Why you should read to NICU babies

There are countless benefits of reading to babies and children, including strengthening speech and language development. But you might be surprised to learn that same benefit holds true for premature infants.

According to research published in the “International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,” reading to premature babies while in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) increased language skills later on in childhood.

For the longitudinal study, participating NICU parents were given a picture book to read at their NICU baby’s bedside, incubator or while practicing kangaroo care — also referred to as skin-to-skin contact. At discharge, families were asked to continue reading the book to their baby at home. The infants’ development in the following five areas was assessed at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of age: locomotor, personal-social, hearing and language, hand-eye coordination and performance.

Researchers noted a significant decrease in language scores among the babies exposed to reading. The scores of these children tended to remain more stable than their peers’ and were less likely to decrease over time.

“Premature babies are at an increased risk of language delays as they grow and develop,” explains Dr. Richard Kampanatkosol, a NICU medical director at Advocate Children’s Hospital. “This study further solidifies our understanding that reading to NICU babies can have a tremendous impact on their speech and language development. While many aspects of a premature baby’s care may feel beyond a parent’s control, reading to their baby is one meaningful way they can actively contribute to their child’s development and make a significant difference in their child’s future outcomes.”

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