Step Four: Expand Your Baby Sign Vocabulary
1. Introduction
Once baby learns her first few signs start adding a few more signs, and then when she learns those add a few more. The first ten or so signs will come very gradually, but the rate of learning will accelerate after the first few months. Baby will soon become more proficient at signing and will even start prompting you for new signs.
Follow your child’s interests when adding new signs, taking advantage of their natural curiosity about their world.
Adding signs gradually makes it easier for baby to learn. And while we add new signs, we still want to keep giving the old signs a workout to keep baby from forgetting those old signs.
2. Follow their Interests
Oberserve what kinds of signs are most interesting to baby, and focus most of your vocabulary expansion on these topics. For example, if your baby is fascinated by food signs, make most of your new signs about types of food.
Particularly at this early stage, it is much more important to get momentum and keep it fun than it is to learn any particular signs. Just like when a child is learning to read, you just want them to read, and shouldn’t be too concerned about what they are reading. There will be plenty of time to balance out their vocabulary later, to start follow their interests.
3. Extending Along Themes
It is easiest to teach new signs in groups of related concepts. For example animals, foods, vehicles, people, colors, etc. Selecting a theme that interest your child, add new signs in that group. The contrast between the items in the group help baby understand the meaning of the word. For example, teaching hot and cold together is easier than teaching the signs separately because the meanings of the two words are related and understanding one illuminates the other.
Numbers and letters are also good themes, but are too abstract for the early stages of baby sign language and should be saved for more advanced toddlers.
4. Teaching Aids
Once the baby gets more advanced, you will start learning words that you don’t have a lot of exposure to in real life. To facilitate the learning of these words, you can start using teaching aids to help you.
- Flash Cards – print out some of our baby sign language flash cards to add groups of signs such as animals or colors.
- Picture Books – sign along to you baby’s favorite board books. Very simple books where each page has a clear theme that can be signed are best. For example Eric Carle’s Brown Bear has one animal on each page of the book.
- Props – figurines are another great way to teach signs. Figurines representing different animals, vehicles, or people are common choices. For small children, select figurines that are small enough that they can hold but that are big enough that they are not at risk of being swallowed.
Previous Page: Step Three – Encourage Effort
If you found this information useful, check out our award winning baby sign language kit. It includes more than 600 signs, covers advanced teaching methods for faster results, and includes fun teaching aids like flash cards.
The Deluxe Baby Sign Language Kit, bundles together everything you need to get started with signing in one box, at a steep discount. The kit includes: (1) Baby Sign Language Guide Book; (2) Baby Sign Language Dictionary: (3) Baby Sign Language Flash Cards; and (4) Baby Sign Language Wall Chart.
Baby Sign Language Guide Book shows you how to teach your child how to sign. The book begins with a Quick Start Guide that will teach you your first signs and having you ready to sign in 30 minutes. As your baby progresses, you can delve into more advanced topics like combining signs to make phrases, using props, and transitioning to speech. (Regularly $19.95)
Baby Sign Language Dictionary contains over 600 signs including the most common words, the alphabet and numbers. The dictionary helps you expand your child’s vocabulary, and has the breadth of coverage that lets you follow any child’s natural interests. Each sign is illustrated with two or more diagrams, showing you the starting position, the ending position, and intermediate motion. This makes learning new signs easy. (Regularly $19.95)
Baby Sign Language Flash Cards include 52 sturdy board (4×6 inches) flash cards, covering a variety of basic signs. The flash cards allow you to teach words, such as animal names, that Baby is not exposed to in everyday life. The face of the flash cards shows the word and image for the child. The back of the flash cards show how the sign is performed, a handy reminder for the adult. (Regularly $24.95)
Baby Sign Language Wall Chart includes 22 basic signs, and makes a handy reminder for caregivers. The Baby Sign Language Wall Chart covers basic signs, like eat, drink, and sleep. Hang the poster in Baby’s Nursery to help babysitters, or other occasional caregivers learn and decode the most commonly used baby signs. (Regularly $9.95)
100% Signing Guarantee
Your baby signs to your complete satisfaction, or you get a full refund.
