Sign Language with Your Baby

One of the biggest frustrations of a new parent is the inability to clearly communicate with an infant. Although you can always try several different techniques to comfort your baby, wouldn't it be simpler to see and know exactly what they're pining for? This is where simple sign language can come in handy! Not every child is ready at the same time, but it's never too early or too late to start trying it with them.

You can find many resources online, as well as in books and on YouTube (even apps for your iPhone!), to learn how to quickly begin teaching yourself to use sign language with your baby. There are many people who have begun using it as early as three months of age, but anywhere between six to eight and a half months seems to lend the best results. Obviously, you will want to start off with a few signs concerning items your little one enjoys, such as milk, Mama, Daddy and cat or dog.

Repetition is the clear key here, as well as patience and encouragement - once the basics have been covered you can begin expanding their signs. You can start out making signs part of your daily routine, just as you may use regular words to describe something you are showing them. One web site suggests adding them into nursery rhymes as you sing them with your baby. Pointing to an object while signing in response may help some children learn, too.

When you first start you may end up playing out both sides of your conversation, but you always want to wait and give your baby the chance to respond. Give him or her about twenty seconds to sign back before answering yourself in sign. One way to assist with the learning process is to make the signs on your baby's body. You can even hold your baby in your lap as you make the signs on their body to make sure they are done correctly.

Some babies may learn best by guiding their hands to make the signs you are requesting of them. Whenever you are using their hands to sign, be sure to say "Show me with your hands" so that later on, after they have learned a few, you can ask them to show you to make the process easier. You should always be sure to make the correct signs so your child has the correct motions to go by. They will not perform it correctly every time, but you should just make sure you do. Practicing on your own would help you get them down for your own benefit.

In the end, keep patience in mind, and don't be afraid to consult your endless online resources when you face a stumbling block. YouTube and Google both offer many great aids that will help you in this new journey. And in the mean time, you can check out this YouTube video and pick up a few tips before you continue.