What Is Baby Sign?

Let's Talk About Baby Sign

Have you heard of baby sign? It’s a way for babies and toddlers to communicate their wants, needs, and feelings before they are able to speak.

Basically, it involves using a small set of simple gestures that represent common words or concepts like “more,” “milk,” “eat,” and “all done.”

By using these signs, babies can communicate with their caregivers, even before they have developed the ability to use spoken language. Amazing, right?

Benefits of using baby sign

Using baby sign can be really helpful for both parents and young children. For one, it allows babies to express their needs before they can talk, which can make things easier and less frustrating for both the baby and the parent.

When my first son was eight months old he learned to sign “more” and “all done.” This made SO many everyday routines so much easier! He could communicate with us he wanted more food, to be done with his bath, or to ask for more tickles! All with the added benefit of fewer moments of frustration (read: screaming).

Research has shown that baby sign can actually help kids learn language faster by increasing their vocabulary! It’s also a great way to bond with your child and boost their self-esteem, as they gain confidence from being able to communicate with you. Plus, it’s just plain fun to communicate with your little one using baby sign.

How do I start using baby sign?

If you want to start using baby sign with your little one, here's a quick guide to help you get started:

Learn the signs: Familiarize yourself with a small set of signs that represent common words and concepts like “more,” “eat,” “milk,” and “all done.” You can choose something your child loves that is also concrete (“ball” and “banana” were popular ones in our house). You can find resources online, such as books or videos, to help you learn these signs. You can also check out our post, “top 10 signs to teach your baby”.

Introduce the signs: Begin introducing the signs to your baby around six months (toddlers, especially late-talking toddlers, still benefit from signs!). Use the signs consistently during daily routines, such as feeding or diaper changes, and when talking with your baby

As you change your baby’s diaper, you may sign diaper as you say “diaper change” or “time for a diaper change!”. At the end of the change, you can sign “all done” as you say the words.

Reinforce the signs: When your baby uses a sign, respond positively and reinforce the sign by saying the word and providing the desired item or action! For example, if your baby signs “more,” say “more!” and give them more food.

Sign during routines: signing while reading, bathing, diaper changing, and feeding provide contextual support to your child. When signing a word like “milk” you can show the bottle, model the sign, hide the bottle behind your back, sign milk again and say “milk” after bringing the bottle back out from your back as you sign “milk”. Offer signs and their verbal pair during every day routines!

Be patient: It may take some time for your baby to begin using signs, so be patient and consistent in using the signs with them

Tips for Baby Sign Success

To maximize the benefits of baby sign, it is important to maintain consistency and context when teaching your child sign language.

Consistency means using the same sign consistently every time you refer to a particular object or action. For example, if you use the sign for “milk” every time you give your baby a bottle, they will begin to associate that sign with the concept of milk. Consistency is important because it helps babies understand the meaning of the sign and use it themselves.

Context refers to the situation or setting in which a sign is used. For example, if you use the sign for “eat” while feeding your baby, they will begin to associate that sign with the act of eating. Using signs in context helps babies understand the sign’s meaning and use it appropriately.

Consistency and context work together to create a rich and meaningful language-learning environment for babies. By using signs consistently and in context, parents can help babies learn the meaning of signs more quickly and use them to communicate effectively.

Myths About Baby Sign

Myth: Baby sign delays speech development
Who said baby sign slows down language development? The research says otherwise! In fact, studies suggest that using baby sign can actually give little ones a head start on language skills and help prevent behavior problems.

One study found that babies exposed to baby sign had larger vocabularies and better language skills than those who weren’t taught baby sign. So, next time someone tells you baby sign language is a bad idea, show them the evidence!

Remember, baby sign is not a replacement for spoken language, it’s just a fun and effective way to support it!

Myth: Baby sign is only for hearing-impaired children
Baby sign was originally popularized when an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter, Joseph Garcia, noticed that children of deaf parents communicated through sign language at a much younger age and had a large vocabulary by nine months old. In contrast, kids of speaking parents tend to say their first words by 12 months. He developed a program to teach children of hearing parents signs to help them with their language and communication from an earlier age.

Around the same time as Joseph Garcia developed his baby sign program, UC Davis researchers Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn, studied how hearing parents and their babies could use ASL signs and they discovered babies as young as six months can learn to sign, which helps reduce frustration for both babies and parents.

It’s important to note that while baby sign is based off of ASL, modified to make movements easy for young children who are still developing their motor skills, baby sign is not a language in that it lacks the grammar and pragmatics that a true language needs.

We encourage you to start using baby sign with your child today. Choose a sign to learn that is concrete and you find yourself saying often (milk is a good one!). Learn the sign and just start using it with your baby consistently and in context. Tell us about how you’re doing in the comments!