While babies often prefer to go au naturel, there will sometimes be reasons why they would want to communicate their desire to get dressed. Some babies have clear opinions on the clothes they want to wear. Other babies like the warm and secure feeling that being snugly dressed gives them. Many babies learn quickly that shoes or a coat can mean a trip outside.

These signs will likely come quickly to your baby, as you will have multiple times throughout the day to demonstrate them. If you find that you are having trouble remembering the sign for each article of clothing, consider posting a cheat sheet near your baby’s changing table or any other place where you commonly dress her.

COAT

The sign for COAT ( SEE DVD) may sound a bit complicated, but it will probably come fairly quickly to you and your baby. The sign should look similar to actually pulling on a coat.

• 1. Curl the fingers on both hands as if you are signing the letter A.

• 2. Bring your hands up and in front of your shoulders then down the length of your torso.

Depending on where you live, you may have limited opportunities to demonstrate this sign. For instance, if you live in southern Florida and don a jacket a couple of days out of the year, you may have no need to use this sign.

DRESS

The sign for DRESS ( SEE DVD) is one that actually looks like what it represents.

• 1. Hold your hands in front of your chest with your fingers spread.

• 2. Move your hands down the length of your chest and then outward to indicate the skirt part of the dress.

Boys, of course, will have fewer opportunities to use this sign and therefore may not need it. If you do want to introduce this sign to your son, however, special occasions where people are dressed up are a good time to do so.

PANTS

This sign may take some getting used to for your child. Before she gets a good grasp of it, you may find that she simply pats at her legs to indicate PANTS ( SEE DVD).

• 1. Open both hands with the palms facing each other. They should be about a half a foot apart, in front of one of your thighs.

• 2. Move both hands down each thigh, indicating the legs of a pair of pants.

There is another common ASL sign for PANTS that you might try if your baby is having trouble mastering the above sign. For this version, open your hands and rest them palm-down on your thighs. Then draw your hands up to your waist, bringing your fingertips and thumb together. This sign resembles the act of pulling up pants.

SHIRT

The sign for SHIRT, as shown in Figure 9–1, is a simple one that should come easily to your baby. In fact, she may even use it already without even knowing it.

• 1. Use your index finger and thumb to pinch your shirt near the upper part of your shoulder.

• 2. Then tug at it a few times.

This one will probably be a fun sign for your baby to make and she may do it already, even if she isn’t trying to tell you anything.

SHOES

There’s no place like home.

There’s no place like home.

No, you won’t be clicking the heels of your ruby slippers together to indicate SHOE as shown in Figure 9–2.

• 1. Make a fist with both hands.

• 2. Tap the thumb sides of your hands together a few times.

SHOE is one of several signs that use the motion of bringing both hands together in front of the body. Other such signs include those for BALL and MORE. You may have to be particularly observant in the beginning to determine which of these signs your child is trying to form.