Sign Language For Infants
Infants really can do it

Q: What's all this I hear about sign language for infants? What are some of the basic words in sign language?

A: When I first heard about sign language for infants, our daughter Hana was about three months old. To be perfectly honest, I didn't believe it would be very effective, so we didn't look into it at that time.

Then, as Hana got older, she became very articulate at an early age, so it wasn't really necessary with her. (She could talk before she could walk!).

However, with our second daughter Alexa, we did teach her basic words in sign language for infants. We taught her the sign for "more" (tips of fingers touching together) and "all finished" (shaking hands up parallel to shoulders) and the results were amazing!

It was wonderful when she was fussy in her highchair, we could ask, "What's wrong Lexi?" and she would actually do the basic words in sign language, like "more", as in "I want more food" or "all finished, as in "Get me outta this highchair!". It helped us so much.

Even sometimes when were driving in the car, Hana could see Lexi, who was facing backwards in her infant car seat, and she would translate for us. If Lexi was hungry, she signed "more" and Hana would pipe up, "Lexi's hungry, mom!". Obviously there are many basic words in sign language you can teach your baby and it really works. We were a bit lazy and only used two words and even with just two, it was very helpful. We had the same positive results with our son. Trey is able to talk now and he still sometimes signs "more".

There are many books and videos available on this subject. I would encourage you to look into it for yourself.

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