How to Start Sign Language with your Baby

“When should baby start gesturing? How can I support gestures and use of sign language? Which signs should I use?”

These are very common questions from parents, and I’m here to answer them!

When should baby start gesturing?: Baby typically starts using gestures consistently around 9-10 months, and may produce a few gestures prior to that mark. The earliest and most common gestures are clapping, putting arms up for “up,” and waving. It’s never too early to model gestures for baby in everyday routines! If your little one is not using gestures or attempting to imitate your use of gestures by the 10 month mark, talk to your pediatrician or reach out to a specialist.

How can I support baby’s use of gestures and sign language? The first step is by modeling those gestures consistently in routines early on. Every time you throw away a diaper, model “all done” with the sign. Every time you go to pick baby up off the floor, model “up” with your arms up and pause before picking up baby. Every time you finish a book, clap and say “yay!” Make sure to pause and look at baby with intent after performing a gesture, since you want to give them a cue that they should respond.

Once baby engages in gestures, use of signs is usually right around the corner!

Keep in mind: In order for baby to use gestures to communicate, they need to have established imitation of body movements first. So, if baby is imitating arms up for “up” and clapping, putting hands together for “more” or “all done” is coming!

Which signs should I use? The most common sign to teach baby is “more” since it can be used universally to request (toys, food, etc.). However, it doesn’t teach baby to request anything SPECIFIC. So, while it is an important sign, teaching signs for actual items like “milk, book, car” can be equally important for development. When modeling signs, think about FUNCTION. I typically model “more, all done, eat, drink” and then common toy items in play. Once baby can identify the items you are talking about (e.g., You say, “where is your dog?” and baby can go find it or looks towards it), baby will be ready soon to request and label those items via signs and eventually spoken language.

Caution with signing around food: Most parents introduce signs for the first time in the high chair, but I caution against baby’s FIRST experience with signs being around food for two reasons. First, feeding can be an overwhelming sensory experience for baby. Adding a NEW communication component can cause more stress, especially if baby feels like communication demands are being placed on them. Instead, you can model signs in the high chair, but don’t expect baby to imitate them. Focus more on imitation of signs with toys and other motivating play items. Second, you are going to feed your baby regardless if they sign in the high chair. So, when teaching signs, baby might not make the connection that signing results in them getting something since sometimes they will get food when they sign and sometimes they will get food when they DON’T sign. You want baby to make a connection that signing results in an action consistently.

Something to keep in mind: Your child is at risk for a communication delay if they don’t attempt to imitate your body movements (e.g., dancing, clapping, shaking a toy, banging). So, if you are noticing a lack of imitation as baby approaching 10 months to a year old, reach out to your pediatrician or a specialist. Early intervention is key in making progress!