Lesson 1
Mia Mjau’s first 5 baby signs
Let’s learn 5 simple, useful baby signs that are great to start with:
MILK · EAT · MORE · TEDDY · SLEEP
Before we get started…
Which signs do we use?
The signs used in Tegn og Trall come from Norwegian Sign Language and tegn-til-tale. Some have been simplified to make them easier for babies and toddlers to do.
Right-handed or left-handed?
Use whichever hand feels most natural to you. If you’re right-handed, your right hand will usually be the active hand in signs where one hand moves. If you’re left-handed, it will usually be your left.
You don’t need to use the same hand as me in the videos.
Milk
A way to remember:
Imagine milking a cow with one hand. 🐄
When to use it:
When your baby has milk, or when you see someone else drinking milk.
Tip:
Try showing the sign just before you pick up your baby to give them milk, as well as while you’re breastfeeding or they’re drinking from a bottle.
Eat
A way to remember:
Pretend you’re putting food into your mouth.
When to use it:
When your little one is about to eat, and while you or others are eating.
More
A way to remember:
Move your hand upwards, as though something is growing and there’s more and more of it.
When to use it:
When your baby is about to have more of something – more food, more milk, another song or more play.
Tip:
MORE is a lovely sign to play with! Try it in a little tickling game: give your little one a gentle tickle, pause and ask “more?” while showing the sign. Then tickle a little more, pause again and ask “more?” 😁
Teddy
A way to remember:
Imagine two little teddy bear paws moving up and down, one at a time. 🧸
When to use it:
When you give your baby their teddy, play with it or talk about it.
Sleep
A way to remember:
Pretend your hand is a pillow for your head to rest on.
When to use it:
When your little one is going to sleep – for example, as you get ready for bedtime, or when you settle them in their bed or pram for a nap.
Tip:
You can close your eyes as you show the sign. 😴
Now it’s your turn!
You don’t need to start using all five signs at once. Choose one or two that fit easily into your everyday life and start there – or use all five if you’d like!
What matters most is using the signs often, in natural situations with your baby. For example, show the sign for MILK whenever they have milk, or TEDDY when you give them their teddy.
The more often you use the signs, the sooner they’ll become a natural part of your day. ❤️
If you’d like, you can practise with your little one by looking at the pictures below.
Talk about what Mia is doing, and use the signs you’ve learnt.
Remember: it may take a little while before your little one starts signing back. Keep showing the signs and look forward to that very first sign in return. That’s when the signing adventure really begins! ✨
Time to give it a go: Sing, play and sign away! 
Next lesson ♫
In the next lesson, we’ll bring baby signs, singing and music together – just as we do in Tegn og Trall!
Keep an eye on your inbox – Mia Mjau’s nappy-changing song will be arriving soon.