Baby Sign Language: ASL Signs You Should Start With First (in only 3 steps!)
This is a really important part of getting started, and when done correctly, your child can really take off! To answer this question, I want to make sure you have a good understanding about your goal, language development, and your child.
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Assess your goal
Ask yourself WHY you want to use sign language with your baby or toddler. Usually, it is something along the lines of early communication, so you can understand what they want, hoping to replace the cries and guessing game, reduce tantrums, and hopefully you’re also interested in learning more about the Deaf culture and ASL as well!
Want to use sign language with your little one?
Get Started Now with 10 functional ASL signs to start using with your baby or toddler right away. Learn 3 tips to ensure you are using signs correctly and with realistic expectations. Whether you have already started signing, or just warming up to the idea, this free guide will take you one step closer to your goal!
Look Who’s Signing Now is my signature four part course that teaches you the exact blueprint I use to teach my own children sign language. Beginning with the foundation of why and when to use baby sign language, how to implement it, and what signs to use. With this self-study e-course, you will have the confidence to sign with your baby and boost their early communication while reducing frustrations, tantrums, and time wasted playing the guessing game.
Check out my online resources for parents! Browse my current offerings.
Start with functional language first
All of those “why” responses lead you to needing to start with signs that are highly functional. These are words such as MILK, ALL DONE, HELP, MORE, EAT, SLEEP, or HURT (and the list goes on).
Here’s why:
These can be used in many contexts such as play, feedings, sleep routines, or meals.
Many of these words allow your child to request something, protest against something, direct someone, and so much more.
These are the gateway to your baby or toddler communicating about their basic needs and wants with you (remember that goal of why?)
These are also some of the earliest words to develop (again, because they do so much for communicating needs and wants, protesting, etc)
Follow your child’s lead
To determine which signs you can start using, assess what functional words would help your child communicate their needs and wants with you right now. Even if they’re 3 months old - they still are communicating those with you through cries!
This might look like:
3 months: MILK, ALL DONE
10 months: EAT, MORE, HELP
16 months: SLEEP, HURT, WANT
26 months: POTTY, WANT, PLAY
