Baby Sign Language

Related Content

• Baby's First Foods
• Baby Talk

How to communicate with your baby through sign language

By Danielle Gaylord

What would you think if someone told you that your 11-month-old could tell you that the song you’re listening to was making them sad? Or that the reason they’re so cranky is because they’re tired and actually just want to go to sleep rather than play with the keys you’re dangling in front of their face? These are just two experiences I had with my little ones that made me so grateful I taught them sign language. I had a window into their thoughts, needs and fears that wouldn’t have come without signing.  

My daughter started signing at 10 months old, but she only started speaking somewhat clearly around age two. That’s more than a year’s worth of communication we would have missed out on. Children are not developmentally ready to speak fully until around two, but they have enough motor control to communicate through sign language from about six to nine months of age. Bridging this gap with sign language reduces frustration and, in turn, tantrums.  Studies have also shown that signing may also raise their IQ.

Some parents are concerned that signing with a baby will delay their speech development. However, studies are finding the opposite to be true because children understand the concept of attaching a label to an object or abstract idea at a much earlier age. By the time they are physically capable of speech, they already have a firm understanding of how communication works. And because when you sign you’re also providing them with the spoken word, they are receiving the visual as well as auditory information about that word.  

Teaching a child how to sign does involve a bit of a commitment on the parent’s part, but it’s much less work than you might think! Taking classes can really help the learning process. The child will imitate what they see the teacher, parents and other children doing, and this will help them make the connection that signs are for communication. And having a qualified instructor available to answer questions or demonstrate the correct way to do signs, can eliminate confusion and expand your signing skills.

Here are some basic signs to try on your own.