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.

Baby Signs have been used by parents to communicate with their baby before they can talk for over 30 years.

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.

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.