Ian Creaser , Author of Toddler Interpreter, talks about his journey with his daughter Scarlette as she learns to communicate with baby sign language.

It has been a fascinating journey watching our little girl growing up, her larger than life personality, her energy and her infectious laugh. Her baby sign language skills are wonderful, and every opportunity she has to communicate she does.

We have a routine, weather permitting, where we take a walk along the street and Scarlette has the opportunity to investigate the amazing world around her. When she sees a bird she will point, make a cute little noise and then do the baby sign for bird.

It’s the same with dogs, there are a few in our neighborhood, when she sees or hears a dog (we say puppy) she taps her hip signing for dog (and sticks out her tongue because that’s what the puppies do!).

One of the mothers in the street was walking her dog past the other day and Scarlette was patting her hip frantically, I said “good girl Scarlette, It’s a puppy”. The lady was amazed when I explained to her that Scarlette was doing baby sign language, she had never heard of it. I then said to Scarlette, “how do we say toilet”, she then put her finger in the middle of her palm (the baby sign for toilet), we then went on to show the lady the signs for shower, brother, thank you, baby and quiet. By this stage the lady’s jaw was on the floor. She could not believe the level of skill and understanding that our little 16 month girl had. I explained to her that we had been using baby sign language from the age of 4 months starting with just one baby sign, ‘milk’, then progressing on from there.

All our friends comment to us about how happy Scarlette is all the time, she always seems content. Well, she always asks for what she needs, and we provide it for her. There is no guess work in our parenting; it has made our lives so much easier allowing us to have two way communication with our daughter through baby signs.

We have started the journey of toilet training now, when she signs for toilet, we scoop her up and sit her on the toilet, sometimes she has already done a wee and she is letting us know that she is wet, either way her needs are met and she is happy.

We are introducing a new baby sign language sign every day now as Scarlette shows more and more interest in everything around her, it really is a wonderful experience watching our little girl learn the importance of communication, and more importantly, through baby sign language, that communication is about much more than just words.

Toddler Interpreter teach Baby Signs and they offer the best Free Baby Sign Language Chart  available online and their Baby Sign Language Book is used by parents and childcare centres in the United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand to Teach Baby Sign Language. Sign Language for Babies is easy using Toddler Interpreter’s comprehensive Baby Sign Language Dictionary. Sign Language for Toddlers can help reduce frustration and Baby Sign Language has proved very beneficial for Premature Babies, children with Velo Cardio Facial Syndrome and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.