MADISON, Wis. -- There isn't a parent who hasn't felt helpless, not knowing what their baby wants. To help, a growing number of parents are turning to sign language to ease the frustrations.

Video

Toddlers Learning Sign Language

Sara Herold, at Bright Horizons Daycare in Sun Prairie, believes toddlers have the ability to communicate even before they learn to talk.

Nine years ago, Herold began using sign language in the classroom starting with just the basics. The kids, ages 12 to 24 months, now know about 30 different signs. Some kids are picking up the concept faster than others, but it's helping all of them get through the day.

"It reduces the tension and frustration and stress in not being able to communicate because children do want to communicate at an early age," Herold said.

Research has also shown using sign language stimulates intellectual development, provides a strong foundation for early literacy, helps some babies talk sooner and boosts their spoken vocabulary.

"They can start combining words and start describing things a lot quicker because they already understand how the language works," Herold said.

Herold said it's best if families incorporate the signs learned at day care at home.

"With our first son he started talking right away, so we ended up stopping signing when he was a year and a half," said Tina Pantano, of Sun Prairie.

"It makes them more ready to speak when the time is right," said Eric Pantano, Tina's husband. "They know they can communicate with us, so it makes it less troublesome teaching them how to speak."

Yet the number one concern among some parents is that signing to their child will actually delay their speaking. Experts say don't worry.

"You're always pairing the signing with words, so they're hearing both of them and it just helps to reinforce what you're saying. They're going to keep on developing their language verbally just as they normally would," said Monica Haut, a speech language pathologist at Meriter Hospital.

However, Haut said parents shouldn't feel pressured into using sign language. There are other ways to communicate. The key is being an involved parent.

"Reading is great for kids. You can do part of a story and then stop and see if they're going to fill in the rest of the story. Or, you sing a song and leave out a word and see if they'll fill it in," Haut said.

Herold agrees that the most important thing is making time for your kids whether its playing games, reading a book or just making learning fun.

"They want to tell you so much. They want to be understood and by using sign language you will be surprised by how much they'll be able to communicate with you," Herold said.

Many of the sign language books say you can start signing to your child as early as six to eight months old. But, Haut recommends starting at about 10 months old.