Reading and talking to unborn baby

Hi, I've heard a lot that it is good to read to babies in the womb and to talk to them.

Has anyone done this? If so, how far along were you when you started and what kind of things did you read?

I don't even own a single child's book yet, did you proper long stories like Golden Books or tiny short books designed for babies on things like colours and shapes etc?

And what about playing music, do you play brain enhancing music like Mozart, or just the regular radio and pop music?

I work in an office at a computer, so I don't talk much during the day, and I'm mostly on my own in the evenings and weekends, so I'm worried that the baby won't hear my voice enough and become familiar with it.

Thanks

We never talked 'to' the bump, but talked about what life was going to be like when he was around. I never associated the bump with a baby for some reason, and felt weird talking to it. We did always talk and touch the bump etc when he kicked.

I tried reading a book once and signing, but I just felt stupid. I had enough going on when I was pregnant without having to worry about reading, singing and talking to a bump that I didn't really bond with IYKWIM.

I do know however, that Jack doesn't like Hip Hop (except for Ne-Yo apparently ) but does like rock, so he fits in well in our house

Sheza- I like the sound of a baby who can sleep thru anything so I might try that trick haha

I haven't really talked to my bump yet but now I think it has functioning ears I might! lol

I feel a bit odd talking to my bump out loud (and apparently the baby can't hear me telepathically) but I talk A LOT so I don't doubt that as soon as the baby can hear it'll begin to recognise my voice, Michaela certainly did. 

DH talks to my bump everyday (he's started early and did the same with Michaela) he tells the baby to be safe, be nice to mummy, grow strong and how much he loves it *melt* 

When I was pregnant with Michaela if I hadn't felt her move in awhile and was getting worried all I had to do was get DH to talk to her and she'd move about.  After her birth when I was in the delivery room shower he rocked her in his arms talking to her and she fell asleep content (he's been wrapped around her little finger ever since).

Edited by MrsMojo

I talk to the baby especially when its moving around a lot. DH talks it it most mornings and in the evening before we go to sleep, its very sweet to see. I sometimes have to hold off doing something because they are chatting!
DH has been playing the baby lots of music too. Unfortunately the biggest movements recently were for Pour some sugar on me by Def Leppard!!

DH and I used to talk to the bump (which is now Isabelle) constantly.

When I was in my second trimester I used to sing "Dream a Little Dream" of me every night before going to bed as part of my night time routine.

Then when we were in the hospital recovering from our emergency c .. and she would be crying her heart out (as she had a lot of gunk in her lungs) .. I sang her "our" song and she settled immediately.

Till this day its still THE song that will calm her

I started reading to Cuinn pretty much as soon as I knew he'd stuck in there - I found it calming, and a positive focus for me as much as anything. When we were having bleeds and bed rest, it took my mind of what was going on to read him a story.

I used to read Little Golden Books etc but now I wade through Padding Bear chapter books and I have a massive book which has the likes of Wind and the Willows, the Secret Garden etc and he gets those too.

He knows when I'm reading to him - I guess it's the change in tone of my voice, and I always read him a story before bed, so I'm probably more relaxed too. Most nights, he rolls up in the direction that I'm reading (usually I hold the book off to one side, so he moves to the side my voice is aimed at).

Both me and DH talk to him a lot too (he gets a lot of "do you MIND??" from me at the moment though when he makes me jump out of my chair wiggling ), and he reacts to DH's voice, again, by rolling up in the direction that DH is in. He used to get frights when the dogs barked close to him, but now he just kind of has a bit of a play if anything (PHEW for getting used to noisy dogs! ).

I think it's a really worthwhile thing to do, and for me it really adds to bonding with him - although you do feel a bit silly when you first start doing it    My dogs used to sit in the doorway watching me with their heads tilted to the side as if to say "What ARE you doing mum?"

Dr Seuss could be fun to read, I might pop to the bookstore this week and see what books are on the shelves these days.
It's exciting to read of all your experiences like the baby definitely reacting to your voice, and Ginger, most interesting to read that the baby would curl in the direction you're reading.
I haven't been feeling many definite moves yet, I'm sure it will make me bond more when I can feel the baby.
Cheers

I talked to Caitlyn , i used to sing to her (in the arms of the angels usually, but sometimes I would sing Dirrrty ...explains a bit )

I cant remember what I read to her , I dont think i did read to her actually, but I would talk to her, ...tho to the end it was more "can you please stop kicking me for 5 minutes precious ?"
When she was born and she first cried i said "its ok sweetheart , its ok , " and she stopped and looked right at me...that could be cos she knew my voice...or because she was nosey from a young age, tho there was others talking at the same time, and mine was the voice she distinguished .

With this one I try to talk to it, but it still doesnt feel like a baby is in there so i'll probably talk to it more when it starts kicking

I never read or played any specific music to my bump (Ella now)- I started trying to listen to classical music because I heard it was good, but it drove me nuts, so I didn't bother.

I did talk to her alot through, mostly just about what was going on, how my day was etc. I remember I used to talk to her as I drove home from work and she was always really active then.