Sign Language Basics for Parents of Infants

Start with a few simple signs during daily routines, and say the word out loud each time you sign it. Milk, more and all done are the easiest first signs. At My First Place Academy in Port St. Lucie, the infant room uses sign language to help infants communicate, and parents can use the same signs at home. See our programs for the full picture.

What is baby sign language?

Baby sign language is a set of simple hand signs that a baby can learn before speaking. You sign a word while you say it, and your baby copies the sign when the hands are ready.

Babies can often use their hands before they can shape words with their mouths. A sign gives them a way to tell you what they want or feel. That can mean less guessing for you and less frustration for them.

The infant program at My First Place Academy uses sign language to help infants communicate and express their feelings before they have words. It is a gentle way to connect with a baby, and it sits alongside the spoken English and Spanish heard in every classroom.

Which simple signs do parents start with?

Start with signs for things your baby already cares about. Milk, more and all done are the classic first three, because they come up at every feeding.

Here are good first signs and when to use them:

• Milk: open and close your fist, as if gently squeezing, at feeding time.
• More: tap your fingertips together when your baby wants another bite or another turn.
• All done: turn both open hands back and forth when the meal or the activity is over.
• Eat: bring your fingertips to your mouth before a meal.
• Sleep: rest your cheek on your hands at nap or bedtime.

Pick two or three signs and stay with them. Too many at once is confusing. When your baby shows interest, add one more.

You do not need to sign perfectly. A clear, consistent motion matters more than exact hand shapes. If your family speaks Spanish, say the Spanish word as you sign it, such as leche or mas.

How do you practice during daily routines?

Practice at the moments the sign belongs, such as feeding, diaper changes, play and bedtime. The sign connects to the real thing, so it is easier to understand.

Try this simple routine at home:

1. Get your baby's attention and make eye contact.
2. Say the word slowly in a warm voice.
3. Make the sign next to your face so your baby can see your hands and your mouth.
4. Hand over the milk, the bite or the toy right away.
5. Repeat the same sign and word each time the moment comes up.
6. Smile and cheer when your baby tries any movement, even a rough one.

Keep it light. Two or three short tries a day are plenty, and a calm, happy mood helps more than a strict schedule. Sing a song or add the sign to a book you already read together.

Our related post on bilingual daycare and early language explains how spoken English and Spanish fit with signing.

What if your baby does not sign back?

That is normal. Babies take their own time, and many watch for a while before they try a sign. Keep signing and speaking, and let your baby set the pace.

Some babies make a sign that looks different from yours. Treat it as a win and respond to it. A wave of the hand, a tap or a reach can be your baby's version of a sign.

If you have questions about how your baby is developing, talk with your pediatrician. We do not offer medical advice, and signing is not a test. It is one more way to share a moment together.

How does the infant room use signs?

The infant room uses signs as part of the day, alongside spoken words. My First Place Academy uses sign language with infants and toddlers, so a baby sees the same kind of gestures again and again.

My First Place Academy is a bilingual English-Spanish daycare and preschool, with complete bilingual immersion in every classroom, infant through VPK. The owners, Veronica and Aracelly Forero, are involved day to day.

Ask us which signs your baby is seeing, and we will show you so you can use the same ones at home. Matching the signs helps your baby recognize them in both places. Parents are welcome to tour, and the open-door policy invites visits.

If you live in Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie West, Tradition or the nearby area and want to see the infant room, call My First Place Academy at (772) 446-4011 to schedule a tour. For questions about a spot in a class, please call us.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I start signing with my baby?

You can start signing as soon as you like, since you are doing most of the work at first. Sign while you talk during feedings and play, and watch for your baby to copy you when ready.

Will signing delay my baby's speech?

We do not give medical advice, so talk with your pediatrician about any concern. At our infant room, signs are used with spoken words, not instead of them.

Should I sign in English or Spanish?

Use the language you speak at home. The signs stay the same. My First Place Academy is bilingual English-Spanish, so you can pair signs with words in either language.

Can I visit the infant room before enrolling?

Yes. Parents are welcome to tour, and the open-door policy invites visits. Call (772) 446-4011 to set up a time and ask about the signs your baby would see.