby. Read a little, then look at your baby. You can describe one illustration, repeat a line or simply let the sound of the words carry the moment. An elaborate performance is unnecessary.
If you already have a favourite picture book, try a page or two. For a first purchase, our guide to newborn bedtime books explains why clear pictures and easy handling matter more than a complicated story.
Find a workable place in the evening
Try reading before the final part of your usual evening care, or at another quiet point that suits your family. A book need not be the last activity before sleep. If the evening feels crowded, sharing it earlier still counts as reading together.
Avoid turning a clock time into a test. One evening might allow several pages; another may offer only a familiar rhyme. If your baby turns away, becomes unsettled or needs something else, close the book. You can offer it again later without treating the pause as a failed routine.
Make the first choices modest
A small board book can be easier to hold than a large illustrated hardback. Read the text aloud before buying: can you say it comfortably, and do you enjoy hearing it? A simple rhythm is useful when you are tired. A whole library is unnecessary; borrowing a few different formats lets you discover what you like sharing.
Read in the language that feels natural to you. You can also describe the pictures in your own words. The printed text is an invitation to share the book, not an instruction that every sentence must be spoken exactly every time.
Keep expectations realistic
A baby may look at your face more than the illustration. There is no need to move the book repeatedly to capture attention or ask questions that require an answer. Leave room for sounds, movement and silence.
BookTrust provides reading guidance for families with babies from birth to 12 months, including multilingual resources. For a broader selection framework, see choosing gentle books for babies. Start with one manageable moment and let future readings grow from what your baby appears to enjoy.
Your first attempt can be very small
Imagine that you have a board book nearby and a few unhurried moments. Open it to a clear image, read the sentence and look back at your baby. You might describe one detail, then close the book. There is no missing final step. That is already a complete attempt at sharing a book.
On another occasion, you might read several pages while your baby looks mostly at you. Keep the voice comfortable and avoid repeatedly repositioning the book to obtain a particular response. The encounter can change from day to day.
If another adult is available, one person can hold the baby while the other shares the book. Try the arrangement before choosing a large volume that is difficult for one person to manage. The practical position matters more than making the scene resemble an illustration of ideal storytime.
What if you did not start from birth?
Starting early is an option, not a deadline you can miss. Choose one accessible book now and try it when you have a receptive moment. You do not need longer sessions to compensate for months without reading. A manageable beginning is more useful than an ambitious plan you dread repeating.
If evenings are difficult, introduce the book at another time first. It can become familiar before you decide whether to include it in bedtime. Nor must every adult use the same words beyond the printed text. One person may enjoy reading the sentences while another describes the pictures.
Keep a book where an adult can reach it easily and return it there after use. Reduce the preparation involved. The question of when to start is answered by an available shared moment, not a required age, clock time or demonstration that your baby is ready.