Sing and Sign at Mealtime

Baby's regular mealtime food and high chair

Your hands — that's it!

Before offering food, show the sign for "eat" (fingertips tapping lips) and say: "Time to eat!"

As baby eats, watch for cues they want more. Show "more" (fingertips tapping together) and say: "More? Do you want more?"

Give them what they want right after signing — this connects the sign to the result.

When baby turns away, show "all done" (hands turned outward) and say: "All done!"

Sing a mealtime tune: "Yummy, yummy in my tummy" while eating. Add the "more" sign during the song.

Be consistent — use the same signs every meal, every day.

Celebrate ANY attempt to copy a sign, even a hand wave. That's communication!

Baby sign language doesn't delay speech — research consistently shows it actually supports it. Signing gives babies a bridge to communication before their mouths can form words, which reduces frustration for everyone.

Start with just "more" and "all done." These are the most immediately useful signs because baby gets an instant result (more food or getting down from the chair).

Most babies start signing back between 8-12 months, but they understand your signs much earlier. Keep modeling even if baby isn't signing back yet.

You don't need to learn a whole sign language system. Even 5-10 simple signs make a huge difference in daily communication.