Although there are no hard and fast rules for signing with your baby, there are some useful tips which can be learnt from parents who have signed with their own children.

For starters, obviously the signs you use with your baby are your own choice, but bear in mind that other people may have need to communicate with your child i.e. babysitters or carers. For this reason using a recognised set of signs at least for the frequently used, and most useful words like “eat”, “drink” and “more” is a good idea. Using a recognised sign language such as ASL (American Sign Language) means there is more chance your babysitter may already know some of these signs.

When teaching sign language to your baby, use a cheerful voice, and a smile. This helps to engage the infant more, and make the learning process easier for them. If you sound bored, or look unhappy then it will send the wrong signals about the signs too.

Be patient when teaching your little one the signs you are going to use. They are unlikely to pick up sign language instantly, and may make mistakes. Lots of praise when they get a sign right will also ensure your child enjoys the learning process, and will be more eager to please by getting the signs correct.

Sometimes your child may introduce a sign of their own, don’t try to dissuade them, instead adopt this sign into the vocabulary. This creative use of hands should be encouraged, it’s always worth remembering the basic reason for using sign language is to communicate with your baby. Using the sign they created just makes it easier for them to communicate with you.

Use sign language as often as you can with your baby. As you speak, use the sign too this will help in their speech development in the future as well as helping them learn the signs quicker through repetition.

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Tags: baby sign language, Baby Signing, communicate, tips