The 25 Best Books to Read to Baby in Womb

You want to give your baby the best start in life, so you consider reading to your baby in the womb. You also know that reading is a great bonding activity for parents and children. But what books should you read to a baby in the womb?

There are so many options out there! And how do you make sure that whatever book you choose will be good for both of you? We have done all the research for you. Here’s our list of books that we recommend to all new parents and expecting siblings. Don’t forget the tissues, because a lot of these are tear-jerking. Enjoy!

When to Start Reading to Baby in Womb

You can start reading to your unborn baby as soon as they begin to kick. Kicking occurs around 18 to 20 weeks. Eighteen weeks is the time your baby begins to hear things. They can mostly hear your heartbeat around this time, and around 24 weeks, they can listen to sounds outside the womb.

But, you can begin reading your baby stories around the time you start feeling those kicks.  Pretend every little kick is a sign that your child enjoys listening to their favorite stories!

Best Books to Read to Baby in Womb

The following books are some of our favorites for reading to a baby in the womb. They all have loving messages and can help create a connection with you and your unborn baby. Any of these books would also make great gifts for expecting mother’s you may know.

1. The Wonderful Things You Will Be

2. Mama Loves You So

3. Baby Beluga

4. Can’t Wait to Show You

5. Ma! There’s Nothing to do Here!

6. Welcome Little One

7. To The Moon and Back for You

8. I Promise You

9. Dear Baby: A Love Letter to Little Ones

10. Here We Are

11-13. Tummy Love Prenatal Books

Benefits of Reading to Your Baby in the Womb

Reading to your unborn baby is an extraordinary experience. Reading with your unborn baby is very similar to reading with an infant. Books will help you connect with your baby, and they can also be very soothing for both of you. Other benefits include:

Strengthens the bond between you and your baby

Reading to your child early on encourages a connection to the baby.  The more you are involved before they are born, the more excited you will be to meet them when they are born. The auditory bonds you create now will carry on after birth.

Soothing for you and your baby

Books can provide a soothing environment for your unborn child. The gentle rhythm of the words will help calm down your unborn baby. Studies have shown that soothing sounds will even lower the baby’s fetal heart rate.

Helps them learn language skills before they are even born

Books will help improve your unborn child’s language skills. It may seem hard to believe, but it’s true. Your baby may not hear every word you say, but the rhythm, melody, and language patterns come through, and those are the building blocks to them learning speech later on.

Helps them recognize your voice once they are born.

Studies show babies can recognize their mother’s voice once they are born. Reading to them in a soothing tone would help that even more.  Babies love hearing their parents’ voices, so why not read to them to help them recognize it before they are even born!

Encourages brain development in the womb.

Prenatal reading is a great way to encourage healthy brain development. Research is still trying to figure out the full extent of what babies can learn in utero, but studies show they can recognize some words they heard in the womb after birth.

Books for Dad to Read to Baby in Womb

Reading a book to the baby while still in the womb is a great way for an expecting dad to start bonding and connect early on. These also make great gifts for an expectant father. Here are some great books that Dad may enjoy reading for the baby in the womb:

14. Why a Daughter Needs a Dad

15. Why a Son Needs a Dad

16. My Dad Loves Me!

17. Daddy Will Always Love and Protect You

18. Made for Me

19. Dear Baby

Books for Older Sibling to Read to Baby in the Womb

Reading a book can be an excellent way for an older sibling to get ready for their new brother or sister. You can even use them to help announce a second pregnancy to your husband. Here are some of our favorite books for an older sibling to read to their upcoming sibling:

20. Hello in There! A Big Sister’s Book of Waiting

21. I’m Going to Be a Big Brother!

22. I’m Going to be a Big Brother

23. You’re the Biggest

24. I’m Going to be Your Big Sister ​​

25. I’m Going to Be a Big Sister!

FAQ’s for Reading to Baby in the Womb

1. What books should I read to my unborn baby?

The books that are great for reading to your unborn baby have a rhythm or a melody. They should be soothing to you as well. Most of the books above have a charming and loving message. They also talk about the hope for the future and everything your baby could experience in life.

2. When should you start reading to your baby in the womb?

You should start reading to your unborn baby once they start kicking around 18 to 20 weeks. You can also begin before then if you want; approximately 17 weeks is an excellent time to start!

3. How much time should I spend reading to my unborn baby?

You should spend as much time reading to your baby in the womb as you would like! There is no limit on that. You can read to your baby in the womb as much or as little as you would like. Make sure to find a charged device, whether it be your phone or tablet so that you can read to them anywhere!

4. How do you read to your baby in the womb?

The best way to read to your unborn baby is with a gentle, soothing tone. Our advice would be to pretend that you are speaking with someone else’s baby if you feel weird talking to your belly. Your voice has the potential to be very comforting for your unborn child.

It may feel weird at first, but pretty soon, reading or talking to your unborn baby will become natural, and you will find yourself doing it all day long.

5. Does reading to your baby in the womb make them smarter?

Many studies have figured out the possible effects of reading in the womb on an unborn child. Right now, there is no definite proof that reading will make your baby smarter. However, there have been indirect studies that suggest this may be true. So really, what do you have to lose? It can help you wind down, lower your stress, and let your baby know your voice.

Conclusion

The best books to read in the womb are those with a rhythm or melody and should be soothing to both parent and child. Reading for fifteen minutes is suggested, but make sure you read different stories so your baby can learn something new every day! If reading out loud isn’t your thing, give it a try.

It may feel awkward at first, but pretty soon, it will become natural. Reading is an essential bonding experience that helps improve brain development in the womb-especially if dad reads too!

Finally, remember that there’s no definite proof yet that children who were read to while still in the womb grow up more intelligent than their peers. Still, we encourage you to give it a shot because studies show this type of stimulation is very helpful in strengthening the bond between you and your baby before they even arrive.