Communication involves the spoken word but much of what we say is also communicated through our body language. Using baby signing teaches the baby that there is more to communication than just words. It is really important that the sign is used with the word, signing does not replace the need for words, rather it compliments them perfectly. As you progress with your signing, it becomes a natural process that is used without thinking. It isn’t very difficult to get to this stage as the signs are easy to remember but also very natural hand gestures.  

Babies are fascinated with their parents and are naturally attracted to movement. Many think that they need to wait until the baby is nine months old to begin sign language however our personal experience was that our baby understood what we signed to her from about 4-5 months. This provided us with much enjoyment of course but it was also really practical. At this very young age there is little chance that she would have understood the spoken word for things like ‘milk’ ‘more’ and ‘sleep’. However, the use of these baby signs allowed her to understand us. When she woke in the morning, we would sign to her that we were making her a milk bottle and she would be both relieved and excited that we knew what she needed.

There is about a 5 month period where the baby understands your signs but can’t sign back yet, and this is when we found sign language to be very beneficial. From about 9-10 months of age she has started to sign back to us. No matter how in tune you are with your babies routine, there will always be a time when you need a little reminder that it is ‘milk’ time, and there is no doubt with her little hand opening and closing at us that she knows exactly what she wants. Sign language for babies can be a wonderful way to communicate with your baby and it brings many opportunities for two way conversations and shared experiences. 

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Sign language for babies is very easy to teach – after all it is intended to be used by 6-9 month old babies. The signs in Toddler Interpreter are presented in 5 easy stages of learning, so that the most relevant signs are taught first. These signs are the ones that are most likely to be required early on and they are also the easiest signs to perform. This is what sets this book apart from the others as many baby signing ‘how to’ guides only contain a baby sign language dictionary. The first sign starting with the letter ‘a’ may not be the most relevant sign so you are left wondering “where do I start?”

The most important thing to remember if you are teaching baby signs to your little one is that the signs do not replace the need for words. Baby signing is meant to compliment the speech development process therefore it is essential that the word accompanies the signs each and every time. This helps to re-enforce the association between the spoken word, the sign for that word and its meaning. All of this leads to a better comprehension of the spoken language from an early age and the benefits can flow on right up until school age. The baby sign language dictionary at the back of Toddler Interpreter is a great quick reference guide and the pocket sized book is the perfect size to carry with you. 

Toddler Interpreter teach Baby Signs and they offer the best Free Baby Sign Chart available online and their Baby Signs 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 can be taught using Toddler Interpreter’s comprehensive Baby Sign Language Dictionary. Sign Language for Toddlers can help reduce frustration and has proved very beneficial for Premature Babies and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Most parents and caregivers establish a routine with their babies. This does lesson the burden of the frequent misunderstandings however there is an easier way to communicate before this speech is developed fully – it’s called baby sign language. People may think that this is the latest parenting craze or a new trend that you have to keep up with. The truth is that we have instinctually been using baby signs to communicate with our little ones for such a long time. For instance, you may have a particular gesture or facial expression that you use every time you express a certain emotion to your baby. The baby returns these simple gestures with their own sign language – they point, hand you something or they nod their head. Sometimes they extend their arms to you to signal that they want you to pick them up.

Imagine if you could develop this further so that you had 10 – 20 gestures or signals that you consistently used and mutually understood – wouldn’t life be a little easier? That is what baby sign language is all about, simplifying the communication process. Babies are between 12-30 months by the time that they have developed the ability to speak properly. It takes this long because a complicated sequence of events needs to occur before they are able to put together the correct mouth shape, tongue movement and vocal sounds. Until they work this out it is a guessing game. One that sometimes ends in tears (and this works both ways too!). Having a few simple gestures to help you understand each other can provide mutual enjoyment as well as ease the frustration. Learning Baby Sign Language is not only fun but practical and the benefits extend way beyond the first few years.

Baby Sign Language

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

When you are just starting out signing with your baby, you should begin with a few easy to remember signs. These signs are simple gestures that are both easy to perform and remember. The most relevant sign to begin with is the sign for ‘milk’, because this is something that is in high demand by the baby at this age. It is also very rewarding for the baby when they get what they asked for because at this age, milk is also one of their favorite comforts.

Signing for ‘milk’ is really easy. The sign can be performed with one hand or two hands, it doesn’t really matter. You perform the sign for milk by opening and closing your hand, as if milking a cow. The signs used in baby sign language are very symbolic. This makes them much easier to understand. Each sign represents a natural gesture that you would probably do without even knowing any sign language. This is why it is so easy to learn and remember.

