For the first time ever, UK parents are being offered a solution to the problem of not being able to understand their babies' cries of distress. An innovative new product using the practice of Baby Signing is being launched to help parents and very young children communicate and ease much of the frustration associated with early parenthood.

Baby Signing uses non-verbal communication to allow babies as young as six months old to express their needs. Bamba's Chatter Boxes are the first products aimed at both parent and child and introduce the basic conventions of Baby Signing in a simple, fun and relaxed way. The technique is proven to reduce the frustration of young children and encourage bonding. Research has also shown that the development of communication skills from such a young age can also encourage early speech.*

The first box in the range, Bamba's First Comforts, will be available from May 2008. The box contains six plush toys which relate to some of the most common baby requests. Parents are encouraged to spend just five minutes a day playing with the items and practicing the relating signs with their child. A parents' guide is included offering information on Baby Signing and advice on a range of useful first signs. The product also introduces Bamba, a cuddly monkey which parents can use to make signs and children come to associate with the fun of signing!

The box has been developed by The Baby Sign Factory, a company established by Speech and Language therapists; Yvonne Bruton-Miller and Amanda Rees. Both women successfully used Baby Signing with their own children and want to share the experience with other parents.

"As therapists and parents ourselves, we know that signing with babies works. Babies are immediately captivated by signs and speaking skills emerge alongside." Says Bruton- Miller. "We like the idea that our toy is not just for play time but has benefits throughout the day."

About Baby Signing

From the age of six to nine months, babies realise that the things around them have names; Mummy, Daddy, Cat etc. However at this stage of their development, they lack the vocal skills to communicate through speech. Around this time babies start to communicate non-verbally, holding out their arms to be picked up or waving goodbye, for example.

Baby signing teaches children to use signs to communicate until they learn to control the complex co-ordination of breathing out whilst moving the vocal cords, tongue, lips and palate to enable speech.

Bamba's First Comforts

Bamba's friendly face features on all of the toys that are included in the box. The character has been designed to inject fun into signing and encourage babies to learn. The Bamba's First Comforts box includes the following toys;

- Bottle: Representing the sign for Drink

- Spoon: Representing the sign for Food

- Blanket: Representing the sign for Bed

- Bath Mitt: Representing the sign for Bath

- Mirror: Representing the sign for Look At Me

- Bamba: Representing the sign for Monkey

Parents who spend five minutes a day playing with the toys and who use the signs with their children as part of their daily life could see their baby start to sign back to them in six weeks.

The product can be purchased from www.babysignfactory.com, price £tbc.