Baby sign language - does it really work and help you communicate earlier and more effectively with your baby? That was the question I posed to hundreds of parents across the country to learn about their experiences and the feedback was terrific.  I believe will help other parents decide whether signing is right for them and their baby.

The parental poll on baby sign language was overwhelmingly positive in support of signing. Many parents shared their insights and specific challenges with their child.  For example, some babies had physical challenges that hindered their vocal ability like a cleft pallet or a tracheal tube and the parents reported that signing was a lifesaver.  Others began sign language as a bridge to talking so they could communicate more effectively with their baby earlier than they expected they would talk. 

The mom whose son had a tracheal tube shared with me that her son was a very spirited little guy with strong emotions and she wholeheartedly believed that signing prevented huge emotional meltdowns by giving her son a way to communicate sooner. 

Two programs came highly recommended by the parents I polled. One is the Sign 2 Me program which most public libraries carry. It comes with a video and a book.  The video is helpful to see what a baby sign might look like, especially the early signs from baby. This system has done extensive research on introducing signing to hearing children and is widely used. It uses American Sign Language slightly adapted for dexterity.  The other system that was recommended was Baby Signing Time. The best book recommendation was Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, by Linda Acredolo, PhD. and Susan Goodwyn, PhD.

All respondents agreed that in order to be successful teaching your baby to sign, you need to be serious about it and execute the signs consistently. Start with three commands at a time. For example, when you give baby bottle, always gesture the bottle sign!  Show the sign yourself, and then begin to show your baby how to make the sign with his hands.   If you feed your baby 8-10 times a day, he'll learn that sign very quickly!  But you have to do it every time for it to begin to make sense to your baby. After a short while, he'll start signing to you "bottle" when he's hungry.  

Babies are able to communicate long before they can form speech and baby sign language works.  Teaching your baby to sign allows your baby express their needs and can be an important communication tool. Even if you only teach six to twelve signs, it can be very helpful for you and baby.

baby sign language | sign language