Using Baby Sign Language in Early Intervention Sessions

For SLPs and early intervention professionals, helping families support early communication is at the heart of what we do. One powerful, accessible tool in our toolbox? Baby sign language.

While it’s not new, baby sign language continues to be a highly effective strategy for supporting preverbal and minimally verbal children, especially when used collaboratively by SLPs, caregivers, and educators in natural settings like home, daycare, or preschool.

👉 Want a ready-to-use free sample for families and educators? Grab my free printable here to support your sessions right away.

Why Use Baby Sign in Early Intervention?

Before diving into how to implement signs in your sessions, here’s a quick refresher on the why:

Supports Early Communication Before Words

Most toddlers start saying their first words between 12–18 months, but motor imitation skills often emerge much earlier. Signs give children a way to express wants, needs, and emotions before spoken language is fully developed.

Reduces Frustration

When children have a reliable way to communicate, they experience less frustration (and so do their caregivers). Signs can reduce tantrums and build positive parent-child interactions.

Boosts Receptive Language

Even if a child doesn’t begin using the signs expressively, repeated exposure supports receptive understanding and lays a strong foundation for spoken words.

Empowers Caregivers

Signs are easy to learn and use, which means parents and caregivers can feel successful and involved in their child’s language development right away.


Best Practice Tips for Using Baby Signs

👉To support this approach, the Baby Sign Language (ASL) for Daily Routines BUNDLE offers categorized signs that align with common daily activities, aiding in consistent and meaningful sign usage.

Start Small and Functional

Focus on a few highly motivating, functional signs that match the child’s daily routines. Avoid introducing too many signs at once.

Great starter signs include:

  • More - Requesting more of anything (food, play, music)

  • All done - Transitioning between tasks

  • Eat - Mealtime routines

  • Drink - Identifying thirst

  • Help - Asking for assistance

  • Open - Books, containers, doors

  • Stop - Movement or regulation cue

  • Mom/Dad - Naming key people

Pair Signs with Speech and Gestures

Always say the word as you sign it. This supports multimodal communication and connects the sign to the spoken word. Don’t drop spoken language just because you’re using signs.

Model Signs in Context (Not Flashcard Style)

Instead of drilling signs in isolation, use them naturally during play, transitions, snack time, and book reading.

Be Repetitive

Model the same sign many times across different settings and routines. Repetition builds recognition, but flexibility keeps things fun and functional.

Encourage Imitation, But Accept Approximations

Some kids will mimic a sign exactly. Others might modify it in their own way. Both are valid! Reinforce all attempts and celebrate every effort to communicate.


Modeling Signs During Routines

Early intervention home visits offer a golden opportunity to model signs right in the family’s natural environment. Here are some everyday routines that are perfect for embedding signs:

Mealtime

Sit with the family during snack or lunch and model:

  • Eat - While pointing to or picking up food

  • More - When the child looks at or reaches for more food

  • Drink - When offering a cup

  • All done - As the child finishes or turns away from food

Pro Tip: Encourage caregivers to (briefly) pause before giving more food to create a communication opportunity. DO NOT WITHOLD FOOD.

Diapering and Toileting

Use signs during diaper changes or toilet time:

  • All done - When finished

  • Help - If the child needs assistance

  • Wet/Dry - If appropriate for the child’s level

Pro Tip: Keep it playful! Use silly voices, or songs to hold attention.

Bath Time

Reinforce signs like:

  • Water

  • Wash

  • All done

  • More (water, toys, bubbles)

Model them as part of joint attention on the bath toys or while narrating actions.

Getting Dressed

As you or the caregiver helps the child get dressed:

  • Sign help when the child lifts arms or feet

  • Sign more or again during fun activities like peek-a-boo with clothes

  • Sign all done when finished

Pro Tip: Narrate the routine using sign and speech: “Shirt on…shirt (sign shirt)…now pants!”

Book Reading

Books are excellent for sign modeling! Choose interactive or repetitive books and pair key words with signs:

  • Open - Opening the book

  • More - Turning the page

  • Stop - When pausing or asking a question

  • Animal signs (dog, cat, bird, etc.) - Reinforce labels

Pro Tip: Pause on familiar pages and wait expectantly for the child to sign or vocalize.

Modeling Signs in Daycare or Preschool Settings

👉For visual aids corresponding to these routines, the Baby Sign Language (ASL) for Daily Routines BUNDLE includes handouts that can be shared with families to reinforce sign usage at home.

SLPs often collaborate with educators in early childhood settings. Here’s how you can support baby sign language in group routines:

Circle Time

Introduce 1-2 core signs to accompany songs, greetings, or transitions:

  • Hello, Bye-bye

  • Stop, Go

  • More, All done

  • Sit, Stand

Bonus: Use signs during favorite fingerplays like “Itsy Bitsy Spider” or “Wheels on the Bus.”

Transitions

Help teachers incorporate signs during daily routines:

  • Clean up - During toy pick-up

  • All done - When an activity ends

  • Wait - To support regulation

  • Help - When asking for assistance

Play Centers

During parallel or joint play, model signs that fit each center:

  • Play kitchen - Eat, drink, hot, more

  • Blocks - Help, stop, go, fall

  • Animals/farm - Dog, cat, cow, horse

Modeling during natural play makes the signs stick!

Coaching Parents and Teachers to Use Baby Sign Language

For signs to be meaningful, they need to be used outside of your sessions, too. Use your role as an EI coach or school-based SLP to:

Model First, Then Invite Participation

Show how to use a sign in a routine, then invite caregivers or teachers to try it out with your support.

Keep It Low Pressure

Remind families and staff: it's not about perfection. Even one or two consistent signs can make a big difference.

Reinforce Wins

Celebrate the small stuff! Whether it's a child signing more for the first time or a teacher remembering to model help at snack time, positive reinforcement builds buy-in.

Use Visual Supports

Leave behind simple sign charts or laminate a few visuals for the most used signs in that family/classroom. You can also:

  • Send video links or GIFs of signs

  • Take a short video of yourself modeling signs in their real environment

  • Use apps like ASL Dictionary to reinforce learning

Choosing Which Signs to Teach

Focus on:

  • Motivation-based signs (e.g., more, go, eat)

  • Transition-related signs (e.g., all done, stop, help)

  • People, pets, objects the child encounters daily

  • Emotion signs (happy, mad, tired) if relevant for regulation

Avoid overloading the caregiver or child with too many novelty or concept-based signs that aren’t part of their routine.

Common Questions About Baby Sign Language

❓ Will signing delay spoken language?

Nope! Research consistently shows that signing supports spoken language by increasing vocabulary, turn-taking, and engagement.

❓ How many signs should I introduce?

Start with 3-5 core signs based on the child’s needs and build from there as appropriate. Repetition matters more than quantity.

❓ What if the caregiver doesn’t want to sign?

That’s okay! Start by explaining the benefits, model during shared routines, and offer gentle encouragement. Sometimes seeing the child’s success with signs changes their mind later.

Keep It Simple, Consistent, and Fun

Baby sign language isn’t just a therapy “add-on”, rather it’s a bridge to connection, understanding, and communication. When modeled during real-life routines and reinforced by the people children trust most, signs become powerful tools for growth.

Whether you're coaching a new parent during their toddler’s snack time, collaborating with a preschool teacher during circle time, or modeling signs during messy play, remember:

  • Keep your signs functional and relevant.

  • Be consistent, not perfect.

  • Have fun with it!

👉Equip caregivers and educators with ready-to-use materials from the Baby Sign Language (ASL) for Daily Routines BUNDLE to facilitate consistent sign modeling across various settings.

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