How To Teach Your Nine Month Old Baby Sign Language
9 months is such a fun age! They are sitting up, enjoying solids, playing more, but not quite super mobile and finding everything dangerous in the house. (But you should be getting your house baby proofed if you haven’t already, because it will be here before you know it)
Many parents are ready to use sign language with their 9 month old baby because they are aren’t sure what their baby needs, and some frustration is starting. They are babbling, but don’t have any words yet, and parents feel stuck and not sure if sign language will help, or what ASL signs they should be using with their 9 month old. It can be a lot to try to navigate!
Here’s the good news: teaching your 9 month old baby sign language is extremely possible and beneficial! Follow these steps and recommended resources:
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Benefits to using sign language with your 9 month old:
This age is a great time to start using sign language because like I mentioned above, they don’t have any words yet, but they definitely are communicating! They are quick to smile when they are understood, cry when they are not, and let you know you’re taking too long playing the guessing game. This need for clear communication, and building frustration, are creating that foundation that sign language will support.
Take a look at what sign language can look like at this age:
Because of this “perfect storm” (and a few more developmental pieces that are in play), their first sign develops around this age, which is so exciting! Using sign language in a variety of ways, like that graphic illustrates, provides many opportunities for sign language to be modeled and learned by your little one. In fact, it is possible for your 9 month old to learn a new sign within 1-2 months. Soon, those frustrations will begin to lessen, which is a good thing for everyone involved!
Want to use sign language with your little one?
Get Started Now with 10 functional ASL signs to start using with your baby or toddler right away. Learn 3 tips to ensure you are using signs correctly and with realistic expectations. Whether you have already started signing, or just warming up to the idea, this free guide will take you one step closer to your goal!
Look Who’s Signing Now is my signature four part course that teaches you the exact blueprint I use to teach my own children sign language. Beginning with the foundation of why and when to use baby sign language, how to implement it, and what signs to use. With this self-study e-course, you will have the confidence to sign with your baby and boost their early communication while reducing frustrations, tantrums, and time wasted playing the guessing game.
Check out my online resources for parents! Browse my current offerings.
Sign language to use with your 9 month old:
Reflect on why you are wanting to use sign language with your 9 month old. More than likely, it’s to reduce frustrations, know what they want more easily, and/or foster early communication. Because of this, we want to use sign language for functional vocabulary (check out this blog post for more on this topic).
As your baby becomes mobile, they will likely need your help. They may roll into a corner and aren’t sure how to get out of it, maxed out on endurance to reach a toy, or not quite realize they can crawl to get something out of reach. The ASL sign for “help” is one that is often overlooked, but a very useful one for this age!
Keep in mind, whenever your baby learns a new sign and uses sign language, they more than likely won’t look like yours. Here’s what I mean:
When to use sign language with your nine month old:
It truly is best to use sign language throughout your child’s day!
Your routines are well established by now. Using sign language during routines, gives them access to language often and consistently. This allows the functional sign language vocabulary to be used often, and then your baby is likely to learn it more quickly!
As I described in this previous blog post, toddlers learn best through play. Because of that, use sign language during your 9 month old’s play. You can use functional sign language vocabulary while playing, like I show here with Legos.
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You can also use sign language while reading books to your 9 month old. Cuddle up with them and open any book to read! It’s a great way to build your confidence in using new ASL signs with your baby, but also boosts early literacy skills.
You will love using sign language with your 9 month old! Have so much fun together learning and using sign language for more clear communication and fewer frustrations. You’ll be amazed at what is possible!
