Baby sign language

From the age of 6 months, it's possible to establish communication with your little one. And yes — through baby sign language! Let's discover together what it's all about, and also why baby sign language is so useful. How does it allow you to build clear communication long before your baby can speak? Let's dive right in.

What exactly is baby sign language?

Between the ages of 0 and 3, our little one's speech develops gradually. And it has to be said — it isn't always easy for children to make themselves fully understood. This is where baby sign language comes in: the aim is that we speak to our little one while pairing signs with what we say.

Contrary to what you might expect, baby sign language is not an adaptation of British Sign Language. Instead, it is a mode of communication specially adapted for our dear little babies. In practice, as parents, we speak to our child in a completely normal way, simply accompanying certain words and expressions with signs. So why use it exactly?

Why use baby sign language?

This teaching method offers many benefits.

First and foremost, it helps reduce frustration in children caused by being misunderstood — and at that age, we're all rather keen to avoid those little meltdowns! Through baby sign language, children can communicate their needs to everyone around them. This creates a stronger sense of closeness between baby and all those they interact with — whether parents, siblings, or the professionals at a nursery.

Furthermore, baby sign language supports intellectual, cognitive, and emotional development.

But what about learning to speak — where does that fit in?

Rest assured, baby sign language will not hold your child back in their verbal communication — quite the opposite! It will help them develop more precise language that's less "baby-like". Baby sign language also requires a lot of effort from the child, which means that as soon as your little one realises it's easier to say a word than to sign it, they won't hesitate to do so! Baby sign language is purely a support for spoken communication, and it is entirely transitional. So please don't worry — it's genuinely a helpful tool, not a hindrance, far from it!

When should you start signing with your little one?

From around 6–8 months you can already begin signing with your baby. Your tiny one is capable of understanding certain simple signs, particularly those relating to mealtimes or rest. It's recommended to start signing early in order to prevent frustration and crying as much as possible — these being the only initial means of communication our little ones have.

Through this approach, you will support the development of your child's language skills. Finally, by using simple, easy-to-understand signs, you'll find signing with your baby a real pleasure. It's child's play, you'll see!