Babies can start understanding stories at different ages, depending on their cognitive and language development. Here's a general overview of what babies can understand at various age ranges:
Newborns: At this stage, babies primarily enjoy hearing your voice and the rhythm of the words, rather than understanding the stories themselves.
3-6 months: Babies begin to recognize some expressions and can 'read' them. They also start to develop an idea about being in the world and form connections with their caregivers.
6-12 months: Babies at this age can understand simple words4 and start to explore colors, shapes, and human faces. They also begin to learn the sounds needed to speak their native language.
1-2 years: Between 1 and 2 years, babies are 'talking' and making recognizable sounds. They start to sort objects they see into understandable groups and can understand more complex language.
It's important to note that every child develops at their own pace, so these age ranges are approximate. Reading to your baby at any age helps with their brain and language development, stimulates their imagination, and helps them learn about the world around them.