Baby Signs

What is Baby Sign?

Baby sign is a term used to describe the introduction of Sign Language to a pre-verbal infant or toddler. It is also, often the first step for parents learning to sign with a child who may not ever be able to communicate orally.

A small set of signs are usually adopted first, based of common objects and terms, that would be familiar to the child's everyday life. In Australia we adopt these from AUSLAN (which stands for AUStralian Sign LANguage). We use Auslan with infants, even if the intention is not to continue signing after the child begins to articulate as it is our indigenous sign language. It is nationally recognised and used within many childcare centers, amongst family day care centers, and of course by sign dependant Australians. By choosing to learn AUSLAN, even at the Baby Sign level, your child will be able to communicate these signs with our AUSLAN users; which may include a deaf child at their childcare or school later in life.

Where do you start?

Below you will find a list of the most commonly adopted baby signs. Start simple. Select 3-5 signs and introduce them into your daily communication. Then build up from there. Many parents have reported finding household labeling beneficial. Use the images below to create your own labels, or download our pre-made ones SOON.

PRINT/SAVE THESE SIGNS AS A BOOKLET

Categories > Baby Days > Baby (General)

baby

Move arms as though cradling a baby, back and forth

bath

Move fists on chest one up, the other down, then back down/up, and back again.

bib

With elbows raised, both hands point to chest. Move along chest, outwards then upwards to draw a bib

biscuit

WA
NT
QLD
TAS
ACT

Tap elbow into palm of other hand twice

biscuit

NSW
QLD
SA
VIC

With hand in fist and thumb extended draw a circle on the back of other hand

bottle

With both hands cupped, one on the other, move top hand upwards, as though sliding up a bottle

bottle feed

Main hand is palm up with pointer and index fingers curved upwards. Move this hand towards your other hand, which is slightly cupped as though holding babies head.

breast feed

Tap breast with pointer and index fingers together. Then move hand into fist with thumb extended, into your other hand which is cupped as though holding babies head.

cold

Shake both fists above shoulders, as though shivering.

cot

With both hands flat, facing each other and slightly apart, thumb curved in as through holding the cot bars, move hand down to form two cot bars

cry

Point with straight or bent pointer fingers below eyes and move fingers down as if following tears, twice.

dirty

Rub spread hands, palms facing, together in a circle.

doll

With elbow resting in opposite palm, rotate fist (palm facing you) back and forth, to represent dolls head.

drink

Move hand up to mouth in a cupped shape, as though holding a cup.

dummy

With pointer finger and thumb forming a circle, all other fingers extended, move hand to lips.

eat

Move hand, with thumb touching fingers, towards mouth twice.

father

Tap extended pointer and index fingers of both hands together twice.

finish

Tilt fist, with thumb raised and pointing upwards, from side to side.

good

Point thumb upwards from fist.

highchair

First move hand, palm facing your head and fingers horizontal, upwards. Then bring this hand to chest height against other hand, which is flat fingers upwards, to form the shape of a chair.

home

With palm facing forward and fingers curved forward, move hand forward in an arch.

hot

Start with flat hand, fingers touching chin and thumb extended. Move hand out turning wrist so that hand ends with palm facing forward a small distance in front of shoulder. Can end lower and in the direction of the hot thing.

hug

Cross hands in front of chest, as though hugging yourself.

kiss

Tap hands together twice with fingers and thumb touching.

milk

As though milking a cow, start with one hand, fingers spread, and draw first hand down and into a fist. Then follow with other hand. Repeat

more

Hold hand clawed, palm towards chest. Move hand forward, away from chest slightly.

mummy

With little finger and thumb folded into palm tap head with fingers. May also be signed with a flat hand.

nappy

Tap pointer and index finger to thumb, with both hands, at hips, where nappy would fasten.

no

Shake fist (palm facing down) at wrist left and right twice.

no

With pointer fingertip and thumb tip touching, all other fingers pointing upwards and palm forward, hand at shoulder height, shake hand left and right 2 or more times.

play

With both hands spread, palms facing upwards, at waist height, move each hand in outwards circles.

playpen

Move both hands, palms up, in a circle at waist height. Then move flat hands, one palm in other out, downwards in front of chest.

please

Start with hand flat, fingertips touching chin. Move hand forward while curling fingers into palm.

sick

While other hand points forward at waist, tap pointer fingertip to forehead and then bring downwards to tap against your other pointer finger.

sleep

Starting with hand flat near eye, fingers pointing up, thumb forward. Close fingers to thumb. May be done with one or both hands.

sorry

Shake clawed hand, palm facing you, across mouth twice.

stop

Hold flat hand in front of you, fingers upwards, palm out

story

With right hand flat at chest height, palm facing you; slide other hand, palm facing you, down palm and forearm.

teddybear

Point to head with both hands and draw ears

thanks

Move flat hand, fingers upwards and palm towards you, from chin, forward in a slight arc.

toilet

Tap the blade of flat hand (palm facing your chest) with pointer finger tip twice.

toys

Start with hand in fist, palm facing away from you, thumb extended and pointer finger arched over thumb. Draw hand down, twisting palm towards you, and extending little finger and thumb.

wash

Rub fingers of fisted hands together.

wash yourself

Move fists on chest up, down and up again.

what

With pointer finger pointing upwards, palm forward, shake finger side to side, keeping wrist still.

where

With flat hands in front of you at your sides, palms up, move hands left and right slightly. May be done with one hand.

yes

Tilting at wrist, move fist, palm down, up and down.

© 2023. Bilby Publishing & Consulting Pty. Ltd.

|

Terms & Conditions of Use