“Want” gives your baby a polite way to ask instead of crying. It is a two-handed sign that most babies manage between 10 and 14 months, and it cuts frustration fast because it works for everything — food, toys, books, you.
How to Sign “Want” in ASL
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Make the handshape: Hold both hands out in front of you, palms up, fingers curved into loose claws.
- Position them: Keep the hands about chest height, a comfortable distance apart.
- Pull in: Draw both hands back toward your body, as if pulling the thing you want closer.
The movement is the meaning — you are literally pulling something toward yourself. Exaggerate the pull when modeling it for your baby.
Step-by-Step Photos
Photos: Rodasmith via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
When to Use It With Your Child
- Before handing over anything they reach for: Ask “Do you want it?” while signing, then give it.
- At choice moments: Hold up two toys and sign “want” as you ask which one.
- When they whine and point: Model “want” calmly, then reward any attempt immediately.
Tips for Success
- Babies often start with one hand instead of two — that counts. Keep modeling both.
- Always follow a signed “want” with the item right away at first; speed builds the habit.
- Combine it with more and milk into tiny two-sign sentences once each sign is solid.
Signs Related to “Want”
“More” (fingertips of both hands tapping together) and “give me” are natural companions to “want” — all three let a baby direct the action without tears.
Research on baby signing consistently lists “want,” “more,” and “milk” among the first ten signs babies produce, typically between 10 and 14 months.