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This guide will have you ready to start teaching your child Baby Sign Language in just 5 minutes. It includes:
- Starter Signs: Learn mom, dad, eat, milk, and dog.
- Teaching Signing: Learn how to teach your child the signs.
- Signing Kit: Get guaranteed faster results with the Baby Sign Language Kit.
Baby Sign Language Basics
We start by introducing signs that your baby will use frequently every day and will be motivated to learn. We recommend the following five signs:
- Mom
- Dad
- Eat
- Milk
- Cat or Dog
(If those signs don’t make sense for your family, there are other great starter sign options on the Top 10 Starter Signs page.)
Top Five Starter Signs (Mom, Dad, Eat, Milk, Dog)
These four principles show you how to teach sign language to your baby:
- Fun – Keep signing playful and focused on motivating signs.
- Repetition – Incorporate signing in your daily routines.
- Encourage – Reward progress with praise & attention.
- Expand – Grow vocabulary based on your baby’s interests.
Teaching Baby Sign Language Quick Start
Our award-winning Baby Sign Language Kits get your baby signing faster.
- DVDs – Your baby learns to sign while being entertained by the music of Rachel Coleman & the Signing Time Crew.
- Flash Cards – Extend your baby’s vocabulary to people, foods, and animals with these sturdy flash cards.
- Teaching Guide – Utilize advanced topics for faster results, potty training, and transitioning to speech.
- Signing Dictionary – Have the right sign at your fingertips to satisfy your child’s curiosity.
- Wall Chart – Help grandparents, babysitters, and caregivers learn the basic signs.
Learn More
162 Responses to “Baby Sign Language QuickStart Basics”
Al Ghaliyah Al-Kh
ReplyHi,
What about signs for cartoon characters? Do you have any or suggestion where to find it?
For example, how to sign “Humpty Dumpty”, “Cocomelon”, “Paw Patrol”, “Greench”, “Lilo and Stitch”, etc.
I understand that there may not be any cartoons that are completely in sign language, but I am simply seeking ways to sign specific characters so that my son can watch cartoons he likes and be able to communicate his preferences.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHello,
What a thoughtful intention for your son! You are certainly free to join online forums for parents with hard-of-hearing children (remember, Google is your friend). Also, in my experience, parents/teachers can simply create their own sign of a TV show via acronyms (Example: “Paw Patrol” can be signed by its acronym “P P”, or a combination of the signs for “paw” and “patrol”. Another way is the longer way, that is, finger-spell the entire TV show’s name, “Lilo & Stitch”). Good luck!
Al Ghaliyah
ReplyTo whom it may concern,
Could you be so kind to advise whom to contact via email for permission of copyright to use your online available material for personal use in printed handout format.
ADMIN – Hi Al Ghaliyah,
You are free to use our materials for as long is it is not for profit, and please reference our site if you share our materials with others. Please check our copyright here for reference. Since we also have had multiple authors build this site through the years, you may refer to this APA guide for referencing a site under no author. Cheers.
Hannah M
ReplyDo you have a sign picture for the word “mean” or “rude”? I am working with a student who has selective mutism and so we are teaching her signs at school. We are trying to find some way for her to tell us when someone did something mean to her and I haven’t found a word in the dictionary that fits. Thanks!
Kara
ReplyI’ve had a lot of luck here and been told that Bill Vicars is pretty accurate.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Hannah, here is a video cluster that shows the ASL for “rude” and “mean” (in addition to “nice” and “respectful”, prior).
Shanai
ReplyDo you teach Australian sign language as well or just American?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyJust American Sign Language (ASL/BSL) here, Shanai. But there must be Australian SL online. You may even find some good ones on YouTube. Good luck!
Bob
ReplyThe first thing I look up was cat.
But your flash cards show fingers open to close.
And your video shows the fingers staying closed.I think your video is wrong
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Bob, thanks for stopping by. About the sign for CAT, the small matter of keeping the thumb and pointer finger closed – or opening and closing them – while the 3 remaining fingers remain splayed, is just that: a small variation to the basic sign. Please note that ASL (and other countries’ sign languages) all vary minutely or greatly. Even across the U.S. alone, ASL can have 2,3, or more variants. The important thing is that the sign being used in one’s own community is what is adopted, whether or not the initial signs that a parent or child learns are exactly the same as those of the community. Hope you enjoy learning!
melanie
ReplyI have a great nephew that may have autism. He has stopped talking. Do you think this program would be good for him?