Using baby signing with your baby or toddler can help you to communicate with them while they are first learning to talk. Many babies are able to use this early form of communication well before they can speak any words at all. This can reduce the frustration they would normally feel when they are pointing and trying to be understood without words. The comprehension of the baby signs is also enhanced because it re-enforces the meaning of the words from a very early age. Toddler Interpreter has a handbook that contains 60 of the most useful baby signs, and the book is the perfect size for your handbag so you can carry it with you. 

Baby Signs

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Some parents decide to start teaching their Baby Sign Language from birth. However, starting with your baby this early will make it seem like a very long time until you see the Benefits of Baby Signing and it may discourage some parents from continuing.

Most babies will have the dexterity and muscle control to reciprocate the Baby Signs to you at the age of 6-9 months. It is important to note that you receive the benefits of Sign Language for Babies long before the baby is able to sign back to you. At around the age of 4-5 months, the baby will be able to recognize your baby signs, especially if you use them regularly and consistently. This can prove to be very beneficial as they have the ability to understand what you are communicating with them from a much earlier age.

At 4-5 months, your baby almost certainly won’t recognize the sound of the word milk but they will be able to recognize the Baby Signs for milk. Even though they are not signing back to you as yet, you can communicate with them to let them know it is time for milk or time for bed. This can help to settle them down into their routine and they will feel more comfortable knowing that you are taking care of their needs.

Baby Signing for milk before and during their feed will reinforce the association between the word, the sign and the outcome, leading to a better comprehension and understanding. Babies have no control over their environment, so being able to understand you will help them to feel settled. It is important to start slowly by introducing only one or two baby signs at this early stage so that you don’t overwhelm the little one with too many things to remember.

Although there is no right or wrong age to begin teaching sign language for babies, you will find baby sign language to have the greatest impact if you begin around 3-6 months of age. This will allow you to to be understood by your baby from a much earlier age. As they become older they will begin to use the Baby Signs to ask for things, especially if they have seen you using the signs consistently.

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Toddlers are exciting little people. Everything happens at such a pace; it is a time for growing, developing and exploring. Parent interaction during this crucial period is so important. Proper speech development will allow them to engage in proper social interactions which will develop their social skills. Speech and social development are some of the most important milestones; how they progress these two vital skills will play a major role in the way their future plays out.

Sign Language for Toddlers is the use of gestures to convey the meaning of certain keywords. Some begin this sign language much earlier and refer to it as baby signing or baby sign language. There is no difference between baby sign language and toddler sign language, just the name. These baby signs are very simple to perform and are universal gestures that can be used in any country worldwide.

Although toddlers are able to speak a few words by their first birthday, they are still learning their language skills right up until their third birthday. It will take this long for some toddlers to be understood by their family members let along strangers and other caregivers. Toddlers are so demanding and expect everything to go their way. They also know exactly what they want and when they want it. By providing them a means to communicate these things without the frustration of not being able to speak properly, you can reduce frustration. Frustration, especially in boys can lead to aggression problems later on. It shouldn’t be considered as a means to give in to the toddler, in fact, sign language for toddlers can often be used to re-direct the behavior to a more appropriate solution.

Some parents report that their toddlers revert back to baby sign language when frustrated. Not being able to spit out what they are trying to say but still keen to get their point across. Sign Language for Toddlers offers them a release for their frustrations allowing the temper to dissipate.

Teaching Sign Language for Toddlers is easy. Toddlers are very keen to copy anything that their parents do. Providing that the gesture is always used with the word, it will be picked up on very quickly. Choose some keywords that are important to your toddler. Try to chose words that are not spoken by your toddler yet. Learn the sign language gesture for these keywords and use these simple gestures every time you speak that keyword. Only ever use the gesture in a relevant situation so that your toddler understands the relevance of the gesture. They should catch on very quickly and be able to mimic and replicate your signs.

Children that may be suffering from a slight language delay are also great candidates for learning Baby Sign Language. A visual stimulus enables the toddler to develop their language comprehension as the words take on shape and have more meaning to the toddler. Sign language for Toddlers has also been shown to improve speech development when accompanied with the spoken word. Parent’s who use baby sign language are more likely to spend quality time with their toddlers and take a vested interest in their development.

Sign up on the left to receive your Free Baby Sign Language Chart poster from Toddler Interpreter. 

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

The transition from baby sign language to speech will depend on how you have been using the baby signs. Providing that you have not replaced the need for speech with the use of baby signs everything should be fine. Baby signing will usually increase the comprehension of words and so when coupled with the spoken language will be a great benefit in the child’s speech development.

If your child is not meeting the speech development milestones you should seek advice from your pediatrician. If it does turn out to be the case that your child is suffering from delayed speech the sign language will be a huge benefit. Every child follows their own unique developmental timeline. Your baby should be able to be understood at 31 months by the members in their family. If this isn’t the case it might be time to seek help.

