Most parents have heard of this recent parenting craze but not a lot of parents actually know what baby sign language involves. Many would naturally assume that you teach adult sign language to your baby, but this is not entirely correct. Let me explain why baby sign language is very different to adult sign language.

Baby sign language is different to sign language as it doesn’t follow the same structure. Baby Signing is based on the concept of keyword signing. Keyword signing is used in conjunction with speech and is usually used with hearing children and adults. Generally, keyword signing will be used for communication when one person can speak and the other one can’t. Keyword signs are used to compliment the spoken conversation and are used by the non-verbal child or adult to communicate back and respond. Some of the gestures used are often borrowed from sign language or may be modified to be more easily understood or performed.

Babies can understand most of what you are saying from the age of 6 months but they are unable to speak back to you until a year or even two later. They try their hardest to communicate through their body language but keyword signing provides a more effective means of communication to help them get their point across. They can easily communicate through the use of baby signing well before their vocal chords are developed enough for speech. Through this communication method, they suffer less frustration because they are able to let you know what they think and want without the usual guessing games.

A baby that is less than 12 months old will have the ability to copy hand signals. If your baby is already waving hello or goodbye, they are certainly able to add more gestures to their vocabulary. Being understood is very empowering for the child and they recognize early how rewarding it is to have communication skills.

They are able to produce these hand signals at an age far younger than they are able to talk. Most babies are ready to use these baby signs by the age of 6-9 months whereas some babies may not speak until 12 months. For others who follow a slightly delayed speech development, they may not be able to communicate with words until they are over 2 years old. In this case, Baby Signs can be an invaluable tool, allowing them to express themselves almost a year before they would have naturally been afforded that opportunity.

Parent’s who take the time to nurture their child’s development by teaching Baby Sign Language are also more likely to spend quality time with their baby. They are more likely to seek out ways to improve their child’s development which flows on to have many positive benefits other than just the accelerated speech development. If you have more questions regarding “What is Baby Sign Language” or how to teach your baby to sign, head over to Toddler Interpreter for affordable resources or download your free baby signs chart and start today.

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.

Sign Language for Babies is useful at any age before the child is able to speak in sentences. Most babies should be able to be understood by members in their family by the age of 31 months. Anytime before this age will be appropriate for using baby signs to bridge the communication gap.

Some parents decide to start to Teach 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.

The authors of Toddler Interpreter started to teach baby sign language to their daughter Scarlette when she was only 4 months old. In the video above, she signs for milk for the first time at the age of 9 months.

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 Sign 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.

Using the baby sign 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 to teach your baby sign language, 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. If your baby is at the right age to teach baby sign language, head over to Toddler Interpreter for some affordable resources or download your free baby sign language chart here today.

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.

The Benefits of Baby Sign Language extend way beyond the toddler years as the research is now showing.

Baby Sign Language can be used from as early as birth although most children are ready to begin signing back to their parents by the age of 6 months. The signs are often borrowed or modified from traditional sign language and are based on gestures that symbolize the action or meaning of a word. It is a simplified version of sign language designed to be easy enough for baby’s to begin using from 6 months of age.

NIH Funded Experimental Studies discover the Baby Sign Language Benefits

Baby Sign Language is not a new concept, although it still receives much media attention. The first studies were conducted as early as 1989; one of the most referenced experimental studies is an National Institute of Health (NIH) funded study conducted by Drs Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn. The study was designed to determine the benefits of Baby Sign Language and to determine if Baby Sign Language would delay speech development in children. The children were assigned into two groups in this study; the first group consisted of children that used Baby Sign Language and the second group consisted of children that did not use Baby Sign Language. The children were recruited for the study at eleven months of age. Their speech and language development was followed up until they reached three years of age.

The study regularly assessed the speech and language development of the children recruited into the study. The language assessments were designed to measure language comprehension and language production. These assessments were conducted at assigned intervals during the study. The assessments measured the children’s ability to put words into sentences. The child’s intellectual development was also measured at 24 months to determine the long term baby sign language benefits.

The average scores of children in the study that were in the group that used Baby Sign Language were found to be higher than the control group who did not use Baby Sign Language. By the age of twenty-four months, the signing children had a developmental advantage of three months over the non-signing children. By the time these signing children reached the age of thirty-six months, this advantage had increased dramatically. The advantage had now increased from a three month developmental advantage to an equivalent twelve month advantage in their overall language skills and comprehension by the age of thirty-six months.

Since this research was conducted in 1989 there have been many families that have begun to use Baby Sign Language in their home. To date there hasn’t been a single study that has shown there to be any disadvantages to using Baby Sign Language. Many childcare centres are also beginning to use Baby Sign Language, either through song or as part of a dedicated program.