Indy Smitt
ReplyI’m autistic. It’s nothing to be ashamed of or sorry for. It’s how our brains work. When I go nonverbal at times ASL has been an amazing resource for me to still communicate when I’m unable to speak. I’d highly recommend it! Best of luck learning how to communicate with your autistic nephew! Us auties are amazing 🙂
To whomever this administrator is that responded, please don’t express pity or disappointment when autistic people are mentioned. It implies that we are unnatural and something to be fixed. We aren’t. We just work differently.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHello Indy, thanks for stopping by. On the matter of my original reply to Melanie, please note: I was expressing empathy for the fact that her great nephew stopped talking (something that has caused concern to many parents and guardians, simply because they don’t know what to make of it) – not that he has autism per se. Hope that’s clear. No offense meant to the autistic community – I am a sincere admirer of the gifts that autists also share with the community. Cheers!
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplySorry to hear that, Melanie. It would not hurt to try BSL. However, if your family suspects autism, it may be prudent to reach out to specialists as soon as possible, too. Best of luck.
Mikaela
ReplyThe videos are really good and informative. I like how you can watch the videos and learn them, and you can replay them as many times as you want to learn, and you can be able to teach BSL to the infants as well.
Nicki Uyaguari
ReplyI’m learning and teaching ASL to a third grade class, is it okay If i teach them while using baby sign language?
Kathy
ReplyOur website and products use ASL so it would be okay to use for your class!
Tammy Webster
ReplyI think these videos are really good and informative.
Lu
ReplyHello!! If i want my baby to learn my mother language Spanish, which i will be speaking to all the time, is it okay to teach them at the same time ASL. We live in Canada.
Thanks!
Kathy
ReplyThe majority of Canada uses ASL or Quebec Sign Language so you it will be okay to teach the ASL!
Ya Ting Kuan
ReplyI’m really interested in your books and products. Do you have a Chinese version?
ThanksEttina
ReplyThere is a Chinese Sign Language, which is unrelated to ASL or BSL. I would recommend looking for resources to learn that language, so that your baby signing efforts also aid in communication with local Deaf people.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi, Thanks for your interest! We don’t have a Chinese version. If you are learning BSL right now, you may consider your own “hack”, i.e., either download our flash cards and write the Chinese translation for each word, so that you can teach your baby bilingually speech-wise, but with only one hand sign, or buy any of our card sets so you can write the Chinese translations on those cards more easily. Cheers.
Sonya
ReplyDo you have a spanish version of your dicitionary?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyNo, we don’t Sonya.
Jamie
ReplyDo you have an app?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Jamie, No app yet. In the meantime, feel free to browse our new dictionary pagesfrom your mobile phone. Flash cards can be directly downloaded on your phone as well. Cheers.
Carlos
ReplyIs this based on ASL ? I am an teacher of English as a foreign language, and I am trying to teach using some ASL.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHello, Carlos. Yes, Baby Sign Language is based on ASL. Cheers.
Paula
ReplyHello,
My daughter is 18 months old. We started sign language because she wasn’t saying one word. Now in less then a month, she is using like 20 signs or more, and now she finally says three words. Should I expand her vocabulary in baby sign or would it make a delay on speech?Antonisha
ReplyDo you have a kids’ app to learn sign language?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Antonisha, We don’t have an app for this site, but do check out our entire Dictionary on mobile. Our mobile interface works just fine, and you can still access our video and download the flash card on each page.
Antonisha
ReplyYes, I love the videos. Do you have any apps that would reach my kids?
steve flint
ReplyBaby Sign Language has three types of benefits:
Practical: less fussing and more fun.
Emotional: creates a closer child-parent bond.
Cognitive: boosts brain development.Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Paula, That is great news — both that she has learned so many baby signs and that she has started to speak as well! Don’t worry about impeding her speech development if you continue signing. Baby Sign Language studies have actually indicated no speech impediments even in the continuance of signing, and in fact, BSL is known to help boost the child’s intelligence. So, keep signing and enunciating the words to your daughter. Speaking and signing at the same time can only help activate multiple senses in her. Have fun!
