The most common worry parents have about baby sign language is also the easiest to put to rest: no, teaching your baby a few signs will not stop them from learning to talk. Used the right way, it can actually smooth the road to spoken words. Here's how it works.
Does baby sign language delay talking?
No. The key is to always say the word while you make the sign — pairing the two. When you do that, signing gives your baby a way to communicate before their mouth can keep up, and the spoken word develops right alongside it. Signs are a bridge to speech, not a detour around it.
The benefits
- Fewer frustration meltdowns — your baby can tell you “more,” “milk,” or “all done.”
- Earlier communication and connection, before words arrive.
- More back-and-forth interaction, which itself fuels language.
How to start
- Begin around 6–9 months, when babies can start to imitate.
- Start with a few useful, motivating signs: more, milk, eat, all done.
- Always say the word as you sign it.
- Be consistent and patient — it can take weeks of repetition before your baby signs back.
Baby sign supports communication; it doesn't replace it. If spoken words aren't emerging on schedule, signing isn't the cause — an evaluation is the way to find out what is.
Signing but not seeing words emerge? Our SLPs can take a look.
When to seek help
If your child is past the point where words are expected and they aren't coming — signing or not — that's worth evaluating. Speech therapy requires a referral from your child's primary care provider (faxed to 901-589-9001).