Exploring the Positive Impact of Reading from Birth

Bradford’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit looks after some of the UK’s youngest and sickest babies from birth. These are the babies who are at the highest risk of developing speech, language and communication difficulties in the future.

Research shows that reading to babies from a very early age has very positive effect on their neurodevelopment. In Bradford’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, they are working closely with Bradford Libraries to provide families and their babies with a pack of carefully-selected story books including nursery rhymes and information on the benefit of reading.

This helps promote a positive culture and involves parents in the day-to-day care of their babies, which of course can be difficult when they are separated from each other. For premature babies, hearing their parents’ voices, just like they would have experienced when in the womb, leads to better physiological signs such as a more stable heart rate and better oxygen saturation.

Parents who read to their babies from as early as the neonatal period are more likely to continue good reading habits into childhood and beyond.

We invite you to find out more about this work.

To book, please e-mail [email protected]

Please note, this event is not organised by Better Start Bradford. If you have any questions about the event – or would like to check it is still running before attending – please contact the organiser directly.

This event is part of Baby Week Bradford 2022