Tiny Hands, Big Voices: Why Learning Baby Sign Language Before Baby Arrives is a Game-Changer | South NJ Family Photographer

South NJ Family Photographer | Tiny Hands, Big Voices: Why Learning Baby Sign Language Before Baby Arrives is a Game-Changer

When you’re preparing for your little one’s arrival, your to-do list is probably filled with decorating the nursery, picking out the perfect newborn outfits, and prepping for your maternity photos. But there is one simple skill you and your partner can start practicing right now that will completely change your first year of parenting: Baby Sign Language.

Learning baby sign language before your baby arrives is an incredible head start. By becoming familiar with the signs now, they will naturally become a part of your daily routine from day one.

I’ll never forget the first time my son signed “more” around 6 months old. At first, I thought he was just trying to clap, but then I realized he was deliberately looking at me and tapping his fingers together. It was an absolute thrill! He wanted more food, of course. That tiny moment opened up a whole new world of communication for us long before he could speak.

The Big 8: Starter Signs for Every New Parent

Here are the essential baseline signs that will help your baby communicate their most urgent needs. Take a look at these quick video tutorials to practice with your partner tonight!

1. Milk
   • How to do it: Make a fist and open and close your hand, as if you’re milking a cow.
   • When to use it: Whenever your baby wants to nurse or have a bottle.
   • Watch the “Milk” Video Tutorial
2. More
   • How to do it: Bring your fingertips together on both hands and tap them together.
   • When to use it: Perfect for when your baby wants more food, play, or cuddles.
   • Watch the “More” Video Tutorial
3. All Done / Finished
   • How to do it: Hold your hands up with palms facing you, then twist them so your palms face down/out.
   • When to use it: Great for signaling when your baby is finished eating or playing.
   • Watch the “All Done” Video Tutorial
4. Eat / Food
   • How to do it: Tap the fingertips of one hand to your mouth.
   • When to use it: Use this sign whenever it’s mealtime or snack time.
   • Watch the “Eat” Video Tutorial
5. Drink
   • How to do it: Make a “C” shape with your hand and move it to your mouth as if holding a cup.
   • When to use it: Useful for when your baby is thirsty.
   • Watch the “Drink” Video Tutorial
6. Sleep / Bed
   • How to do it: Place your hands together and rest your cheek on them like a pillow.
   • When to use it: Perfect for establishing bedtime or naptime routines.
   • Watch the “Sleep” Video Tutorial
7. Diaper / Change
   • How to do it: Make a fist with both hands, bring your knuckles together, and twist them against each other.
   • When to use it: Handy to signal it’s time for a fresh diaper.
   • Watch the “Change” Video Tutorial
8. Help
   • How to do it: Place one hand palm up, place your other hand in a thumbs-up on top of it, and lift them together.
   • When to use it: Use this when your baby is struggling with a toy or needs assistance.
   • Watch the “Help” Video Tutorial

A Quick Note on Perfection: If your baby doesn’t do the sign perfectly (or even remotely close), that is totally okay! Our goal wasn’t to teach flawless ASL, but rather to understand our baby’s wants and needs. For instance, my son couldn’t quite coordinate the sign for “help,” so he would just tap his open hand on top of his head instead. We all knew exactly what it meant, and it worked beautifully!

12 More Useful Signs to Grow Into

Once you have the basics down, you can slowly introduce these fun and practical lifestyle signs:

You can find video tutorials for all of these and more on the Sign Ngrow YouTube Channel

Pro-Tips for Parents: How to Teach and Learn Together

• Practice Consistently: Make signing a natural part of your daily conversations. The more your baby sees you and your partner use the signs, the faster they will pick them up.
• Incorporate Signs into Daily Routines: Use them during meals, bath time, and diaper changes. Context is everything for a baby!
• Make it Fun: Incorporate signs into playtime, nursery rhymes, and storybooks.
• Be Patient: Every baby develops at their own pace. For us, it took a few months of consistent signing before our little one suddenly started signing back. Celebrate those tiny attempts and keep going!

Connecting Before Words

Even if you only choose one sign to start with, I promise it is going to help you connect with your baby on a deeper level. It drastically reduces toddler frustration, boosts early language skills, and strengthens your bond.

So, start practicing today! Get your partner, the grandparents, and older siblings involved. Turn it into a fun pre-baby habit so that by the time your little one is ready to communicate, you’re already fluent in their language.

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