It is important not to get disheartened if you have been signing with your baby and they are yet to sign back. Some babies sign quickly, others can take months, some may never make signs but talk early, every child’s journey is different – thats what makes babysigning so unique for every parent and child.

Always remember to say the word aloud while you make the sign, and make sure that you have eye contact with your baby while you are doing it. That connection will ensure your baby is watching, listening and learning.

Be consistent and repeat the signs with your baby all day long, if you don’t get bored, neither will they!

Your baby might not repeat the exact sign, don’t correct them, encourage that movement and they will become more and more confident. Praise any attempt at a sign and they will want to try more and more. The special thing about baby signing is that you and your little one may create your own language – that only reinforces the special bond between you even more. This bond cannot be put into words; when your baby gazes at you with excitement upon realising you have completely understood them, your heart will melt forever!

And finally – make it fun! It’s common to hear parents say their little one didn’t sign back to them as all they were signing were verbs, e.g. time for bath, time to eat, time for a nappy change; but as soon they introduced nouns like ‘duck’, ‘bird’, ‘cat’, ‘dog’ or signing their favourite nursery rhyme, suddenly the signs just came pouring out!