Reading

My baby is a few months old. When do you begin to read to your kids?

Our Mommy MD Guide’s reply:  When my older son was born, I had a babysitter come help me. She had been watching children for decades. Her first day, she arrived bearing a huge bag of books, which I thought was odd because my baby was only four weeks old. The babysitter explained that it’s never too early to start reading to your baby. They love to see the colors on the page, hear the sound of your voice, and feel the closeness of your body. I watched as the babysitter held my son and read to him. He was fascinated! Ever since, my favorite baby gift to give has been books.

—Cathie Lippman, MD, a mom of 30- and 28-year-old sons and a physician who specializes in environmental and preventive medicine at the Lippman Center for Optimal Health in Beverly Hills, CA