Baby sign language remains highly effective for toddlers between 12 and 36 months old, and in many ways, this age group learns signs faster and uses them more purposefully than younger infants. While many parents assume they’ve missed the window if they didn’t start signing in infancy, toddlers actually possess stronger motor control, better memory retention, and greater motivation to communicate, making them ideal candidates for sign language instruction. A 14-month-old who learns the sign for “help” can immediately use it to request assistance opening a container or reaching a toy, whereas a 7-month-old might take weeks to produce the same sign with far less precision. This article explores why toddlers often succeed with sign language even when starting from scratch, how the learning process differs from infant signing, and what specific signs prove most valuable during the toddler years.
You’ll also find guidance on managing the transition from signing to spoken language, addressing speech delay concerns, and adapting your approach for toddlers who resist or ignore signs. Whether your toddler is pre-verbal, starting to talk, or somewhere in between, sign language can serve as a bridge to clearer communication and fewer frustration-driven meltdowns. The techniques that work for infants don’t always translate directly to toddlers. Older children need more engagement, faster results, and signs that match their expanding interests, from naming animals at the zoo to expressing complex emotions they’re only beginning to understand.
Table of Contents
- Why Does Baby Sign Language Work Well for Toddlers?
- Benefits and Limitations of Starting Sign Language in the Toddler Years
- How Do Toddlers Learn Signs Differently Than Infants?
- What Signs Should Toddlers Learn First?
- Common Challenges When Teaching Sign Language to Toddlers
- Using Sign Language to Reduce Toddler Tantrums
- When Toddlers Transition from Signing to Speaking
- Conclusion
Why Does Baby Sign Language Work Well for Toddlers?
Toddlers between 12 and 24 months occupy a frustrating developmental gap where their understanding of language far exceeds their ability to produce it. A typical 18-month-old comprehends approximately 200 words but speaks only 10 to 50. sign language fills this gap by giving toddlers a physical outlet for thoughts and needs they cannot yet verbalize. Unlike infants who may sign reflexively without full comprehension, toddlers sign with intention, connecting symbols to meaning in ways that support emerging language development. The motor skills required for signing develop earlier than the oral motor coordination needed for speech.
By 12 months, most children can bring their hands together, point, and wave, all movements that form the foundation of basic signs. Compare this to the complex tongue, lip, and breath coordination required to pronounce even simple words like “water” or “help.” For a toddler who knows exactly what they want but lacks the oral dexterity to say it, signs provide immediate relief. Research from the University of California found that toddlers who used sign language demonstrated larger spoken vocabularies by age two compared to non-signing peers, contradicting the persistent myth that signing delays speech. However, results vary significantly based on how signs are introduced. Toddlers who see signing as a replacement for talking rather than a complement to it may show less motivation to develop verbal skills, which is why pairing every sign with its spoken word remains essential at this age.
Benefits and Limitations of Starting Sign Language in the Toddler Years
Starting sign language with a toddler rather than an infant offers several distinct advantages. Toddlers learn signs faster, often producing their first signs within days rather than weeks or months. They can quickly build vocabularies of 20 to 50 signs, enabling genuine back-and-forth communication. A toddler who already understands cause and effect will grasp that making a specific hand gesture produces a specific response from caregivers, reinforcing their motivation to learn more signs. The emotional benefits extend beyond simple requests.
Toddlers experience intense emotions they cannot name, and signs for feelings like “scared,” “angry,” or “frustrated” give them tools to express internal states that might otherwise emerge as tantrums. One study found that toddlers with signing skills demonstrated fewer aggressive behaviors during peer conflicts because they had alternative ways to communicate displeasure. However, if your toddler is already producing 50 or more spoken words, introducing sign language may provide diminishing returns. Children who are verbal enough to make themselves understood often see signs as unnecessary extra steps. Similarly, toddlers approaching age three may resist signing if they perceive it as “babyish,” particularly if they have older siblings who don’t sign. In these cases, focusing on expanding spoken vocabulary typically serves the child better than introducing a parallel communication system they’ll abandon within months.
How Do Toddlers Learn Signs Differently Than Infants?
Infants learn signs through passive exposure and repetition over extended periods. You might sign “milk” hundreds of times before a 9-month-old produces anything resembling the gesture. Toddlers operate differently. They observe, imitate, and test signs much more actively, often attempting new signs after just a few demonstrations. This accelerated learning curve means parents must stay prepared with a larger vocabulary of signs from the start. Toddlers also demand more engagement during the learning process. An infant might watch you sign “more” during mealtimes without complaint.
A toddler wants to participate, experiment, and sometimes invent their own variations. This creativity should be encouraged rather than corrected. If your toddler creates a consistent gesture for “banana” that differs from the standard sign, that gesture still serves its communication purpose. Rigid insistence on “correct” forms can frustrate toddlers and discourage signing altogether. For example, one family reported that their 20-month-old consistently signed “dog” by patting her hip instead of snapping her fingers (the standard ASL sign). Rather than correcting her, they adopted her version within the household. When she eventually encountered other signers, she naturally adjusted, but in the meantime, the family enjoyed months of successful communication. The goal is understanding, not perfection.
