Baby Signing: Your Comprehensive Getting Started Guide

Introduction

Welcome, sleep-deprived parents! We know that you’re juggling a million things, and trying to squeeze in baby signing might feel like just one more task. But don’t worry, we’re here to make this simple and enjoyable for both you and your little one. Baby signing is an amazing way to communicate before your baby can speak, helping to ease frustration and strengthen that special bond between you. And trust us—it’s easier than you think!

If you have just arrived here and don’t know the first thing about baby sign please check out our baby sign page with information on what is baby signing and it’s benefits by clicking here.

Getting Started: Easy Tips for Tired Parents

When you’re running on minimal sleep, the idea of learning a whole new set of hand movements might feel like a tall order.

That’s why it’s best to start small. Choose just a handful of signs—around 5 to 7—that are most relevant to your daily routine. Common ones to begin with are ‘milk’, ‘eat’, ‘more’, ‘all done’, ‘sleep’, ‘nappy/diaper’, and ‘bath’. This keeps it manageable for you and helps your baby learn the most important words first.

Consistency is key, but don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect.

You’ll be amazed at how quickly signs can become part of your routine without much extra effort. Use them during activities you’re already doing with your baby, like meal times or getting ready for bed.

Keep it light and fun, and remember that it’s okay if it takes some time to see results—sometimes babies need a few weeks, or even months, before they start signing back. Stay patient and enjoy the process!

Step-by-Step Approach to Baby Signing

The best way to start is by choosing signs that fit naturally into your day. Focus on activities and interests that are important to your baby—whether it’s eating, sleeping, or playing.

Once you’ve picked your signs, it’s time to learn them. A great tool for this is our app, which offers 12 free signs to get you going. Practice in front of a mirror if that helps, and make it a family activity—everyone can get involved! You can even turn it into a fun game with your baby, which will make the learning process enjoyable for both of you.

Incorporating signs into your routine doesn’t have to be a big production.

For example, during meal times, use simple signs like ‘eat’, ‘drink’, ‘more’, and ‘finished’.
At bedtime, you can start using ‘sleep’, ‘book’, and ‘love’ as part of your nightly wind-down.
Bathtime is a great opportunity to introduce signs like ‘bath’, ‘water’, ‘wash’, and ‘bubbles’.
Even nappy changes become a learning opportunity with signs like ‘nappy’, ‘clean’, and ‘dirty’.

The trick is to be consistent. Try to use the sign every time you say the word, and repeat it a few times while you’re interacting with your baby. Further if the sign relates to an object such as drink or nappy show this to the baby while you do the sign to aid the child’s comprehension.

You don’t need to be perfect—just do your best to keep showing them the signs during everyday moments. Your baby will start to recognize the pattern, and before you know it, they’ll be signing back, even if it’s just an approximation at first. Celebrate every little attempt they make and encourage them as they refine their signs.

Encouraging Language Through Everyday Interaction

One of the easiest ways to incorporate baby signing into your daily life is to narrate your actions—what’s often called ‘self-talk’. For example, when you’re getting ready to eat, you might say, “Mummy is eating breakfast,” while using the ‘eat’ sign.

It doesn’t have to be formal or rehearsed; just talk through what you’re doing and use the relevant signs. It’s the same with ‘parallel talk’—when you describe your baby’s actions. If your little one is drinking milk, you could say, “You’re drinking milk!” and sign ‘drink’ as they do it. This helps your baby connect the signs to their world in a natural, relaxed way.

You can also let your baby guide you. Watch what interests them during play and use signs that match their focus. For instance, if they’re fascinated by a ball, you could introduce the ‘ball’ sign and talk about it: “You have the ball. Can you roll the ball?” Following your baby’s lead not only helps with learning but also makes the experience more engaging and enjoyable for them.

Adding Signs to Songs and Books

Songs and books are a great way to incorporate signing, but it’s important not to feel overwhelmed by trying to sign every word. Start by picking just one or two key signs from a song. For instance, with “The Incy Wincy Spider”, begin with the ‘spider’ sign and add more signs, like ‘rain’ and ‘sun’, as you and your baby get more comfortable.

