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How To

How to Use Baby Sign Language

Contributor
By Laura Gyre
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

If you're eager to help your baby communicate, consider learning to use baby sign language. Babies who are exposed to signs at an early age often learn to sign before they learn to speak, without causing any delays in verbal development. Even older babies who use some words may be able to communicate the most by using a combination of speech and signs. While most babies don't make their first recognizable signs until about seven months of age, it's never to early to start using them yourself.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions
  1. Step 1

    Learn ASL or other sign language signs for common baby concepts such as milk, food, diaper, hot, hurt, yes, no and so on. Pick words that you already use with your baby on a regular basis.

  2. Step 2

    Use baby sign language signs every time you say these words in conversation with your baby. Make the signs slowly and clearly, in the baby's field of vision, while verbally emphasizing the word you are signing. Using the signs when you talk to other people, too, can help to reinforce the idea, since "listening" in on conversations is another important way that babies learn.

  3. Step 3

    Repeat this process constantly over several months or more before expecting a young baby to understand. Signs may be slightly easier than speech for babies, but consider how long it takes to learn new words the usual way.

  4. Step 4

    Watch any unusual hand motions that baby begins using carefully. Just as baby talk can be hard to understand, the way that babies start to use baby sign language can be very different from the way you demonstrate. Try to pick up on the context and figure out what baby might be trying to communicate.

  5. Step 5

    Help baby form signs that he or she is learning by moving baby's hands into position or adapt difficult signs to make them easier for chubby hands.

  6. Step 6

    Introduce new signs occasionally, especially when baby seems to have grasped most of the ones you already use.

Tips & Warnings
  • Online sign dictionaries are an excellent resource for learning signs, since many feature videos of people performing the signs. You can also find lots of videos of babies signing, which should give you some idea of how it works.
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