How Baby Sign Language Basics: When to Start

How baby sign language basics. If you want to connect with your infant on a deeper level before they can communicate, try teaching them sign language.

The challenge of meeting your baby’s unique requirements is something that many new parents can empathize with. Will they eat? Is a change necessary? Until their little one learns to talk, parents have to learn to interpret their every cry, whether they’re a sharp scream for help changing their diaper or a cry for food. Is that so? Language of baby signs. When parents and infants alike learn basic motions to communicate needs, a whole new world may become accessible. This is called baby sign language.

Today, baby sign language teacher and Tiny Signs creator Lane Rebelo shares with parents-to-be and current parents-to-be all the information they need to know about baby sign language before starting their baby’s communication journey.

“There is a lag between what a baby understands (receptive language) and what they can communicate (expressive language) because a baby’s ability to speak develops later than his or her ability to comprehend spoken language,” Rebelo explains to TODAY.com. When their children start using infant sign language, it may be a window into their world and a way to start communicating with them before they can talk.

Infants learn sign language “to convey what they’re thinking in a more sophisticated way than just pointing,” according to Rebelo. “Once they begin, parents who use sign language often discover that their children understand far more than they had anticipated.”

Baby sign language is a way to use simple hand signs—often adapted from American Sign Language (ASL)—to help babies communicate before they can speak. It can reduce frustration, encourage early language skills, and strengthen bonding.

Here are the basics:

1. When to start

You can introduce signs as early as 6 months, but most babies start signing back between 8–12 months.
Earlier exposure builds familiarity, even if they don’t respond right away.

2. How to teach

Pick a few useful signs first: “milk,” “more,” “eat,” “all done,” “mommy,” “daddy.”
Say the word aloud while making the sign, every time you do the activity.
Be consistent—same sign, same word, same context.
Use repetition and patience—it can take weeks before they try.

3. Common beginner signs

Milk – Open and close your fist, like milking a cow.
More – Touch fingertips of both hands together.
Eat/Food – Tap fingertips to your mouth.
All done – Rotate both hands outward from your body.
Mommy – Thumb to chin, fingers spread.

4. Tips for success

Keep sessions short and natural—no “lessons,” just everyday use.
Always pair signs with eye contact and spoken words.
Celebrate any attempt, even if the sign isn’t perfect.

How to teach baby sign language

Saying the word and doing the motion simultaneously is the first step in teaching your infant sign language. If you want to teach your kid the sign for milk, which is an open-and-closed fist/milking motion, you may say “milk” as you give it to them.

Remember that repetition is crucial, so be sure to pair the sign with the word every time you speak it. Don’t give up if your infant doesn’t show any signs of wanting milk at first. It might be a while before she figures it out. However, the amount of communication between you and her will abruptly increase once she does.

According to Rebelo, “milk,” “eat,” “more,” and “all done” are the basic indications that most families employ when they first start. Playful signals like “dog,” “cat,” “ball,” and even “light” are great for encouraging and entertaining infants; therefore, I think parents should use them. Babies are eager to share their thoughts and feelings, and these signals may be a great way to get the conversation going for many families.

Every moment of the day, from eating to going for walks to even simply playing at home, is an opportunity for parents to sign to their infant. Start by introducing your baby to different objects that go with the same sign. This will help her learn that her sign is her way of getting what she wants.

When to start baby sign language

Around 8 to 12 months of age is when the majority of newborns start signing. While Rebelo recommends that parents who are interested start teaching their babies sign language between 6 and 8 months old, she assures parents that there is no need to fear if their kid is older, since there is no “magic window” that closes.

She reassures parents that they may begin teaching their infant sign language whenever they are ready. “Some parents begin immediately, while others wait until their child turns one before realizing it would be a great help to their irritated toddler!” Time spent using sign language will start at a different point for each infant, just as it does for other developmental milestones, like as turning over, crawling, and even talking.

The youngest child that Rebelo has seen firsthand is five months old, he adds. Some infants may not start signing again until they are a year old, but once they do, their sign language skills could blossom. Sometimes, it takes them turning one before it clicks, but once it does, it occurs quickly. You are the best person to determine when your baby is ready, so trust your instincts.

Do you know of any negative aspects of infant sign language?

Many parents worry that teaching their infant sign language may delay their child’s speech development, but new evidence suggests the reverse may be true. According to Rebelo, who spoke with TODAY.com, research shows that newborns exposed to sign language talk earlier and have greater vocabularies; therefore, learning baby sign language does not inhibit speech development.

Babies exposed to sign language at 11 months of age had a greater vocabulary and knew more words by the age of two compared to the non-signing group, according to a groundbreaking research conducted by physicians Linda Acredolo and Susan Goodwyn, which was supported by the National Institute of Health.

In other words, will your kid continue signing even after she starts talking?

In the beginning, Rebelo explains, “most babies will sign exclusively.” Later on, as the baby begins to talk more, “the sign falls away” since the baby’s speech improves. “Speech development occurs quickly for normally developing children from about 18 months onwards, and some babies skip this stage and stop signing suddenly as they go from talking to signing.”