Baby Sign Language - Age to Start

You may be aware of the many benefits of using Baby Sign Language signs with your baby in order to help communicate with them before they can speak verbally. As a parent, it will be easy to understand your child’s needs and wants and as a child they will be able to express these needs and wants. Both parent and baby will be less frustrated by communicating with baby sign language signs.

If you have decided you would like to start signing with your baby, but aren’t sure when you should begin, you really can’t start too early.  I’d  recommend beginning your baby sign language journey at about four or five months of age, more so that you don’t get frustrated with the signing process while you wait for them to sign back.  At 4-5 months of age, you will notice that this is the age when they start to become more aware of their surroundings and are more interested in everything around them.  They are curious to discover their world and do this through observation. They will watch everything you do including movements and gestures. If you start to sign to your baby, they will begin to see the repetition of your movements and begin to recognize signs. The more familiar it becomes to them, the more likely they will begin to understand it.

Your baby must see these signs continuously before they are able and willing to perform signs themselves. Babies will typically reciprocate and sign back to their parent between the age of eight and twelve months. Keep in mind that this is a general age, and it may be younger or older than that age range when your baby signs back to you.

While I do suggest the age of 4-5 months to start signing with your baby, it is never too late. I did not start signing with my son until he was five years old and he benefitted greatly from using sign language even at that age. Signing helped him to better learn and understand sight words, spelling words and more. So, when you feel you are ready to start signing with your baby, whether it be when they are 3 months old or 23 months old, just go ahead and get started!

For more signs, tips and ideas on baby sign language, visit www.babysignlanguageonline.com/blog.