How to read stories to your baby
How a dad reads bedtime stories to a baby — when, how, and what to read, and how to choose stories that are good for the baby.
Around week 24 of pregnancy, a baby begins to hear sounds from outside. One of the sounds it hears most often, and most comfortably, is a father’s voice. A low, resonant voice passes gently through to the baby.
That is why the stories here are written not to teach a lesson but to be read aloud. The baby does not follow the plot, yet it surely feels the warmth and rhythm in a father’s voice.
When to read
There is no single right answer, but a similar time each day — especially before sleep — is lovely. Dim the lights, lower the screen brightness (use the reader’s “Brightness”), and read together for about five minutes. A short repetition each day adds up to something great.
How to read
You don’t have to read quickly. One sentence at a time, slowly, catching your breath. If it feels hard, try the reader’s “Auto-scroll” to set the pace, or “Read aloud” to listen first and follow along. A very soft ambient sound (heartbeat, rain, waves, lullaby) makes it cozier.
A word from Dad
Every story ends with “a word from Dad” — the heart of the story turned into words a father speaks to his baby. This part is especially for the father, too. As you read it aloud, quietly picture what you want to share with the baby you’ll soon meet.
If you enter the baby’s name and due date, the closing line changes to the baby’s name, and the days you’ve been reading are quietly kept. Everything is stored only on this device and never sent to a server.