What is the optimal age to introduce signs to our baby?
No age is too early to begin learning and modeling signs with your baby, though most babies will be physically unable to reproduce signs until the sixth to eighth month. A baby needs to develop memory, dexterity, and cognition adequate for recognizing, retaining, and producing signs. At the same time, it's never too late to start; even toddlers who have a few spoken words can significantly benefit from signing. Learning specific signs for "ball", "bath", and "bottle" can help distinguish the specific word when "ba-ba" is used for all three items. Using the sign paired with the baby's spoken sound can help reduce frustration for both you and your baby. The SIGN with your BABY® program will help guide you through this process.
How long will it take for our baby to start signing back to us?
As a rule, if you start to sign with your 6 month old baby, you can expect to see her signing back about 8-12 weeks later. Some babies sign back a lot sooner than that, some babies take a little longer, depending on wether they are learning to crawl or walk, which can delay them signing back to you for a few more weeks.
You should take into account the age of your child, how frequently you and other caregivers use the signs, and how interested the child is in communicating. Consistently using a few signs on a daily basis is the key to success in this program. The further along children are in their development, the sooner they may begin to produce signs.
But remember that even if they are not yet signing back to you, they are still able to understand many more words than a non signing baby. This helps them to understand routines and the world around them, which makes them a calmer, happier baby. (and you a calmer happier parent!)
All babies are different and they will develop along their own unique timelines. Be patient and consistent. Before long, you will experience the joy of witnessing your child's first attempts at two-way communication.
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Are there some babies who never learn to sign?
All typically-developing babies possess the capacity to understand and reproduce signs. Gesturing is part of a baby's natural communication process. Using standardized signs allows the baby a more specific and meaningful means of communicating. However, some babies may be unable to reproduce signs due to motor or cognitive delays. Should you have any concerns about your child's development, contact your pediatrician or Speech-Language Professional.
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