Why Baby Sign Language Can Be a Helpful Communication Tool

Baby sign language provides little ones with the opportunity to communicate before they can speak. We chatted to an expert about why it’s worth trying, when to start, and how to best support your baby’s language development.

What are the benefits?

According to Amanda Mellor, the founder of Baby Babble, an organisation that runs baby sign classes, there are numerous benefits to signing with your baby. “Their understanding of language increases as does their connection with the greater world around them,” she explains. “This is because communication with them becomes intentional. If you know someone is going to respond or can understand you, you are more likely to speak to them.”

Amanda also says that signing can strengthen a baby's relationships with everyone around them. “Their primary caregiver no longer needs to translate for them if everyone in their world signs with them,” she says. “Their (and their parents') frustrations are hugely reduced when everyone knows they can communicate and be understood even if only one party is actually using words.”
 
For those living in a bilingual household, baby sign language can help baby to understand and learn two languages at a time. In fact, Amanda says, signing supports speech and language development generally. “You never sign without speaking so language is always heard. Added to this, babies who are signed tend to hear a larger vocabulary and therefore have a larger vocabulary when they start speaking.”

How do you start?

Although it is possible to start signing to your baby from birth, Amanda says that most parents feel ready from about the time their baby is around four months old. “There is no time that it is too late to start either because if they are not speaking yet, it gives your little one a way to communicate until their speech has developed,” she explains.
 
If you would like to incorporate signing into your baby’s routine, Amanda suggests starting with one sign per sentence. “This should be the most important message-carrying word of the sentence,” she explains.
 
She also suggests speaking slowly while signing. “As adults, we speak incredibly quickly and little ones take more time to process what we are saying. By slowing your speech down, you pronounce every word more clearly and give your baby time to process what you are saying.”
 
It’s also important to be consistent - every time you say a word, sign it. “This helps the baby to understand and see the word,” says Amanda. “Remember, you are not teaching sign language, you are using signing to support speech and language development and for this your baby needs to hear language.”

Model correct language 

Many parents use ‘baby talk’ to communicate with little ones. “Adults tend to speak to babies in a higher pitched, sing-song voice. This has been proven to help babies with connection and is calming to a baby, which is why it is instinctive to do,” says Amanda. She notes, however, that it’s best to speak to babies in full sentences (although shorter and more concise than normal). “Use correct language with the baby, so that they can learn to speak a language properly and correctly,” recommends Amanda.

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