A baby sign language signs chart is a visual reference guide that displays the hand shapes, movements, and positions needed to communicate common signs with infants and toddlers. These charts typically feature illustrated or photographed demonstrations of 17 to 67 different signs depending on the resource, making it easy for caregivers to learn and teach basic communication from the moment babies are ready—as early as 6 months old. This article covers what these charts include, how to use them effectively, the research behind their benefits, and practical guidance for getting started with sign language in your home.
Baby sign language charts serve as the foundation for early communication with signing infants. Rather than waiting for children to develop speech, these visual guides enable babies to express their needs through hand signals at an earlier developmental stage, often reducing frustration and tantrums in the process. Whether you’re considering baby sign for a deaf or hard of hearing child, or exploring it as an additional communication tool for a hearing child, these charts provide the structured reference you need to teach consistently.
Table of Contents
- What’s Actually Included in Baby Sign Language Charts?
- When Babies Can Actually Start Using Signs
- Cognitive and Developmental Benefits Beyond Communication
- Behavioral Benefits and Managing Frustration
- Limitations and What These Charts Don’t Address
- Choosing the Right Chart for Your Family
- Moving Forward: From Charts to Consistent Practice
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Actually Included in Baby Sign Language Charts?
baby sign language charts vary significantly in scope and design. The Baby Signs® Quick Reference Guide is one of the most comprehensive options available, containing 67 illustrated signs with color images and practical tips for caregivers. This guide also comes in a 5-pack of laminated versions, which is useful if you want to post copies in different rooms of your home.
For those seeking a simpler starting point, the Baby Sign Language Wall Chart features 17 of the most commonly used signs, providing just enough to handle everyday communication needs without overwhelming parents who are new to signing. The most frequently taught signs across these charts include milk, eat, more, all done, pick me up, sleep, help, hurt, and poop. These core signs address the primary needs and discomforts that babies experience throughout their day. The difference between a comprehensive 67-sign guide and a minimal 17-sign chart matters depending on your goals: if you’re introducing your hearing baby to sign language as a supplementary tool, the smaller chart covers essential needs; if you’re parenting a deaf child or want deeper language exposure, the comprehensive guide provides significantly more vocabulary for building genuine linguistic competence.
When Babies Can Actually Start Using Signs
Research shows that babies can begin recognizing and attempting to produce signs remarkably early in their development. Babies as young as 6 months old can start learning to use sign language to communicate their needs, though the timing when they actually produce signs varies. According to developmental research, hearing children of deaf parents produced their first recognizable sign at a mean age of 8.5 months, with the earliest producers signing as early as 5.5 months. This timeline actually precedes spoken language development—when parents were specifically trained to encourage symbolic gestures, hearing infants began signing approximately 0.69 months (about 3 weeks) before they spoke their first vocal words.
However, this doesn’t mean every baby will sign by 8 months, nor does it guarantee that signing will accelerate all aspects of language development. A large-scale 2026 study of 1,348 French hearing children found weak to no significant effect of baby sign on overall vocabulary development when comparing children exposed to signing versus those without sign exposure. The study did confirm, however, that baby sign did not hinder or delay spoken language development in hearing children. This is an important distinction: signing supports early communication without compromising the development of speech.
Cognitive and Developmental Benefits Beyond Communication
Beyond the practical ability to express immediate needs, research suggests baby sign language may confer cognitive advantages. Children who were signed to as infants showed a 12-point higher IQ at age 8 compared to peers who were not exposed to signing in infancy. This finding suggests that early exposure to signed language may enhance broader cognitive development, though researchers continue to study the mechanisms.
Additionally, infants as young as 3 to 4 months who were exposed to American Sign Language demonstrated measurable cognitive advantages in forming object categories—suggesting that visual-spatial language engages developing brains in distinctive ways. One practical example of this cognitive benefit appears in everyday situations: a signing baby learns to understand and produce specific hand configurations while simultaneously learning the concepts those signs represent. Rather than simply pointing and vocalizing “dada,” the signing baby makes a specific hand movement for father, engaging fine motor control, visual tracking, and semantic understanding simultaneously. This multisensory engagement may contribute to the documented cognitive advantages, though the research on this topic continues to evolve.
Behavioral Benefits and Managing Frustration
Perhaps the most immediately noticeable benefit for many families is the reduction in tantrums and frustration. Babies who can sign can express their needs earlier and more specifically than pre-verbal infants limited to crying, pointing, and vocalizing. When a 9-month-old can sign “milk” or “more,” the parent’s guesswork decreases and the baby’s communication succeeds more reliably. This reduces the frustration cycle that leads to extended crying episodes.
Over time, this creates a more cooperative dynamic: the baby learns that clear communication gets results, and the parent responds more confidently because they understand the actual request rather than interpreting cries. The timing advantage matters more than some caregivers realize. A hearing child might not produce clear speech for another 6 to 12 months after they begin signing, yet they can express genuine needs and preferences through signs much earlier. This comparison—between a frustrated pre-signing 10-month-old and a communicative signing 10-month-old—highlights why many families find baby sign valuable regardless of whether the child is deaf, hearing, or hard of hearing.
