Baby Signs for Bedtime » (BOARD)

Dr. Linda Acredolo is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of California at Davis and an internationally recognized scholar in the field of child development. Based upon research conducted with collaborator Dr. Susan Goodwyn and funded by the National Institutes of Health, she and Dr. Goodwyn co-authored the best-selling book entitled BABY SIGNS: How to Talk With Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, and founded the Baby Signs Institute. Continuing their mission to bridge the gap between research labs and family living rooms, Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn published two additional bestselling books for parents, Baby Minds: Brain-building Games Your Baby Will Love and Baby Hearts: A Guide to Giving Your Child an Emotional Head Start. Dr. Acredolo serves on the Advisory Board for PARENTS Magazine and is a Fellow of both the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society.

Babies have a lot to say, even before they can actually speak familiar bedtime words like "sleepy" and "quiet." Baby Signs are simple gestures that allow babies and toddlers to communicate what they see, what they need, and even how they feel. Research has shown that Baby Signs decrease frustration and tantrums and help your baby talk sooner.

When to begin: When your child starts to wave bye-bye.

How to do it: Show your baby the sign and point to the picture. Always say the word as you make the sign.

Improvise: Make up your own signs — your baby probably will too!