- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus member of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to health information content on primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
He's a Fort Worth, Texas, native, certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Infant and toddler health (6)
- Flu shots for kids: Does my child need a flu shot?
- Baby Einstein DVDs: Good for infant development?
- Vaccination schedule: Why so many so fast?
- see all in Infant and toddler health
Newborn health (8)
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- Newborn sleep: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
- Uncircumcised penis: Is special care needed?
- see all in Newborn health
Infant health (19)
- Breast-feeding and alcohol: Is it OK to drink?
- Karo syrup for constipation: OK for babies?
- Air travel with infant: Is it safe?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (5)
- Terrible twos: Why are 2-year-olds so difficult?
- Toddler speech development: Are 2-year-olds understandable?
- Poinsettia plants: Are they poisonous?
- see all in Toddler health
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Question
Baby sign language: A good idea?
Is baby sign language worthwhile?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
CLICK TO ENLARGE
|
Baby sign language: 'More' |
|
Baby sign language: 'Drink' |
|
Baby sign language: 'Eat' |
|
Baby sign language: 'Mother' |
|
Baby sign language: 'Father' |
Baby sign language can be an effective communication tool for infants and young children.
Limited research suggests that using baby sign language may improve a child's ability to communicate and ease frustration, particularly between ages 8 months and 2 years. During this period, children begin to know what they want, need and feel, but they don't necessarily have the verbal skills to express themselves. Baby sign language allows children to use their hands to bridge the communication gap. Slightly older children who have developmental delays may benefit, too. Teaching and practicing baby sign language also can be fun and give you and your child an opportunity to bond.
To begin teaching your child baby sign language, familiarize yourself with signs through books, websites, community classes or other sources. You can also use variations of American Sign Language. Start with signs to describe routine requests, activities and objects in your child's life — such as more, drink, eat, mother and father.
To get the most out of your baby sign language experience, keep these tips in mind:
- Set realistic expectations. Feel free to start signing with your child at any age — but remember that most children aren't able to communicate with baby sign language until about age 8 months.
- Stay patient. Don't get upset if your child uses signs incorrectly or doesn't start using them right away. The goal is improved communication and reduced frustration — not perfection.
- Be consistent. Repetition is the best way to ensure your child's success in using baby sign language. Encourage your child's other caregivers to use the same signs, too.
In addition, be sure to continue talking to your child even as you teach baby sign language. Spoken communication remains an important part of your child's speech development.
Next questionHygiene hypothesis: Early germ exposure prevents asthma?
- These hands were made for talking. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/Pages/These-Hands-Were-Made-for-Talking.aspx. Accessed Sept. 27, 2010.
- Gongora X, et al. Infant sign language program effects on synchronic mother-infant interactions. Infant Behavior and Development. 2009;32:216.
- Thompson RH, et al. Enhancing early communication through infant sign training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. 2007;40:15.
- Vallotton CD. Signs of emotion: What can preverbal children "say" about internal states? Infant Mental Health Journal. 2008;29:234.
- Doherty-Sneddon G. The great baby signing debate. The Psychologist. 2008;21:300.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 20, 2010.
- Stoeckel RE (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 20, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on