Baby Who Can’t Speak Yet Babbles in Sign Language to Communicate with Deaf Grandparents
A video showing Jane McCullough "babbling" sign language to her grandparents has gone viral on TikTok
A 6-month-old baby in Florida is finding the words to “talk” to her grandparents.
And at her young age, baby Jane McCullough has gone viral for her efforts to communicate with her deaf grandparents, Michael and Jessica Stultz.
In a video posted on TikTok, the infant is seen "babbling in sign language to grandma and grandpa," Jane's mother, Mara McCullough, wrote over the video of the three in conversation, adding in the caption, "Notice as she waits for her turn to sign back."
Mara added, "She's trying to communicate!"
“You love talking to grandpa,” Jessica signs to Jane, who is looking at them from the floor in a bouncy seat. The baby’s hands then move vigorously and seem to make the word “yes” in response.
As the grandparents continue their conversation with Jane, they ask the baby if she had any “good dreams” in her recent long nap. Jane continues to move her hands and “babble” sign language, to the delight of her grandparents.
Mara told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville that she is surprised by the traction the video — which has 10.2 million views and two million likes as of Friday, July 19 — has received. “She’s starting to show us that she’s trying to communicate and use the language, so it’s been really cool,” she said.
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McCullough added. “She’s still just babbling in sign language so there’s no correct signs yet, that’ll probably come in a few months. She’s showing us that she’s starting to understand it.”
The bond that the baby and grandparents are forging is not unusual, according to sign-language experts. “There’s no wasting time when you’re teaching children,” tutor Karen Lewis-Hannah told the station. “They’re like sponges so you want to get right in there.”
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Jane, her parents and her grandparents live together in one house, which means the opportunities to communicate are seemingly endless. "She’s been pretty alert and observant since the day she was born so we knew it was coming," Mary told Good Morning America.
Her TikTok followers have found the video to be moving — and illuminating — she added. "I think it’s been really eye-opening for people to see that babies are able to grasp language and that they’re so intelligent," Mara said.
"I think a lot of people already knew that babies can use sign language before they speak, but I think to see her babbling in sign language took things to a new level for a lot of people," she continued.
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