Ready to teach your child sign language? Got that overwhelming feeling that you have bitten off more than you can chew?  Relax. Signing with baby is an amazing and easy experience. Here are some tips to help.  

Choose a few signs to start. The best signs to start with are MILK, MORE and EAT since the signs are very different from each other and are easy for babies to make. (Put in graphics from flash cards).

If you feel comfortable, you can use sign more signs, but stick to basic needs since that is what your baby’s life revolves around.  Eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, and things your baby is interested in all make great things to discuss.  Try APPLE, BANANA, SLEEP, CHANGE (as in diaper change), and BATH. 

Worried that you don’t know enough?  You can take a class, read a book, check out a dictionary, or watch a baby signing educational video to learn more.  There are some great materials available.

Show the sign in context.  Show the sign while you are interacting with the concept or object. For example, you can sign milk while feeding your baby a bottle or while nursing.  Or, if your baby eats, sign EAT while your baby eats.

Say the word as you sign and emphasize it.  Don’t think signing means a lifetime of silence.  Actually, it is the opposite.  Parents who sign find that they talk more with their child.  Talk directly to your child. 

Speak clearly and emphasize the word or words you are signing so that your baby gets the connection between the word and the sign and the action or concept.  That three-way connection is important to developing your communication.

Be consistent.  The real key to success is using the signs you choose every time you engage in the activity or say the word.  Every time you eat, use the EAT sign and use it frequently during the eating process.  Once is not enough since babies need to see things hundreds of times to learn.  So, say “We’re going to EAT. Do you want to EAT?”  And then as you eat, say “Let’s EAT another bite of cereal.” Parents who are successful say that they sign often. It is less important to know a lot of signs than it is to use the signs you know.

Start small and grow with your baby.  You don’t need to know a lot to start.  Make the same basic signs consistently until your baby begins to sign back to you. Then, as your baby grasps the concept of signing, add more signs to your collection.  Don't drop the signs your baby already knows as you add new ones.

Your signing vocabulary can grow as your baby’s interests grow.  Watch what your baby is interested in and what activities you both engage in most often.  These are the best words to learn.  Maybe your baby loves books with animals and you want to learn DOG and BIRD.  Or maybe there are a lot of AIRPLANES that fly over your house.   If you sign things that your baby interacts with often, you will have more chances to sign and more opportunities to encourage signing.

Have Fun!  Incorporate signing in to your life and don’t make it an activity separate from your daily interactions.  Soon, you will find the fun and enjoyment of signing with your baby!

And remember to check out our Sign Babies Success Guide to learn the seven steps to signing success.