How to communicate with a baby using sign language?
"Huh? But my child isn't even deaf. Why teach him sign language ? Does it really work?" When we first heard about this idea, we asked ourselves the same questions. Spoiler alert: yes, it works! We tested it for you and we'll tell you all about it.
A baby who cries, screams, is fussy or doesn't want to sleep is often a source of stress, sadness, annoyance, exasperation or even despair (depending on the number of hours of sleep on the clock) for parents (and neighbors).
To avoid agonizing for hours wondering what's wrong with him, if he's sick, broken, crazy… (given the sheer volume of noise these little bodies make, at some point, it's normal to consider everything), we're introducing the family to communication through sign language . It's an effective and fun way to communicate with a baby about his needs and desires even before he can speak.
We always eagerly await firsts: the first glance, the first smile, the first handshake. Now we can add to this list: the first time they manage to sign. Thanks to their ability to imitate and motor skills that refine month by month, a baby under one year old is perfectly capable of expressing their needs, desires, and emotions (often their tantrums, in truth) even before they can utter their first word. Amazing! Yes, but ultimately not so surprising when you see how quickly these little beings develop during their first year of life. This new way of communicating with babies is so practical that it is now used in some nurseries, daycare centers, and preschools in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe.
How to learn sign language?
By simply learning to sign yourself. You can get a book or subscribe to various accounts dedicated to this topic on social media (mainly Instagram and YouTube ). Just type the keywords " baby sign language" into search engines to find a wealth of content, some of which is free.
We were given a book by Marie Cao, a bilingual sign language professional, mother of two daughters, and author of *The Big Guide to Baby Sign Language *. Very active on Instagram via her account @littlebunbao , she shares her knowledge with her followers daily through short lessons. We're fascinated by the videos she shares showing little ones, just a few months old, asking for their bottle or expressing their refusal to get out of the bath. So, we wanted to try it with our daughter, Lily.
Everything you need to know to communicate with your baby using sign language
The most important
Don't be afraid of looking silly. Not because sign language is a subject of ridicule. But, let's face it, when you find yourself alone with your baby, enthusiastically signing , making gestures , repeating words and facial expressions to emphasize understanding, and the response is a frown or a burst of laughter… it's enough to make you feel a little alone. We have to admit, we often get the feeling they're making fun of us.
Teaching a baby sign language requires patience; it will involve repetition , again and again, but after all, it's just a taste of what's to come in the years ahead. If only we got a euro every time we said, "Careful, gently, don't put your fingers in the socket, tidy your room, etc."
When should I start learning sign language?
Whenever you want. From birth if possible, otherwise the sooner the better. All children are capable of signing, but not all do so at the same time.
We started with Lily when she was 6 months old; it's precisely the age when a child's brain becomes capable of retaining the signs they see, even if they can't reproduce them because they don't yet have the necessary fine motor skills. Some children reproduce the signs before they can walk, others after this crucial stage, which requires a lot of energy and concentration. Some even do it after acquiring their first words and use it solely to express emotions, for example—concepts that are complex to verbalize (we think it would be useful with some adults too, actually...). It's never too late to start.
The most important thing is to respect the child's pace , without any pressure, to persevere, and not to get frustrated. We try to associate communication with something positive and joyful.
"At twelve months, Lily wasn't signing (she was right in the middle of learning to walk), but she clearly understood certain words she heard and signs she saw. When she cries because she's hungry and we say the word 'feed' while making the sign for 'eat,' she stops crying, understanding that it's coming. Often, she claps or lets out a squeal of joy or a burst of laughter to show her satisfaction at having been understood. Once she learned to walk, Lily started signing. She's able to tell us: more, sleep, bath, wash. We're so impressed." Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM.
How many signs should he learn?
There are no rules, we do as we please. depending on their time, their desires, and how useful they are. From basic needs (eating, drinking, changing, dressing, feeling pain, being scared, wanting more, saying stop) to entire rhymes mixing animals, verbs, and emotions . And we guarantee that these little stomachs on legs quickly learn the signs related to food…
What are the advantages of communicating via sign language?
Many people use sign language, so it's surprising that it's not more widespread. Learning sign language first and foremost fosters open-mindedness in both adults and children. It's about discovering another culture , a community , and raising awareness about deafness .
Just a quick note: learning signs from a book or an Instagram story isn't enough to become bilingual in sign language. To achieve that, you need to learn through immersion alongside deaf people and with the help of specialized organizations.
Another advantage is that you create a very strong bond with your baby. A relationship of trust develops because you are finally able to understand each other clearly. Using sign language helps reduce all kinds of tantrums , crying, and the resulting stress.
It also allows for the early development of bonds between siblings and other family members.
Finally, contrary to popular belief, a child who can express themselves through sign language will not speak later than any other child. On the contrary, having developed a taste for communication , they will want to go further, faster. Furthermore, when signing, the gesture is accompanied by the word it represents; the baby's brain therefore makes connections between what they see and what they hear, which helps them understand and retain what they learn.
"Personally, we are convinced of the principle and reassured by the idea that Lily now has another, faster and more suitable way to tell us what she wants and doesn't want (even if the (She's perfectly mastered her head nods to say no). We realize that she already understands many words without being able to pronounce them. Our only fear now is no longer being able to pretend we didn't understand when she insists heavily on having more ice cream… " Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM.
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