What Signs Should Toddlers Learn First?
The most effective first signs for toddlers differ somewhat from infant recommendations. While “milk” and “more” dominate infant signing, toddlers benefit from a broader initial vocabulary that matches their expanded world. Start with high-frequency needs: “help,” “hurt,” “all done,” “more,” and “eat” cover most daily requirements. Add emotion words early: “happy,” “sad,” “scared,” and “angry” give toddlers crucial tools for self-expression. Signs for favorite objects and activities create motivation.
If your toddler loves dogs, teach “dog” before “cat.” If they’re obsessed with trucks, that sign will stick faster than “ball.” This personalization matters more with toddlers than infants because toddlers have clear preferences and will engage more readily with signs that match their interests. Choosing between teaching ASL (American Sign Language) signs versus simplified “baby sign” versions involves tradeoffs. ASL signs connect to a real language your child could continue learning, and they’ll be understood by the broader Deaf community. However, some ASL signs require fine motor skills toddlers haven’t developed, like the finger-spelled alphabet or signs requiring precise finger positioning. Simplified baby signs lower the barrier to entry but don’t transfer if your child continues signing. For most families, using ASL as a base while accepting toddler-modified versions strikes a practical balance.
Common Challenges When Teaching Sign Language to Toddlers
Toddler resistance represents the most common obstacle parents encounter. Unlike infants who passively receive instruction, toddlers have opinions. Some refuse to sign because they’d rather vocalize, even if their words are unintelligible. Others find signing embarrassing, particularly if no one else in their environment signs. Still others simply prefer testing boundaries to cooperating with parental instruction. When a toddler refuses to sign, don’t force the issue.
Continue modeling signs yourself during relevant moments without requiring response. Many resistant toddlers eventually begin signing when they recognize its utility, particularly during moments of genuine need. A toddler who ignored months of sign instruction might suddenly produce “help” when struggling with a stuck zipper, demonstrating that learning occurred even without visible practice. The warning sign to watch for is a toddler over 18 months who shows no interest in any form of communication, neither spoken words, signs, nor gestures like pointing. This pattern may indicate developmental concerns worth discussing with a pediatrician. Sign language resistance alone isn’t concerning, but communication disinterest broadly warrants professional evaluation. Don’t assume signing will “fix” underlying speech or language delays; it’s a tool that complements intervention, not a substitute for it.
Using Sign Language to Reduce Toddler Tantrums
Tantrums often stem from communication breakdown. A toddler who cannot express a need grows frustrated, and that frustration escalates into emotional dysregulation. Sign language provides an escape valve by giving toddlers ways to communicate before frustration peaks. The sign for “help” alone has prevented countless meltdowns by enabling toddlers to request assistance rather than rage at impossible tasks.
Consider a typical scenario: a 16-month-old wants the red cup, not the blue one. Without signs, she might point, whine, and eventually scream when parents offer the wrong cup. With signs, she can communicate “red” or even create a gesture for her preference. The tantrum never begins because the communication succeeded. This doesn’t mean signing eliminates all tantrums, toddlers melt down for reasons beyond communication, but it removes one significant trigger.
When Toddlers Transition from Signing to Speaking
Most signing toddlers naturally phase out signs as their spoken vocabulary expands. This transition typically begins around 18 to 24 months and completes by age three, though individual timelines vary considerably. Parents often notice that toddlers drop signs for words they can pronounce clearly while retaining signs for difficult words. A toddler might stop signing “more” once she can say it but continue signing “strawberry” for months.
There’s no need to actively discourage signing during this transition. Toddlers are pragmatic; they’ll use whatever communication method works fastest. If speaking a word gets results more efficiently than signing it, they’ll speak. Forcing a verbal-only policy can backfire by creating frustration during the transition period when speech remains unreliable. Let your toddler lead, and signs will naturally fade as speech takes over.
Conclusion
Baby sign language offers toddlers a powerful communication tool during the gap between understanding language and producing it reliably. Toddlers learn signs faster than infants, use them more intentionally, and often experience significant reductions in frustration-driven behaviors when given signing vocabulary for needs and emotions. The key differences in teaching toddlers include accepting their modified sign versions, following their interests when choosing vocabulary, and avoiding power struggles over signing compliance.
Start with high-utility signs like “help,” “hurt,” and “all done,” then expand based on your toddler’s specific interests and needs. Watch for genuine communication disinterest as distinct from normal toddler resistance, and remember that signing complements rather than replaces speech development. For most families, the investment in toddler sign language pays dividends in calmer daily interactions and stronger parent-child communication bonds, even if the signing phase itself proves brief.