Similarly, with “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”, you can start with one animal sign, like ‘cow’, and then introduce a new animal sign each week. The same goes for “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Start with ‘star’ and gradually add ‘sky’ and ‘world’ over time.

If you’re feeling ambitious, songs like “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” are perfect for learning body parts, but you can start by signing just ‘head’ and ‘toes’, and add more signs as you go. For songs like “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, focus on emotion signs like ‘happy’, then add ‘know’ and the action signs like ‘clap’ and ‘stomp’ later on. The key is to keep it manageable for both you and your baby. Signing shouldn’t feel like a chore—it’s about having fun and making meaningful connections.

When it comes to books, choose ones with simple, repetitive text and clear pictures. Start by signing one key word per page, focusing on nouns like ‘cat’ or action words like ‘run’. As you get more comfortable, you can increase to two key signs per page. Don’t worry about signing every word—just pick the ones that feel most important or relevant to the story.

Some great books to try include “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” for animal and colour signs, or “Goodnight Moon” for bedtime routine signs. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” is another favourite for food signs, and “Dear Zoo” is wonderful for introducing animals and descriptive words like ‘heavy’ or ‘tall’.

Signing in Your Daily Routine

The best way to make baby signing a habit is to weave it into your everyday activities. In the morning, when your baby wakes up, you can greet them with signs like ‘good morning’ and ‘light’. During nappy changes, reinforce signs like ‘nappy’ and ‘clean’. At breakfast, practice signs for common foods and drinks, like ‘milk’, ‘banana’, and ‘water’.

Playtime is another rich opportunity for signing. Use signs for favourite toys, such as ‘ball’ or ‘blocks’, and incorporate action signs like ‘throw’ or ‘build’. You can also practice emotion signs like ‘happy’ or ‘excited’. And when it’s bathtime, use water-related signs like ‘bath’, ‘splash’, and ‘bubbles’, and reinforce body part signs such as ‘hair’, ‘tummy’, or ‘leg’.

At bedtime, winding down with signs for ‘sleep’, ‘book’, ‘pajamas’, and ‘blanket’ helps create a soothing routine. You can even use calming signs like ‘quiet’ and ‘love’ as part of a lullaby or bedtime story.

Troubleshooting Common Concerns

It’s normal to have questions or feel uncertain, especially if your baby doesn’t start signing back right away. Every baby is different, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a little while. Consistency and patience are key. Remember, it’s a learning process for both of you!

If you’re worried about not remembering all the signs, don’t stress. You can always check back with our app for a quick refresher, and focus on just a few signs at a time.

Another common concern is recognizing whether your baby is really signing or just moving their hands around. Baby signs can be pretty basic in the beginning, so look for any repetitive gestures that seem to match the signs you’ve been showing them. Celebrate these attempts—no matter how small—and reinforce them by continuing to use the signs yourself.

Finally, some parents wonder if signing will delay their baby’s speech development. Rest assured that research shows signing doesn’t delay speech—in fact, it supports language development by giving babies a way to express themselves before they can speak. For more benefits of baby signing please click here.

Where to Find Signs and Resources

To help you along your signing journey, we offer an app that includes 12 free signs, as well as a narrated and signed book and song. For just $2.99 a month, you can unlock our full sign library and access all our resources to continue expanding your baby’s signing vocabulary. You can also visit our online shop for physical products, such as books and posters, designed to support your baby’s learning.

Conclusion

You’re doing an amazing job just by taking the first steps into baby signing. Every sign, no matter how small, makes a difference in your baby’s world. Remember, this journey is about connection and communication, not perfection. So take it easy, have fun, and enjoy the magic of watching your baby discover a new way to express themselves. We’re here to support you every step of the way—whether it’s through our app, our community, or our resources.

And when you’re ready, download our app to get started with your first 12 free signs, and subscribe for access to the full range of tools that will help you and your baby thrive in this new and exciting form of communication.