The “please” sign in baby sign language is made by placing your dominant hand flat on your chest with fingers extended and held together, thumb sticking out, then rubbing your palm in a circular motion””generally clockwise. This simple gesture is one of the most valuable signs you can teach your baby, transforming demanding grunts into polite requests and giving your child a way to communicate courtesy before they can speak. Consider a common scenario: your eight-month-old wants more crackers and starts fussing in their high chair. Without sign language, this moment often escalates into crying and frustration.
But a baby who knows the “please” sign can place their little hand on their chest and rub in a circle, clearly communicating their request while also learning the social concept of asking politely. This single sign does double duty””it serves as a communication tool and an early introduction to manners. This article covers everything you need to know about teaching the “please” sign, including the exact hand movements, when your baby is developmentally ready to learn, practical teaching strategies, and how to troubleshoot common challenges. You will also learn why “please” works best when taught alongside other signs and how to get all caregivers on the same page.
Table of Contents
- How Do You Sign “Please” in Baby Sign Language?
- When Is Your Baby Ready to Learn the Please Sign?
- Why “Please” Is an Ideal Early Sign for Your Baby
- Practical Steps to Teach the Please Sign Effectively
- Common Challenges When Teaching Babies to Sign Please
- Using Please Alongside Other Essential Baby Signs
- The Broader Benefits of Teaching Baby Sign Language
- Conclusion
How Do You Sign “Please” in Baby Sign Language?
The “please” sign uses a straightforward motion that even young babies can eventually approximate. Start with your dominant hand””whichever hand your baby naturally favors, or either hand if they have not shown a preference yet. Extend all fingers and hold them together, with your thumb extended and sticking out slightly from the rest of your hand. Your palm should face inward toward your body. Place your flat hand against the center of your chest, then rub it in a circular motion. Most people move clockwise, though the direction matters less than the consistent circular rubbing gesture.
The sign mimics the idea of rubbing something pleasant into your heart, which may help you remember it. When teaching your baby, exaggerate the motion slightly and keep your hand movements slow and deliberate so they can follow along. One important note: your baby’s version of this sign will likely look different from yours. A six-month-old lacks the fine motor control to extend all fingers neatly, so their “please” might look more like a whole-hand pat or an open-palmed rubbing motion somewhere on their torso. This is completely normal and still counts as signing. The goal is communication, not perfect form.
When Is Your Baby Ready to Learn the Please Sign?
most babies can begin learning baby sign language around six to seven months of age. This is when they typically develop the cognitive ability to connect a gesture with a meaning and the motor skills to attempt simple hand movements. However, readiness varies significantly from child to child, so watch for signs that your baby is developmentally prepared rather than focusing solely on age. Your baby may be ready if they are making eye contact during interactions, showing interest in your hand movements, beginning to wave or clap, and responding to simple verbal cues.
Babies at this stage often start reaching for objects they want, which indicates they understand that their actions can influence their environment””the same cognitive leap required for signing. Here is a realistic expectation to keep in mind: even if you start teaching signs at six months, most babies do not sign back until around eight months or later. After approximately two months of consistent signing exposure, you may see your baby begin attempting signs. Some babies take longer, and this is not a cause for concern. If your baby shows no interest in signing after several months of practice, consider whether you are signing frequently enough throughout the day, and remember that comprehension typically develops before production””your baby may understand your signs well before they start using them.
Why “Please” Is an Ideal Early Sign for Your Baby
The “please” sign occupies a special place in baby sign language because it pairs naturally with other signs your baby is learning. Unlike object words such as “milk” or “ball,” which label specific things, “please” is a modifier that enhances requests. This makes it particularly useful once your baby has mastered a few basic signs and can combine them. For example, a baby who has learned “more” and “please” can sign “more please” when they want another serving of food””a two-sign phrase that demonstrates both communication ability and social awareness. This combination typically emerges after your baby has been signing for several months and has a small vocabulary of three to five signs.
The “please” sign essentially levels up your baby’s communication from simple labeling to expressing wants in a socially appropriate way. However, “please” should probably not be the very first sign you teach. Most experts recommend starting with three different words or signs at a time, focusing initially on object words because you can immediately show what the sign means. Signs like “milk,” “eat,” “more,” and “all done” tend to work well as starter signs because they connect directly to concrete items or actions your baby experiences multiple times daily. Once your baby grasps a few of these foundational signs, adding “please” makes more sense.
