Most babies start to sign between 10 and 14 months, but don't wait to get started. You can follow a formal baby signs curriculum or make up your own. Learn more about signing with your baby at WhatToExpect.com: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-sign-language/ Download the What to Expect app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pregnancy-baby-what-to-expect/id289560144 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wte.view Heidi Murkoff, creator of What to Expect, is here to guide you through every stage of your baby's life. Watch all of our first year videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1K0LmLma0ZECOBlSaRcBBYiMDFWugdMJ FOLLOW US: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhatToExpectWhenYoureExpecting Twitter: https://twitter.com/WhatToExpect Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/whattoexpect/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/whattoexpect/ Transcript: From the very first cry as she entered the world, your baby has been a born communicator. But that doesn't mean you'll always understand what she's trying to say. With all the leaps your little one has made in her verbal development over the last couple of months, and her determination to be understood stronger than it's ever been, there's still a pretty big communication gap between you. Does closing the gap mean waiting until your little one can speak your language? Not at all. Take a look, and you'll notice that baby's probably already making his point more clearly than you might think, as when he gestures to a toy he's spied on a high shelf or the cracker he sees in the diaper bag, or when he pushes away that last spoonful of cereal, signaling meal over. It's not always easy to interpret, but it is a sign of the times: your baby is signing up for baby signs. Should you sign up too? Chances are you already have. You point. You pantomime (yes, even in public — we parents have no shame). You shrug. You wave hello and wave goodbye. Maybe you put your hands together by the side of your tilted head when baby's getting sleepy or clap your hands when cheering on your little one's latest exploits. Or shake your head or wag your finger when she reaches for something she shouldn't touch. But incorporating even more baby signs into your daily interaction may be just the missing communication link you're looking for. Not only can using baby signs lead to fewer communication frustrations and snafus; it can boost baby's confidence as a communicator, motivating him to keep at his efforts, first through signs alone, then through a mix of signs and sounds, and ultimately through words and sentences. Most babies start to sign back between 10 and 14 months, but don't wait to get started; your baby will understand signs before she can mimic them. Focus first on signs that will be most useful, and start simply. Hungry? Rub your belly. Thirsty? Put a cupped hand to your mouth. She wants a lift? Arms up. She wants down? Palms face down and then lowered. She wants to go out? Wave bye-bye and point at the door. You can follow a formal baby signs curriculum, or make up your own, or mix a combo. Borrow from your baby, too; it'll be extra satisfying if you use signs he has devised. His chubby fingers can speak volumes. Because talking is the long game, always connect the sign with the spoken word. Smack your lips to show that your broccoli tastes good but also say, "Yummy broccoli." Sign consistently and frequently. By seeing the same signs over and over, your baby will learn and imitate them more quickly. But be sure to give signs time; like learning any new language, it's a process. Finally, know when to sign off. Signing, like speaking, should develop naturally and at a baby's own pace, without any pressure. If your baby shows signs of sign overload, don't force the agenda. The idea is to reduce frustration for both of you, not add to it. Not interested in signing on to signing? It's not a must-do. It won't make your baby a faster talker, or give her a lasting language edge. If you're feeling signing, go for it. If you're not, or baby isn't, don't sign up. Eventually the words will flow, and the communication gap will close. Here's to happy signs!