We did not have much success helping our daughter teach our new granddaughter sign language so I wanted to get some feedback from other parents on the subject before the next little one arrives. Our granddaughter learned a few signs, but she just was not very interested in signing. She started talking early so we surmise she was just very verbal child. I polled hundreds of parents across the country and the feedback was terrific. I believe will help other parents decide whether signing is right for them and their baby.

Thinking about sign language for baby

The parental poll on baby signing 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.

Baby sign language is making parent’s lives easier all over the world. Have you ever tried to soothe your crying baby and felt frustrated that you couldn’t understand what she really wanted?

Learn more about sign with your baby

Well you’re not alone. In fact, many parents feel the same way. It’s difficult at times to know what your baby really wants, and it’s not only frustrating to you, but it’s frustrating for her as well when she can’t communicate what she wants.
Baby sign language involves teaching your baby basic sign language that will help them to communicate their needs, but you may be wondering – can your baby really communicate in this way?
 
According to new studies, baby sign language is actually quite effective. It all got started with a researcher, Joseph Garcia, who spent some time studying how a baby communicated with his parents who were deaf. The 10-month old was able to communicate fairly well, even at that young age, with his parents. After observing how this worked, Garcia began to promote his sign language for parents who had normal hearing.
 
Believe it or not, most babies actually can pick up the baby sign language rather quickly. In fact, it’s easier for babies to sign at a young age than it is to talk, since they have better control over their hands at an earlier age than they do the muscles in their mouth and tongue. You can actually start teaching babies sign language when they are about six months old, although some are starting even younger.

Parents have been amazed at how quickly their babies picked up on the signs.
 
Teaching baby to sign takes away a lot of the frustration for babies. Instead of having to scream hoping that their parents will figure out the problem, it gives them the freedom to communicate what they need, which is a huge help to both of you.
 
Some parents are concerned that teaching their baby to sign is going to make them develop language skills at a slower rate. Well, according to studies, this is certainly not the case. In fact, studies show that babies that are taught to sign actually start speaking more quickly. Some signing babies even show a higher IQ later in life.
 
Baby sign language can be easily taught to your child. There are excellent classes available that can help you to work with your baby, although some parents choose to teach their baby to sign themselves. For parents who decide to do this at home, there are many helpful resources available. You will need a baby sign language chart and an instruction book. Flash cards with pictures are another useful tool.
 
If you are tired and frustrated at the lack of communication between you and your baby, then baby sign language may be a great choice for you.

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This was invented by a company called Baby Sign. The company has published a best selling book on the topic teaching your baby sign language called The Baby Sign Dictionary. It also runs and franchises programs and classes out of Baby Sign Institutes.

More about baby sign language book

The mission of this company was to help mothers raise healthier and happier babies by relieving them the frustration of trying to communicate before their tongues, lips and vocal cords have developed the coordination to allow them to speak.

Ideas about sign language for baby

Baby signing is based on traditional American Sign Language (also known as ASL.) that is used to communicate with individuals who are deaf. The company interviewed a focus group of parents and asked them to come up with the 100 most popular things that their babies try to communicate to them and then designed sign language to fit those requests.