Practical Steps to Teach the Please Sign Effectively
The most effective method for teaching “please” involves integrating it into moments your baby is already motivated to communicate. When your baby makes a request””reaching for a toy, fussing for food, or pointing at something they want””this is your teaching opportunity. Acknowledge the request verbally, then ask them to sign “please” while demonstrating the sign yourself. Say the word slowly and clearly as you make the sign. Repetition and consistency matter enormously. Use the “please” sign every time you ask your baby to say please verbally, every time you hand them something they have requested, and whenever the concept of asking politely applies.
The more exposure your baby gets to the sign in context, the more likely they are to connect the gesture with its meaning. Research suggests that after about two months of consistent signing, many babies begin signing back. Getting all caregivers involved is equally important. Ask grandparents, babysitters, daycare providers, and any other regular caregivers to use the same signs consistently. More exposure from multiple sources increases the likelihood of your baby signing back and reinforces that signs work for communication with everyone, not just one parent. Provide caregivers with a quick demonstration of the key signs you are teaching, and consider printing a simple reference sheet they can keep handy.
Common Challenges When Teaching Babies to Sign Please
One frequent frustration parents encounter is a baby who seems to understand signs but refuses to use them. Your baby might respond correctly when you sign “please” by waiting politely, yet never produce the sign themselves. This gap between comprehension and production is normal in language development. Babies typically understand words and signs before they can reproduce them, sometimes by several weeks or months. Continue signing consistently, and production usually follows. Another challenge arises when the “please” sign gets confused with other chest-touching gestures. Babies learning multiple signs sometimes blend them together or use a generic chest pat for several different meanings.
If this happens, gently differentiate by exaggerating the unique aspects of each sign. For “please,” emphasize the circular rubbing motion; for “thank you” (which also touches the chest in some versions), emphasize the outward movement. Be patient””sign differentiation takes time. Some parents worry that teaching sign language might delay their baby’s speech development. This concern is understandable but not supported by research. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, signing supports language development rather than delaying it. Baby sign language gives infants a way to communicate wants and needs before they can speak, which reduces frustration and actually encourages verbal language by establishing early communication patterns. If anything, signing babies often show enhanced language engagement.
Using Please Alongside Other Essential Baby Signs
The “please” sign works best as part of a small vocabulary of useful signs. A practical starting set might include “more,” “all done,” “eat,” “milk,” and “please.” This combination covers the most common daily requests and allows your baby to express basic needs clearly. Once these signs are established, you can gradually add others based on your baby’s interests and routines.
Here is how a typical mealtime might incorporate multiple signs: Your baby finishes their banana and wants more. They sign “more” by bringing their fingertips together. You acknowledge the request, then model the “please” sign, saying “Can you say please?” Your baby attempts the chest rub. You give them more banana and sign “thank you.” When they are full, your baby waves their hands for “all done.” This short interaction involves four signs and multiple communication exchanges””far more engagement than pointing and crying.
The Broader Benefits of Teaching Baby Sign Language
Beyond the immediate practical value of signs like “please,” baby sign language offers developmental benefits worth considering. The primary advantage is reduced frustration. Babies have wants and needs long before they can verbalize them, and the gap between understanding language and producing speech can be intensely frustrating for both baby and caregiver. Signs bridge this gap, giving babies an outlet for communication during the pre-verbal months.
Parents consistently report fewer meltdowns once their babies can sign basic requests. A baby who can sign “milk” when hungry or “please” when they want something is less likely to resort to crying as their primary communication tool. This benefit extends to caregivers too””understanding what your baby wants reduces the stressful guessing game that often accompanies infant care. The result is calmer interactions and a stronger sense of connection.
Conclusion
Teaching your baby the “please” sign is a worthwhile investment that pays off in clearer communication and earlier introduction to social courtesy. The sign itself is simple””a flat hand rubbing in a circle on the chest””but the impact extends beyond the gesture. Babies who can sign “please” have a tool for making polite requests, a bridge to more complex language, and a reduction in the frustration that comes from being unable to communicate.
Start when your baby shows readiness, typically around six to seven months, and maintain consistency across all caregivers. Expect the signing back to begin around eight months or after about two months of consistent exposure, though every baby develops on their own timeline. Pair “please” with a handful of other practical signs, and you will have built an early communication system that supports your child’s language development and makes daily interactions smoother for everyone.