No questions. No time limits. No regrets.
Baby Sign Language Guide Book
Learn the best techniques for effectively teaching baby sign language. Including:
• Quick Start Guide – learn the first 10 signs and the basic principles required to start teaching your baby to sign (Chapter 1).
• Advanced Teaching Methods – use teaching aids like books, flash cards, and toys to keep lessons interesting and challenging (Chapter 5).
• Phrases – teach your baby to combine signs and communicate more complex thoughts (Chapter 6).
• Taming the Terrible Twos – reduce frustration and tantrums by enabling your toddler to communicate (Chapter 7).
• Transitioning to Speech – use sign language to expedite and improve speech development (Chapter 8).
Sarah learned her first 10 signs at six month and it made our lives much easier. Instead of screaming, she could tell us when she was hungry, thirsty, or tired. She learned another 50 signs by nine months and that was a blast. Now she is talking much earlier than the other children in her preschool and we think it is because of her signing.
We can’t imagine missing out on all the little things she shared with baby sign language. Thank You!
- Bennett & Melissa Z., CA
Pediatrician Approved
“It’s easy to see why so many parents swear by it, why child care centers include it in their infant and toddler classrooms, and why it has become so commonplace as an activity of daily learning … we approve.”
Heading Home With Your Newborn (Second Edition)
Dr. Laura A. Jana MD FAAP & Dr .Jennifer Shu MD FAAP
American Academy of Pediatricians
Baby Sign Language Flash Cards
52 high quality flash cards (4 x 6″). Featuring:
• Clean Images – real life pictures, isolated on a white background to make learning easier.
• Signs on the Rear – diagrams on the back illustrating the signign motion in case you need a reminder.
• Baby Friendly – printed on thick stock so little hands can play with the cards and they will live to play another day.
I was thrilled to see how easy the signs were for Abigail (3) and Eden (21 months). Much to my surprise they could figure out many of the signs from the flashcards on their own.
- Carrie P., TX
Study: Signing Enriches
“The Sign Training group told us over and over again … [signing] made communication easier and interactions more positive.”
“these data demonstrate clearly that … [signing] … seems to “jump start” verbal development”
“can facilitate and enrich interactions between parent and child”
Impact of Symbolic Gesturing on Early Language Development
Dr. Susan Goodwyn, Dr. Linda Acredolo, & Dr. Catherine Brown
Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Baby Sign Language Dictionary
The Baby Sign Language Dictionary includes :
• Words (500+) – learn signs for nearly every topic of interest.
• Letters – sign the alphabet and teach basic spelling.
• Numbers (0-10) – introduce counting and basic mathematics.
Nicholas loves his signs and it lights up our lives every time he shares one of his little secrets. He is so observant, and we would miss it all without the signs.
- Donald Family, NY
Baby Sign Language Wall Chart
The full color wall chart (24 x 36″) includes 17 everyday signs. Use the wall chart for:
• Caregivers – help babysitters and other caregivers learn the basic signs so they can understand baby’s signs.
• Family – teach family the basic signs so they can join in the fun.
Everyone thought I was nuts when I started. A month later, all my friends saw Michelle’s first signs. Then they wanted to know how they could start.
Michelle is talking now and doesn’t sign much anymore, but it gave her a headstart over other children her age. Everyone says she talks like a three year old. Now she is helping me teach her baby brother Jordan how to sign.
- Adelaide S., CA
Study: Better in School
A group of second graders who signed as infants, performed better academically than a control group six years later. The signers had a 12 IQ point advantage.
Longterm Impact of Symbolic Gesturing During Infancy at Age 8
Dr. Linda P. Acredolo (Professor, U.C. Davis)
Dr. Susan W. Goodwyn (Professor, California State University)
100% No Regret Guarantee
Your baby loves signing, or a full refund.
As you can tell, we love Baby Sign Language. It transformed the way we interacted with our children, and we want every family to have the opportunity. Baby Sign Language will make a difference for your child. Give it a try.
