Use of baby signing should be targeted on those at risk, say researchers

Professor Karen Pine and researchers from Hertfordshire University carried out the study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council.

She said, 'We have found that encouraging mothers to use simple hand gestures with their infants can have linguistic and wider non-linguistic benefits for infants, but mainly for those who are at risk of language delay because of social deprivation, low parental education or other factors.'

Professor Pine said she would like to see baby signing classes being offered to low income families and 'targeted at those who need it'.

Using sign language before babies can talk is increasingly popular in the UK. However, the parents who take their babies to baby-signing classes tend to be well educated and middle-class.

But another study that Professor Pine carried out with Neil Howlett and Dr Liz Kirk found that baby signing might be counterproductive for better-off mothers, as they are already interacting naturally with their babies through talking and singing.

The researchers concluded that not only are such mothers unlikely to benefit from baby signing classes, but the practice may actually have a 'detrimental effect by enhancing parental anxiety'.

'Promising to "advance" a baby's development preys on the fears of mothers, raises expectations and causes anxiety when these go unmet,' said Professor Pine.

The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists advises any nurseries or children's centres who are considering introducing baby signing to liaise first with their local speech and language therapy department.

Jan Broomfield, a consultant speech and language therapist for the Royal College, said, 'As far as I'm aware, the research would uphold our previous position - that we don't recommend it.'

'Formal signing isn't advisable, because it is talking to the child that is the absolute key and has the best results in the long term,' she said.

'There is also the risk that parents may use baby signing more and talk less to their child, and that would be really detrimental.'