Teach Your Baby or Infant Sign Language

For example my niece knows basic sign language and decided she wanted to teach my great nephew. She started teaching him around 6 months, at that point he was beginning to sit in the high chair and eat real food.
He was still nursing but started eating solid foods so she thought it was a good time to introduce something new. She thought that starting to teach him sign language would be beneficially if later on his speech would be delayed. Not all kids speak clearly. I wished my oldest grandson knew sign language it would have been so much easier. All in all my great nephew is so smart and his speech is not delayed but the up side is we didn't have to wonder what he wanted before speaking. He could use some basic signs to tell us.

Wait until they want a drink or another bite. Do the sign using your own hands and body to show them, then take their hand or finger and show they how to do it.
*Thirsty is taking your finger running it down your throat/neck.

Thirsty might mean they want milk so show him the sign for milk.
* It's just like you might think. It's an opened and closed hand just as if you were milking a cow.

Food is an important part of raising an infant. When they learn there is real food involved not just milk/bottle teach them the sign for eating. Again using your own hands so them and then take their hands and move it to their mouths.
* It's a bunching up of your fingers and thumb together and bring them to your mouth.

For another bite, or more of something, teach them how to ask for it. Sign for more is:
*Hands thumbs up, bring your fingers together so they touch.

Of course they may not want what you are offering them.  One of the first words they learn to say is NO, I bet you'll also see that sign.
*The proper way is to have 2 fingers up and the pinch them together to your thumb. My grandson always turns away and his hand goes up and waves around. This is perfectly acceptable as long as the two of you know what is being signed and you understand each other.

Good manners are still a must even with sign language, teach them Please. Take your hands make the sign on your body. Then take their hand and help them make the motion.
*It's your right hand palm open on your chest rubbing it in a circular clock wise motion.

Last but not least show them how to sign Thank You.
*Putting your hand to your mouth area, bringing it down palm up.

It will take a little time for them to become coordinated enough to do the signs,  but if you are consistent they will catch on.