Babies can communicate by using sign language much earlier than they can speak. In fact, deaf babies will babble with their hands earlier than hearing babies will babble with their voice because signing is easier than speaking.

Parents who have successfully taught their babies sign language feel their babies are less frustrated because they can communicate what they want. Just remember, when you are teaching your baby sign language, it is important to combine sign language with spoken language. This means saying the word ‘MILK’ while you make the sign for milk and saying ‘BATH’ when you make the sign for bath. Your baby is avidly absorbing language that first year and is absorbing everything that comes out of your mouth when you talk to them, so give her as much language as possible.

I first learned about sign language when B and M were six months old. The first time Mackenzie signed, “milk’ to me 10 days after I taught her the sign, I was in complete awe. It is sooo cool!

50 yrs ago, kids spoke in full sentences btn 2-2.5 yrs old. Kids today speak in full sentences btn 2.5-3. That’s a 6-month delay. Why? Kids in front of TV/computer spend less time absorbing language. Studies show kids of deaf parents who are put in front of TV to “learn” language can mimic words, but they do not understand that spoken language is used for communication. TV doesn’t teach. Human interaction does.