Jasmine
ReplyIs this sign language iconic? Is it the same as ASL Sign language?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Jasmine,
Yes, Baby Sign Language is based on ASL. Please do note that ASL itself has some sign variants due to different source regions across America. Having said that, the signs are generally widely used by ASL signers spanning both coasts. Cheers.
lupe
Replyes interesante saver
Jaden
Replysi, es interesante ver. ¿Puedo preguntar qué te pareció más interesante?
Ken Milter
ReplyCan babies & children speak sign language with each other without any adult around?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Ken, Absolutely, though this wouldn’t preclude them from trying to utter their first words (or babble) with each other either. 🙂
Alissa McClure
ReplyHowdy,
I was given some of your DVDs and don’t have a player. After watching a few of your introductory videos, I’d like to know if you have downloadable content for sale in lieu of DVDs?
Thank you!
AlissaBaby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyHi Alissa, Thanks for asking. Have you tried playing the DVDs on your PC’s/laptop’s CD/CD-ROM player? That should work fine. Cheers.
Mel
ReplyLaptops don’t have cd/dvd players anymore. At least not the good ones 😂 Young people having kids now, don’t have DVD players. Haha! I’m 34 and It’s been over a decade since I’ve owned or used a DVD/CD. I’d love a digital download as well.
Ashley
ReplyI also would like a digital version. I don’t want to buy a DVD (it would be the only one in my house). I would pay the same price if you updated your medium to digital.
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyI’m afraid we don’t have a digital compilation for sale at the moment. However, I hope you’ll bookmark our sign pages as our videos are readily accessible on each page. We’re also developing a few hundred more sign pages now. We will keep you posted when we eventually get around to a digital version of our products. Cheers!
Nkem
The DVD can be replaced with a flash drive too. Is that option being considered?
Baby Sign Language Administrator
Thanks for your comment, Nkem. We are likely to go all digital soon though, so bookmark our page for any future changes.
LAURA GORDON
ReplyTHIS LESSON CONFIRMED WHAT I HAD LEARNED WITH MY DEAF SON, AND WE ARE LEARNING MORE AND MORE SIGNS DAILY. THANK YOU!
Gina Gill
ReplyWish this was more affordable.
toni amado
ReplyWe have used the ‘milk’ sign, ‘eat’, ‘more’, and ‘all done’. It’s so amazing! I will be ordering a kit as well.
Jennifer
ReplyI’ll be ordering a copy of the book for signing to help my son learn easier!!!
Leanne
ReplyIf a grandparent is called nana or papa would you will use the grandmother and grandfather sign?
ADMIN – Hi Leanne,
Yes, the sign is for the relationship and not for the naming attribute.
Margaret Hallock
ReplyGreat stuff! The Basics/Quickstart info helps us know where to begin learning and teaching sign language to our kids. Keep up the awesome work!
Brianna
ReplyIs there a separate sign for nursing? Or should I just use milk for both a bottle and nursing?
ADMIN – Hi Brianna,
I use the same sign for simplicity
Brittany Pugh
ReplyAt what age do you recommend starting to teach signs to a baby?
ADMIN – Hi Brittany,
We have seen the highest levels of impact when parents begin using between six to eight months.Victoria
ReplyIs this American Sign Language, or are any of them made up “baby signs”?
ADMIN – Hi victoria,
It is adapted ASL. This means some signs have been simplified to match the motor skills of a baby.
Jennifer
ReplyThis was very helpful! I am definitely getting your Baby Sign Language book!
Baby Sign Language Administrator
ReplyGreat to hear that, Jennifer. Let us know how it goes once you’ve ordered the book for signing. Have fun learning with your son!
Shawndra Higgins
ReplyThe more I learn about ASL, the more fascinated and intimidated I get. ♥
Shawndra Higgins
ReplyMy husband keeps thinking that the 10 week old babies that are signing are just super smart babies. I think it’s due to the amount of exposure and/or better fine motor skills the baby may have. Can you set us straight? lol
ADMIN – Hi Shawndra,
It is not a matter of IQ. It is generally a matter of engagement and environment.
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