The transition is usually progressive. The baby will be able to speak and sign a few words. They may choose to combine a spoken word with the baby signs to get their point across. As they begin to communicate in sentences, they may try putting several words or several signs together. Once they have reached this stage, mostly children will chose to drop the sign and just use the word. They may revert back to the signs when they are tired but eventually they will go on to use more complicated sentences and the signs will be obsolete.

This will all happen naturally, the only thing you need to do is support their speech development by talking to them often. Baby Sign Language can be a wonderful tool to help in the progression to speech.

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Welcome to Toddler Interpreter’s Baby Sign Language Blog. This blog is all about parenting 0-3 year olds with an emphasis on early development. We feature article type blog posts that provide up to date information about Baby Sign Language, Early Literacy, Early Speech Development, Speech Delay, Autism and other interesting topics we would like to raise awareness on.

This is our Blog, our main site is Toddler Interpreter – where you can find even more Baby Sign Language information and products.

Make sure you sign up on the left to receive your FREE Baby Sign Language Chart – it will be sent to your inbox immediately.

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

If you started teaching baby sign language really early on in their life, don’t despair. Even though this seems like it is a long time to wait, you have already provided them with a valuable head start. Some parents have reported that they started signing with their babies at a really early age but gave up because the baby wasn’t able to do the signs back to them at that point in time. Interestingly, the baby started to sign to them 5 months later, even though it had been months since they saw that sign. If you started early, just relax knowing that at least your baby can understand you.

By the age of about 4-6 months, the baby will be able to respond to your signs. They may not be able to replicate them or specifically ask for something using baby signs but they will be able to understand your signs. You will need to rely on their body language and facial expressions to see if you have been understood. If you sign to your baby for something and they bounce around, flap and get all excited it is a pretty good indication that you have been understood.

The signing progress follows this simple path. At first, when you begin using baby sign language, it will be foreign to both of you. At this stage only introduce one or two signs. The next stage is where you are comfortably and unconsciously performing the sign every time you speak that word. Shortly following this phase you may realize that your baby understands you.

This phase will continue for a little while until your baby develops the ability to have some control over their hands and limbs. At this stage the baby will be eager to show you their signs every now and then but it may not be consistent. Make sure you offer a lot of praise and encouragement during this phase. If they have signed for something, reward them by giving them what they signed for. If this is not appropriate, re-direct them to something else using a different sign. Let them know they have been understood. This will be a great bonding moment for you both and the excitement will be shared equally. Don’t be alarmed if it takes another week or two until they sign to you again; if you are patient it will come. The next stage will keep you on your toes. Once they have worked out a few signs they will want more and more. Keeping up with them will be your biggest hurdle; they may even make up a few signs of their own.

Remember that the signs are a temporary solution and will be replaced by speech when the time comes. Always sign to the baby and speak the word at the same time to re-enforce the association between the sign and the word.

So it might seem like a long wait until your baby can sign back to you, but the reward can be as exciting as watching them take their first steps or speak their first words.

About the Author: Lisa Baade is the author of Toddler Interpreter, A Parent’s Guide to Baby Sign Language for Hearing Babies and Toddlers.

Sign up on the left to receive your FREE Baby Sign Language poster from Toddler Interpreter.

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies

Sign Language for babies is based on keyword signing and is not the same as adult sign language. There are many systems that provide baby sign language based on ASL, BSL or AUSLAN but these are all based on adult sign language. Baby Sign Language should be specifically tailored to suit the age level it is aimed at which is 3-30 months. By 30 months of age most children are able to communicate and be understood by their families and the signs are no longer required. These Baby Signs should be used as a temporary bridging gap between pre-verbal and verbal years.

If you have decided to start teaching baby sign language there is one very important thing you need to remember. Signing does not replace speech. This is the largest difference that separates baby sign language from sign language for adults. You are trying to encourage communication so flood your baby with words. When you speak certain keywords, include the sign, don’t emit the spoken word.

Apart from that, there really isn’t much to it. If you follow the same pattern you would use to teach your child to wave hello or goodbye then you will pick it up in no time at all. Here are some simple tips to get you started.

Make sure that you use the baby signs in relevant situations. If you are signing for milk, make sure it is just before their feed time and reward them with the milk to enhance the comprehension.

Ensure your baby is in the mood for baby signing. If they are tired or hungry they are not going to be interested. If this is the case, just sign to them for consistency and provide them with their needs. Don’t make it a negative experience or they are likely to want to forget about doing it.

Make sure you sign to them while they are watching and so that they can see your hands clearly. Don’t make it too complicated. Although they are attracted to movement, you want to make it as easy for them to copy as possible. This is why baby sign language is specifically designed to be within the capabilities of the baby and shouldn’t involve finger spelled signs.

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 can be taught 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 and other babies at risk of developing a speech delay.

Toddler Interpreter © 2009

Baby Sign Language – Baby Signs – Sign Language for Babies