Tiny Talk guides

First baby signs to teach: milk, more, all done, eat, and sleep

Milk, more, all done, eat, and sleep make good first signs because they come up many times a day and name things babies care about. Each one is a real American Sign Language (ASL) sign. Use a sign every time its moment comes, say the word as you sign, and expect your baby to understand before signing back.

Why these five

Babies learn the signs they see often, for things they want. In studies of children learning sign language, signs that are used often, and signs that look like what they mean, were learned earlier¹². Milk happens many times a day. More comes up at every meal and in every game. All done closes meals, baths, and play. Eat marks food time, and sleep marks naps and bedtime. Together they let your baby ask for something, ask for more of it, and tell you they are finished.

If your baby is not eating food yet, start with milk, more, all done, and sleep. Add eat when food begins, at about 6 months⁶.

These are ASL signs

All five are American Sign Language vocabulary. ASL is a complete language and the main language of many Deaf and hard of hearing people in North America³. Using single signs alongside spoken English is a good start, but it is borrowing words, not speaking ASL. Tiny Talk checks each sign against at least two ASL dictionaries and never invents or "simplifies" one. You can see all five with pictures on the free Tiny Talk starter page.

How to make each sign

These descriptions are for the right hand.

Milk

How: Raise your right hand in front of you, a little to the right, with your palm facing left. Curve your fingers and thumb into a loose C. Squeeze the hand shut into a fist, with your thumb across the front, then let it relax back into the C. Squeeze twice, gently. Think of milking a cow.

When: Right before every breastfeed, bottle, or cup of milk, while your baby is looking at you. Sign it next to the breast or bottle so your baby sees the sign and the milk together.

Your baby's version: Opening and closing the whole hand, anywhere from a loose fist to wide open. Squeezing with both hands at once. Squeezing over and over, sometimes with the whole arm moving.

See milk with pictures

More

How: Shape both hands into a flat O: fingers straight and together, with the tips resting on the thumb, like two little duck bills. Hold them in front of you a few inches apart, fingertips pointing at each other. Tap the fingertips together, pull them apart a little, and tap again.

When: Each time your baby finishes a bite or sip and looks for the next one, just before you hand it over. It works beyond meals too: more songs, more tickles, more pushes on the swing.

Your baby's version: Clapping with open palms. Tapping two fists together, or poking one finger into the other palm. Tapping many times in a row, with big movements from the elbows.

See more with pictures

All done

How: Open both hands wide with your fingers spread and pointing up. Hold them in front of you about shoulder width apart, palms facing you. Flick both wrists so your palms turn out and away from you, then turn back and flick once more. One firm twist works too when you want it to sound final.

When: When your baby stops eating, pushes food away, or turns their head, and again as you end the meal. If your baby signs it, believe them and end the meal. That shows the sign works.

Your baby's version: Waving or shaking one or both open hands. Turning the hands over with loose fingers. Big swings from the elbows or shoulders, often many times.

See all done with pictures

Eat

How: Shape your right hand into a flat O: fingers straight and together, tips resting on your thumb. Raise it to your mouth with the fingertips pointing at your lips, and tap them against your closed lips twice. The same sign also means food.

When: As you set food on the tray or plate, and when you ask if your baby wants to eat.

Your baby's version: Bringing a fist or open hand to the mouth. Touching the cheek or chin instead of the lips. Tapping or patting the mouth many times.

See eat with pictures

Sleep

How: Hold your right hand in front of your face, palm toward you, fingers loose and spread. Draw it slowly down past your eyes and nose. As it moves, bring your fingertips together onto your thumb, so your hand ends in a flat O just in front of your chin. Let your eyes close softly as your hand comes down.

When: When you see sleepy cues, as the nap or bedtime routine starts, and as you lay your baby down on their back. Sign it slowly and quietly; the slow movement is part of the message.

Your baby's version: Bringing an open hand down toward the face, or patting the face, without closing the fingers. Closing the hand into a fist near the mouth or chin. Touching or rubbing the eyes.

See sleep with pictures

These baby versions follow patterns researchers found in babies learning ASL from their parents: easier handshapes, bigger movements, and more repetitions⁴⁵.

Telling look-alike signs apart

Early versions of milk and more can both look like clapping or grabbing. Let the moment tell you. A clap in the high chair while your baby looks at the food probably means more. When you are not sure, ask out loud and show both signs: "More? Or all done?" Then answer what your baby meant, and show the full sign yourself. Prompt, warm responses to what babies do help them link words to things⁷.

How to use them

Sign right before you give the thing, while your baby is watching, and say the word as you sign. Use the sign every single time the moment comes up; doing it every time matters more than perfect form. After a couple of weeks, add two or three new signs from your baby's day, like a pet, bath time, or a favorite toy. You do not need to wait for your baby to sign back first.

This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your baby's doctor about your own baby.