At age 8, children who learn sign language are a year ahead other children. Indeed, the 32 children who had learned sign language as babies did an average of 12 points better on the IQ test. Children who learn ASL as babies speak more and understand more by age 15 months old and that difference continues. The data suggest that baby signs may spark other critical thinking skills that lead to a better IQ score. It is exciting to interact with your child at such a young age.
Every parent teaches their baby to wave bye-bye.
ASL activates both sides of the brain at once. Use ASL around your children, in the same way that you use spoken language with them. Babies have the motor control to make the signs, before they can form the word with their mouths. As you no doubt noticed, our children can understand us before we can understand them. There is nothing universal about baby-signs you make up or take from a book.