Limitations and What These Charts Don’t Address
While baby sign language charts provide invaluable structure, they have real limitations. First, using a chart to learn signs and teaching them to a baby requires practice and repetition; seeing a sign illustrated once or twice typically isn’t sufficient for either parent or child to retain it. Many parents find that laminated charts work better than paper because they can be referenced repeatedly without deteriorating. Second, static images in charts cannot fully convey the speed, flow, and spatial grammar of signing—the movement quality and spatial relationships that distinguishing one sign from another.
For this reason, many experts recommend combining chart use with video resources or in-person instruction from fluent signers, particularly for families planning long-term sign language development. Another consideration: the signs in baby sign charts are often simplified versions of full ASL or other signed languages. A baby sign version of “milk” might be a simplified hand shape that’s easier for babies to produce, while the full ASL sign requires more precise finger positioning. This is not inherently a problem—the simplified version serves the communication goal—but it means charts are teaching a modified signing system rather than fluent signed language. If long-term fluency in ASL or another signed language is your goal, charts are a starting point rather than a complete curriculum.
Choosing the Right Chart for Your Family
Your choice of chart depends largely on your family’s goals and timeline. If you’re looking for something to post on a kitchen wall as a quick reference while you learn, the Baby Sign Language Wall Chart with 17 essential signs offers simplicity and affordability. If you’re planning to develop more extensive signing skills over months or years, the Baby Signs® Quick Reference Guide with 67 signs provides much greater vocabulary and depth.
Consider whether you want laminated versions (more durable and reusable across multiple children) or paper copies (more affordable for temporary use). Additionally, many families find that charts work best when combined with other resources. Pairing a physical chart with video tutorials or online courses helps you understand the movement and flow of signs, not just their static appearance. Some parents also connect with local deaf communities or take in-person classes, which combines chart learning with social reinforcement and exposure to fluent signers.
Moving Forward: From Charts to Consistent Practice
Learning from a chart is just the beginning; the real value emerges through consistent daily use. Parents who refer to a chart occasionally will see slow progress, while those who intentionally use signs during daily routines—mealtimes, bedtimes, diaper changes, play—see much faster and more durable learning in their children. The chart becomes useful only when it informs regular, repeated practice rather than serving as occasional reference material. As your baby progresses beyond the signs in your chart, you may find yourself seeking additional resources to expand vocabulary.
This natural progression—from chart to consistent use to expanding beyond the chart—is normal. Some families discover that baby sign becomes a shared family language that persists even as spoken language develops. Others use it primarily during the pre-speech window and gradually phase it out. Both paths are valid, and the chart serves as the foundation regardless of which direction your family chooses.
Conclusion
A baby sign language signs chart provides the visual reference and structure needed to teach early communication to infants as young as 6 months old. Available in varying sizes—from minimal 17-sign charts to comprehensive 67-sign guides—these resources offer a practical starting point for any family interested in signing. Research supports both the communication benefits (fewer tantrums, earlier expression of needs) and cognitive advantages (measurable IQ and categorical learning advantages), though it’s important to note that baby sign doesn’t significantly accelerate overall vocabulary development in hearing children, nor does it hinder spoken language.
The next step is selecting a chart that matches your goals—whether that’s a laminated wall chart for quick reference or a comprehensive guide with detailed illustrations—and then committing to regular, intentional use during daily routines. Combine the chart with video resources or community connections if possible, and remember that consistency matters far more than the perfection of your signing. Over time, sign language transitions from something you’re learning from a chart to something your family simply uses, creating a rich additional communication channel for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my hearing baby use baby sign language without delaying speech?
Yes. Research confirms that baby sign does not hinder or delay spoken language development in hearing children. In fact, children exposed to signing sometimes produce signs slightly before their first spoken words, but speech typically develops on a normal timeline. The 2026 study of over 1,300 French children found no negative impact on vocabulary from baby sign exposure.
At what age should I start using signs with my baby?
Babies can begin learning signs as early as 6 months old. The average first recognizable sign appears around 8.5 months, though some babies sign as early as 5.5 months. Starting early provides more time for exposure and practice before other communication methods become dominant.
Is a 67-sign chart better than a 17-sign chart?
It depends on your goals. The 17-sign chart covers essential daily communication (milk, more, all done, eat, sleep, help, hurt, etc.) and is ideal for a quick start. The 67-sign guide provides broader vocabulary and is better if you want deeper language exposure or long-term signing development.
Do I need a video or in-person instruction, or is a chart enough?
A chart provides the visual reference, but video or in-person instruction helps you understand movement quality and spatial grammar that static images can’t convey. Many parents succeed with just a chart through consistent daily practice, but adding video resources typically accelerates learning for both parent and child.
Will my child be confused between signs and spoken words?
No. Research shows that babies and children can acquire multiple languages or communication systems without confusion. Signed and spoken language engage complementary cognitive systems, and exposure to both enriches rather than confuses language development.
What’s the difference between baby sign language and American Sign Language (ASL)?
Baby sign uses simplified hand shapes and movements designed for emerging motor skills, while ASL is a complete, complex language with precise grammar and spatial meaning. Charts teach baby sign as an introductory system; if ASL fluency is your goal, you’ll eventually move beyond charts to formal ASL instruction.