Baby Sign Language: When should you start teaching your baby sign language? 

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Sign Language for Your Baby and Toddler

When Should You Start Teaching Your Baby or Toddler Sign Language?

Mary Moore

Sign Language: It is never too early to start and it is never too late to start.

A baby does not learn communication skills overnight. Those skills are acquired gradually throughout childhood, indeed, throughout life. 

So when should you start teaching your baby to use sign language?

Basically it is never too early to start and it is never too late to start.

Some parents start at birth. Some research has found a few babies signing as young as four months. 

''If you start showing signs at seven months, many babies could be signing back at eight months,'' says Dr. Joseph Garcia, who began researching the subject of sign languages with babies in 1986. 

Maybe your baby is already a year old and you are just reading this sign language website. Experts also say it's fine to wait to begin the process. It is not too late to start, even with a toddler.

Parents who do teach their baby sign language feel they are 

• Using sign language to communicate with their baby at an earlier age.
• Reducing frustrations by this communication.
• Giving their babies a head start in communication skills.
• Teaching their baby a second language.

More about sign language and your baby.
Back to other articles about sign language.

More information about sign language for your baby or toddler.

Teaching Your Baby Sign Language.

Don't spend a fortune on books and videos for sign language products before you have experience. The truth is that sign language is not hard to learn for you or for your baby. I would only purchase two, possibly three, sign language items.

My recommendations for teaching your baby sign language:

1. Dr Joseph Garcia authored the classic in the sign language field: Sign With Your Baby.

Buy the video only or buy a kit which contains the video, a short and simple to understand book, plus a chart showing the signs. 

The sign language video is a must for the section on teaching sign language and the last section which demonstrates American Sign Language words. I would buy the kit to get the accompanying sign language book unless you buy the CD Pick Me Up at the same time. That CD includes a workbook. One sign language book is probably enough although both of these sign language books have their positive and different attributes.

Review  Sign with Your Baby
Buy Video
Buy Kit 
Buy Laminated Sign
Buy DVD

2. At the same time I would add the music CD Pick Me Up for the signing and singing as well as the excellent sign language workbook for parents. This fun, interactive experience for you and your baby is all it normally takes to rapidly add words to your American Sign Language vocabulary. 

Review  Pick Me Up: Songs for Learning Signs Buy Music CD & Workbook

3. If at any time you or your babies are having problems learning sign language, purchase Baby See N Sign, Volume I. It presents American Sign Language words three different times: as a still picture, in slow motion, and at normal video speed.

Review See 'n Sign
Buy Video

Frankly, I believe the above three items are all the sign language products you need to own. 

If you have an expanded budget, here are some other sign language products I would consider buying.

See sign language products I would not buy and the reasons I would not buy them here.

Why purchase any sign language items? Why not use the library for your sign language needs?

You probably need at least one sign language product on hand for reference. A CD of music to sign by teaches sign language daily. Plus your baby can watch a sign language video like Baby See N Sign to supplement your own signing.

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