Getting Started Baby Signing

Getting Started

When should I start baby signing?

You can start signing as early as you want but eight to nine months of age is a good age to start. It won't hurt to try earlier but baby may not start to sign till later.

What signs should I start with?

Milk, drink, eat, mommy, daddy, more, up, down, cat, dog (or other family pet). These are all good signs to start off with. When you start introducing a sign, you will want to say the word as you sign it. Be very repetitive. Part of learning language is done through repetition. The more your baby hears and sees the sign, the more familiar she will be with it. For example every time your baby wants to nurse or take a bottle you can ask her would you like some "milk" and sign "milk". Do this several times so she associates milk with the sign milk. She may watch you sign for quite a while before she actually starts signing back to you.

Do I have to use American or British Sign Language?

Not at all, a lot of moms create their own signs that are simple for baby to understand and use. In fact, if you are using the Baby Signsä program it uses a combination of simple ASL signs and signs that baby and parent have created.

Should I use signs if my baby can talk?

That depends, if you are interested in teaching your child ASL or BSL in the future you may want to continue signing. However, if you are using baby signs as a language bridge to encourage talking then it is best to drop the sign once the baby knows how to speak the word. It is good for your child to sign but if your goal is to get her talking then it is suggested that parents should stop using a sign once baby knows how to say it.

What if my baby doesn't sign the word correctly?

That's okay. Babies will often sign the word differently. It doesn't matter. As long as baby is consistent with the sign she uses and you can recognize it as a distinct gesture for the word she is signing, than count it as the sign for that word. Continue to sign the word correctly and she will either get better at it or find her own way to sign it.