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Baby Sign Language FAQs

Undecided about teaching your baby sign language? Babies usually understand language (receptive language) long before they can string together sentences to communicate fully, but babies can quickly learn to sign the equivalent of a sentence so you can actually have a 'conversation' with your child. For example my grandon would sign 'grandad - sleep - upstairs' or 'listen - bird -singing - tree.' What's to lose. He/she will either take to it or not but it will strengthen future communication skills, increase vocabulary and support social skills development.

Here are some answere to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q.What is baby sign language, baby signing?

Baby sign language is a system of using formalised gestures with young hearing babies, toddlers and infants to support and develop good communication skills. The signs are taken from a signed language such as American Sign Language or British Sign Language.

Q. My baby isn't deaf? Won't it delay his speech as he'll be using the signs instead?

No, certainly not. In fact quite the opposite. First and foremost your baby is learning to communicate.

When teaching baby sign language you speak normally, except that you use signs/gestures to support and emphasise the words. These gestures actually encourage the child to look at you, thus giving increased eye contact too. Some children may continue to use signs along with words but research shows that babies who have signed have greater vocabulary and a higher IQ in primary school.

Kids actually love the interaction and watch gleefully for your 'sign conversation.' And you know, when he responds with his first sign it's another of those really special moments in your baby's life. Definitely one for the baby book.

Q.When can I start signing with my baby?

You will be talking with your baby from birth when you change him, play with him and comfort him, and try to figure out his needs. You will be using your natural gestures anyhow, so he will respond to them over time. Baby signing simply uses more formalised gestures with accepted meanings, so you can begin to use signs straight away, but around 4 or 5 months will be fine. You have enough to think about already with a new baby.

First signs should be related to your baby's needs i.e milk, drink, food, more, please, teddy. No need to sign every word you speak, just the ones you would normally emphasise. Your baby will not have the hand co-ordination to baby sign until around 8 or 9 months old, so you do have plenty of time.

Q. My baby is already speaking, am I too late.

No definitely not. Your baby clearly has the co-ordination skills necessary for speech and will be using gestures too if you watch closely. However, he is still limited by his vocabulary and there will be some words he cannot yet articulate. Teaching your baby sign language will increase communication between you, lessen frustration and take the guesswork out of what he wants. It will also help clarify indistinct words like 'bowl' and 'ball.'

At 18 months old. my granddaughter could or would not say 'please' but she took quickly to the BSL sign for please and used it together with the word for ages. It was great for her, reduced her frustration and anger and met both hers and her parents needs.

Q, My child does not do the signs correctly, is that OK.

Yes, definitely. Your baby may not yet be able to make a fist, or to isolate one,two or three fingers, or to reach his elbow to make the sign there. Once again physical co-ordination, manual dexterity and child development come into play. Your baby, toddler or infant will have varying degrees of accuracy, and you will come to understand his approximation of the sign in the same way as you will his words when he speaks. Remember most communication is in context. I agree that when your child comes to ask you for something or starts the conversation, there may be a bit of guesswork involved initially.

We used Makaton vocabulary with Sebastian. Sometimes with Sebby we had to clarify whether he meant grandad or more. Over time he was able to make a better fist to indicate grandad. It's OK too to make the sign with either hand ...as Sebby often does.

Finger Spelling

When it comes to finger spelling, (e.g. Grandad in BSL is a G followed by an F as in GrandFather) note from the charts below that American sign Language uses one hand whereas British Sign Language uses two.
Don't expect your child to be able to produce exact signs until they have the developmental skills to isolate fingers.

BSL Fingerspelling Alphabet

American Sign Language (ASL)

Fingerspelling Alphabet

Return from Baby Sign Language FAQ to Why Baby Sign Language.

TOP TIP

It's a really great idea to teach your child fingerspelling signs as they learn the alphabet. It will help with their reading and writing, especially it they turn out to be dyslexic.

sign language - letter r(asl)
ASL - letter R

They may struggle to discriminate close sounds of letters e.g. m and n or b, d, t and p.
Reinforce the letters through signs.
Use them with flashcards, with the letter names, and letter sounds.