Some parents seem to have a concern that if they use Baby Sign Language with their children that this may delay their speech development. The results of the NIH funded study demonstrate quite clearly that this is not the case. Baby Sign Language facilitates communication between baby and parent earlier in life and is thought by some to be an essential step in the learning process as it aids in the comprehension of words through actions that they understand. By providing a communication method to the baby earlier in life they understand the benefit of communication as they are rewarded with some control over their environment and their needs. This only leads on to a thirst for a more complicated language which is thought to be the reason that baby’s who sign with their parents speak earlier than those who do not. The benefits of baby sign language are not only reflected in the intellectual development but also in their social ability and the bonding of the baby with their parents. If you would like to experience the same baby sign language benefits as many thousands of parents worldwide, download your free baby sign language chart today or go to Toddler Interpreter for some affordable baby sign language resources.

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.

If you are able to teach your baby to wave hello or goodbye then you have all the necessary skills required to teach your baby some baby sign language as well.

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 when you are about to teach baby sign language to them. 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 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.

Each baby will follow their own unique development timeline so the answer will be different for each child. In general, babies can begin signing back to you somewhere between the ages of 6-12 months.

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.

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.

It all begins when they are very little by using some simple hand signals. These hand signals are universal meaning that they are the same in every language worldwide. These hand signals are often natural gestures that we use every day without realizing it. Many people begin learning sign language for babies only to discover that they naturally started this process without even knowing it. This process is just added to with some additional gestures through our Baby Sign Language program.

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 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.

Enter your details on the left to receive a free printable sign language for kids chart - a chart that has been specifically designed for using sign language with babies, toddlers and children.

Research is now confirming what we have known for years – communication is so much more than words. Our human interaction relies so much on the visual stimulation and interaction.

They are now finding, through careful studies of the brain that visual communication is processed by the exact part of the brain that processes our spoken communication. This is a breakthrough not only for medical research but for those wishing to teach Baby Sign Language to their child.

Printable sign language for kids makes it easier for you to refer to the signs. Print our free chart so that you can place it in a prominent part of your house and remember to do the signs frequently.

There are so many benefits from learning to sign with your children:

• The gestures used in Baby Sign Language are universal – the vast majority of the keyword signs used in children’s or baby sign language are the same world-wide.

• Printable sign language for kids is a fantastic way to initiate communication with your baby, toddler or child.

Enjoy the benefits of this wonderful communication method with our free printable sign language for kids.

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.

If you have been using baby sign language with your child from an early age it is likely that they will start to develop speech much earlier than their peers. By providing them with a communication tool such as baby signing, they will realize the benefits of communication earlier and be looking for more complex ways to get their point across.

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 from baby sign language to speech 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 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.

Baby Sign Language for premature babies could prove to be very beneficial as they are in a higher risk category for developing a speech delay.

Baby Signing involves using keyword signs to engage in two way communication with pre-verbal babies. The experts believe that it enhances speech development if used in conjunction with the spoken word. Although many parents are using it for the enjoyment it provides, there could well be added benefit for those who are already at a developmental disadvantage.

Baby Sign Language is being used worldwide to communicate with hearing babies before they can speak. Researchers have shown that using gestures with the spoken word enhances the speech development of the child. This doesn’t mean that it is a program to create super babies; it simply provides them with a good foundation for early learning.

Language development is essential for developing appropriate social skills. If a child is particularly at risk of suffering from a speech delay they may benefit from having a supplementary communication tool such as baby signing.

Using baby signs with premature babies can help to bridge the communication gap while they are still pre-verbal. It could be particularly useful in premature babies as they follow slightly delayed developmental milestones due to their early entry into the world. Premature babies are generally assessed developmentally against an adjusted age. But when premature babies are compared to other babies by their chronological age, they may be slightly disadvantaged with their speech development. When this is the case, baby signing could be used to accelerate the learning process and enhance their communication abilities, allowing them to interact socially and appropriately with children in the same chronological age group.

Baby Sign Language for premature babies should always be used with the spoken word and should never replace the need to speak the associated word. When teaching babies to sign it is important to emphasize the word that is being signed by saying it over and over. It is this close interaction with the parent that is thought to enhance the speech development more so than the use of the baby signs themselves. Children who are at higher risk of developing a speech delay will gain the most benefit from this positive interaction involving extensive use of the spoken language. As the child is able to sign back to the adult and establish two way communications for the first time, they are likely to understand the value and reward of being understood. This is a time to encourage and praise your child so that you perpetuate the benefits and enhance their progress.

Premature babies and other babies that are at an increased risk of developing a speech delay can enjoy the benefits of baby sign language by incorporating a few simple signs into their daily routine. Baby signing for premature babies is easy to teach, you could even start today.

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.

This method of communication allows the parent to enjoy two way conversations about the babies needs and wants much earlier than would naturally be afforded. Communicating with baby sign language is very easy to introduce into your home. After all, the baby signs have been developed specifically to be easy enough for a 6 month old baby to do, it can’t be that difficult!

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 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.