If for any reason you aren’t completely blown away, we will cheerfully give you a complete refund, including standard shipping. No time limit. We are that confident!
Subscribe to Baby Sign Language
Subscribe via RSS and be be notified when we post new blog updates!
Share This Page
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I have been doing a couple of signs with my baby for the past two months (“all done” and “more”) He is 9 months old and has just started using the signs at the table within the last 2 weeks–he is very proud of himself! I am wanting to add more signs but I just want to make sure that i understand correctly. Do I add a couple new ones and once he is using them, then add a few more? Thanks. Your website is very helpful. I just stumbled across it the other day.
Exactly! Once your baby shows understanding of a couple of signs you introduce new ones while continuing to reinforce the first signs he learned.
I’ve been using basic signs with my baby since he was about 6mo and he is now 9mo and still isn’t even trying to use signs. I’m hoping he’ll start soon.
ADMIN – Hi April,
Sometimes it can just take a little longer for it to click. One thing worth watching for is whether baby watches your hands when you sign. If so, he is on the right track. After that you want to watch really carefully for anything that could be signing. Sometimes the early signs are very rudimentary. You will be glad you stuck with it – when it rains it pours!
Hi April,
I saw your post about signing to your little one and just wanted to encourage you as well. I also started signing to my little guy at about 4-6 mos and continued for several months although he never reciprocated. I eventually just stopped because I assumed he wasn’t going to pick it up. About a month ago I was feeding him snacks and randomly decided to show him the sign for “more” in an attempt to keep him from yelling when he wants more. Two days later I was feeding him snacks once again when he started yelling/grunting indicating he wanted more. I had once again forgot all about signing and simply asked him if he wanted more. To my surprise he looked at me, smiled and started doing the sign for “more”. I couldn’t believe it! I had spent so many months trying to get him to sign and now in 2 days time he picked it up just like that! He is now 14 months old and that was about 3 weeks ago. Since then he has also learned “please”, “thank you”, “eat”, “finished”, “milk” and he uses them all regularly. I am truly amazed at how quickly they pick it up! Don’t give up!
I just don’t understand. If they are able to sign a word at 9 or 10 months old, why cant they just make a sound, even it’s a simple sound to SAY what they want?
ADMIN – Hi Carisa,
Talking seems simple, because most of us adults have been doing it for decades. But, it is actually quite a complex feat of coordination involving breath control, control of the vocal chords, control of the tongue, etc. For most babies, this kind of fine motor control is beyond their grasp, and it will take them at least 18 months before they have a significant vocabulary. In contrast, signs are a lot simpler from because they mainly involve gross motor skills. In the same way that most children can crawl and walk before they can talk, most children can sign much earlier than they can talk.
Hi All, I came across this web site while searching for an efficient and enjoyable method to teach English to young Italian children aged 1 to 3. I am Italian and would love to help young toddlers to get closer to English. Do you think it would be a good way for them to learn basic words and enjoy the new language, although practicing only at school?
Thank you for your answer.
ADMIN – Hi Laura,
We have lots of bilingual families tell us that baby sign language helps them bridge between the two languages, because you have a common sign for the words irrespective of the language.
Hi, I’d love to order your baby sign kit but am based in the uk. Do you ship internationally?
ADMIN – Hi Danielle,
We do ship internationally.
My son is 10 weeks old and I have been working on the milk sign for a week now and he is already making the making the “milk” sign with his hands when I do it, I am sure he is just copying me at this point and not realizing what I am doing at this point but I am sure that it wont be long that with me showing him his bottle and doing the “milk” sign and repeating the work milk to him everytime I offer him his bottle he will associate the two soon and realize what he and I are both doing. I am hoping that within a few weeks I will be able to incorporate a new sign like “all done” or “more” and have the basic signs down by 6 months or so.
ADMIN – Hi Laura,
Great to hear that he is starting to recognize and imitate signs, those are the first two steps. Keep us posted on how it goes!