How to Use Baby Sign Language Basics With Your Infant
By Hay House | Published: 2026-10-14
Category: 操作指南
A step-by-step guide to teaching your baby ASL signs, from choosing starter signs to tracking progress. Learn when to start and what to expect.
Quick answer
Start signing with your baby around 6 months, using a handful of high-value signs like 'milk,' 'more,' and 'all done.' Say the word, make the sign, and repeat it every time the situation arises. Most babies begin signing back between 8 and 14 months. Consistency matters more than the number of signs you introduce.
Why signing works before speech
Babies develop the motor control for simple hand gestures well before the fine motor control needed for speech. That gap is the window where signing gives your infant a way to communicate needs, reducing frustration for both of you. You are not replacing speech; you are pairing a visual cue with spoken words so your baby connects the sign to the sound and meaning.
How many signs to start with
Choose three to five signs that match your daily routine. Common starter signs include milk, more, all done, eat, and sleep. If you try to introduce twenty signs at once, you and your baby will both lose track. A smaller set used consistently beats a large set used occasionally.
When to expect signs back
Most babies begin producing signs between 8 and 14 months, though some start earlier and some later. If your baby is not signing back by 12 months, keep going. The receptive understanding is building even when you do not see a sign returned yet. If you have concerns about communication development, talk with your pediatrician.
Step-by-step: teaching your baby to sign
- Pick your first three signs: Choose signs for things your baby encounters daily: milk, more, all done. Say the word while making the sign every time the moment happens. Common mistake: picking signs your baby rarely needs. Checkpoint: can you use each sign at least five times today?
- Sign during real interactions: Make the sign as you say the word in context, not as a separate lesson. For example, sign 'milk' as you offer the bottle or breast. Common mistake: drilling signs without the real object or action present. Checkpoint: does your baby see the sign and the thing it represents together?
- Watch for your baby's version: Your baby's sign may look different from yours at first. Accept approximations like a clenched hand for 'milk' as long as it is consistent. Common mistake: correcting your baby's handshape. Checkpoint: does your baby use the same gesture repeatedly for the same need?
- Add signs gradually: Once your baby uses one sign reliably, add one or two more. Keep the total active set small enough that you can model each sign daily. Common mistake: adding too many signs before the first ones stick. Checkpoint: can you name every sign you are currently modeling?
- Respond to every sign attempt: When your baby signs, acknowledge it immediately and give the thing or action they asked for. This teaches that signing works. Common mistake: ignoring a sign because you were hoping for speech. Checkpoint: did you honor the request within a few seconds?
- Keep signs in your routine: Use signs during meals, diaper changes, and bedtime. Repetition in the same contexts is what builds the association. Common mistake: signing only when you remember. Checkpoint: are you signing during at least three daily routines?
A resource that supports the process
- Baby Sign Language Basics: Baby Sign Language Basics is an expanded edition that provides more than 300 American Sign Language (ASL) signs with clear photos and descriptions. If you want a reference beyond your starter set, this gives you a large library of signs to pull from as your baby's needs grow.
