Baby Signing

Do you ever wonder what your baby is thinking? Why they are crying? Do you ever wish they could tell you what they wanted or what was wrong? Baby signing is a technique that teaches babies to use simple gestures to communicate with their parents and caregivers long before they can talk. The system was developed by Dr Joseph Garcia, an American child development expert, who noticed that hearing babies of deaf parents who had learned sign language appeared to be less demanding than non-signing babies because they could express their thoughts and needs more easily. Whilst baby signing doesn't promise to cut out all the tears or tantrums, babies as young as six months old have been taught to sign successfully so that they can sign for what they want instead of crying. Baby signing is now very popular in the UK and several organisations run classes all over the country.

It's not surprising babies can learn how to sign; babies and toddlers often use signs as a natural part of the communication process. Most babies know how to wave and point long before they can say "Bye-bye" or '"Look at that!" Both their understanding of language and their motor skills develop much faster than their ability to speak. Parents may worry that teaching their baby to sign may slow down their normal speech development. However, signing is about enhancing, not replacing language, and should be used alongside normal speech so your baby can make the connection between the word and the gesture. If used in the right way, signing can actually improve language and vocabulary.

Advantages of Baby Signing

Infants:

• Can communicate their wants and needs at an early age

• Will have an earlier understanding of language

• May learn to speak earlier

• May have an improved ability to learn a new language later in life

• May possibly have a higher I.Q.

Parents may experience:

• Lower frustration levels as they understand what their baby needs

• Deeper bonding with their baby as they have greater insight into the baby's mind

• A higher level of trust from their baby as they know that their parents understand what they are trying to tell them

• Satisfaction in being able to communicate effectively with their pre-verbal infant

Getting Started

Although signing can begin at any age (many deaf parents sign to their babies from birth), most parents won't begin to see results until their baby is at least 7 months or older. The best time to start is when your baby begins to develop a real desire to communicate - you'll probably notice that they start to babble and use facial expressions and noises to get your attention.

Start by choosing a sign that your baby will be interested in; many parents choose a sign that involves eating, such as milk, eat, drink, or more. Alternatively, you may choose a needs-based sign, such as change (nappy), hot, cold or sleep.

Every time you use your chosen word, show your baby the sign. Consistency is the key here - always use the same sign, use lots of repetition, and emphasise the word along with the sign, so your baby can see and hear the connection. For example, if you've chosen the word 'milk':

"Do you want some milk? You'd like some milk would you?" Oh, let's get you some milk! Here's your milk! Do you like your milk?"

Remember to show the sign as at the same time as you say the word.

Keep using this sign until your baby begins to sign back to you; this may take a few days or a few weeks. Be patient and keep it fun and exciting for your baby. When you baby has mastered this sign, introduce another, but make sure that you keep using the first sign as part of your vocabulary. The more signs your baby knows, the easier it will be for them to pick more of them up - especially once they realise that they can get their needs taken care of by using signs!

Some Signs to Try

Many of the gestures used in baby signing are based on the American and British Sign Language but there's no reason why you can't make up your own signs. Take a look at the following table for some examples: