When it comes to teaching your baby sign language, there are a few basic signs that you will want to start with. These signs are some of the most important and commonly used ones in baby sign language. They will help you and your child communicate better right from the start. Below is a list of the five most important signs to teach your baby when using baby signing. Learning these five signs will give you and your child a strong foundation in baby sign language.

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This is perhaps the most important sign to start with because it is used so frequently. It is a very versatile sign that can be used in a lot of different situations. Your child can use it to request more of something, such as more food or more drink. It can also be used to show excitement or to express a desire for more of something, such as more attention or more playtime. This is a sign that you will definitely want to have in your repertoire from the start.

Please

Another important sign to teach your baby is the sign for please. This sign is used to express politeness and to show appreciation. Saying please when signing will help instil good manners in your child from an early age. This sign can also be used in conjunction with other signs to make requests, such as please give me more or please stop. It's a good sign to use often so that your child gets used to using it early on.

Thank You

Along with please, the sign for thank you is another important sign to teach your baby. This sign is used to express gratitude. It is a good sign to use after your child has received something they wanted or after someone has done something nice for them. Teaching your child to say thank you is a great way to encourage politeness and good manners. Thank you is also a sign that can be used frequently in daily life, so it is a good one for your baby to learn early on.

Help

The sign for help is an important one to know in any language, and it is no different with baby sign language. The help sign is used when your child needs assistance with something or when they are in a situation where they feel scared or unsafe. Teaching your child this sign can help them communicate their needs more effectively and can also help them feel more secure knowing that they can ask for help when they need it.

Love

Last but not least, the sign for love is an important one to teach your child. This sign can be used to show affection, to express gratitude, or simply to show that you care about someone. It is a sign that will come in handy throughout your child's life and is one that they will likely use often. This sign is also a great way to teach your child the concept of love and what it means.

Learning these five basic signs will give you and your child a great start in baby sign language. With a little practice, you will be able to communicate effectively using baby sign language in no time.

Photo by Tatiana Syrikova