What is Baby Sign Language?

Baby sign language is a modified form of sign language that allows babies and toddlers to communicate their needs and thoughts through simple gestures before they develop verbal skills. It differs from conventional sign languages for the deaf in that it focuses only on some basic signs relevant to an infant’s everyday life. The goal is to supplement verbal language development, not replace it.

Baby sign language typically uses simplified versions of signs from American Sign Language (ASL). Hand shapes may be less complex and the grammar rules are much more flexible. For hearing babies, it’s simply tapping into signs as a visual communication tool to fill the gap before they can talk.

How Does Baby Sign Language Benefit a Child’s Development?

Using baby sign language with infants has been shown in studies to provide many cognitive and emotional benefits. It enhances communication and language abilities even after verbal skills emerge.

Cognitive Development Advantages

Baby sign language promotes symbolic thinking skills from an early age as little ones associate signs with meanings. Seeing signs displayed aids visual recognition and memory before other senses have fully developed. Signing also activates and stimulates neural pathways in charge of processing visual-spatial perception. This boosts many types of learning down the road.

Emotional Benefits

Babies using sign language can express their feelings and needs from around six months old, rather than only crying when uncomfortable, hungry or tired. This reduces parental stress and frustration as well, since guessing what an infant wants is eliminated. Signing fosters trust and connection, comforting babies and helping regulate emotions.

Language and Communication Enhancement

Studies demonstrate children exposed to baby signs from six to nine months old usually start talking earlier and build vocabulary more quickly. Signing accustoms them to associating meaning to symbols. It also establishes critical joint attention skills where babies alternate from referencing objects to looking back at parents. This transfers over to verbal interactions. Baby sign language is a wonderful gateway into enhanced communication between parents and babies well before speech develops. It reduces frustration and encourages vital cognitive growth and emotional bonding during the pre-verbal stage.

Starting simple sign language instruction between six and nine months old based on a baby’s capabilities launches infants on an incredible path to language, intellectual and social advancement. You can visit our Resources page to find online and in-person sign language courses!