One of the most frustrating things about being a parent is trying to guess what a crying baby wants, needs or feels. This is likely a source of frustration for the babies as well. Being unable to convey or get to what they want as fast as they would like is part of the 'terrible twos.' These little ones are striving to become more independent in mobility and more exact in communication. As young infants and babies, they cry and parents guess until they guess correctly what their child needs or wants. Could this be reinforcement of crying? Some parents think it is. However, other parents seem to have the answer to reducing frustrating and tantrums for both child and adult.

In the US, it is becoming more popular for parents to teach their hearing babies sign language. Their gross motor skills for making hand movements develop long before all of the fine motor components for speech. Reports seem to vary for the age to begin using sign language. Some parents start soon after birth and others at 6-8 months. One recommendation is to begin teaching babies simple signs like 'milk, eat, all gone, more' when they can sit up. Other commonly taught words include 'momma, daddy, play, please, thank you, and juice.' Parents need to be consistent and patient with repetitions and remember to reinforce approximations. Hand-over-hand making the signs helps with course corrections. Proponents of using sign language very early with hearing children agree that development of vocabulary is accelerated. Children learn the give and take of conversation earlier and build stronger bonds with their parents and caretakers.