How To Teach Your 6 Month Old Baby Sign Language (in just 3 steps!)
6 months is such a big milestone for many babies! Many are sitting up, starting solids, and really interacting with the world around them. I remember the excitement with both of my babies when they hit this milestone, because I couldn’t wait to watch my baby experience new foods and textures.
Alongside this huge milestone is many parents’ readiness to use sign language to help communication and lessen frustrations, especially at meal time. However, navigating how to teach them and what ASL signs to use can seem overwhelming.
Here’s the good news: teaching your 6 month old baby sign language is extremely possible! Follow these steps and recommended resources:
If you don’t already, please follow me on Instagram for more about how sign language can be a game charger for your baby / toddler’s early communication skills.
The signs to teach your baby first:
Reflect on why you are wanting to use sign language with your baby. More than likely, it’s for early communication, know what they want, and/or reduce frustrations.
Because of this, we want to use sign language for functional vocabulary.
These words are used across many contexts and serve many language functions. Thus, your little one is more likely to be able to communicate their needs and wants with you! I dive into this topic in depth in this blog post.
With these ASL signs, your 6 month old can begin to learn the meaning of highly functional vocabulary that can serve them all day long, regardless of what they are doing!
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.
When to use sign language with your baby:
Sign language during meal time is a quick association for many parents because it is routine, predictable, and occurs a few times each day.
However, there are many more opportunities to use sign language with your 6 month old baby!
When my babies were 6 month old, I made sure to use sign language during their predictable routines and at the same time every day. With the hustle and bustle of our days, I needed that routine to make sure I was focusing on that language exposure and providing them with as many opportunities as possible.
Your baby is learning about this new world around them, becoming more aware and alert each day. As they continue to grow and develop, they are recognizing the patterns and making associations. Including sign language to their routines will have huge payoffs as they get older and start to use sign language to communicate.
What to do when your baby starts to sign back:
Just like with spoken words, your little one's signs will not necessarily look like your signs. And that is A-OKAY!
Be on the lookout for hand movements that just might really be an early emerging sign! Praise and celebrate your baby, encouraging them the whole way!
