Article: Baby signs; By letting their hands do the talking, parents and infants are discovering a delightful - and practical - new way to communicate.(VARIETY)

P.J. Bower, all of 13 months old, sat in a booster seat next to her mom, Sarah, and across from brother Jace, 3, during a supper at home in late January. She opened her mouth for bites of peach. When her mother took a bite for herself, P.J. tapped her arm.

"More water," she requested.

When she'd emptied her water bottle, her father, Larry, refilled it for her.

"Say, `thank you, Daddy,' " her mother prompted.

"Thank you," she said.

"You're welcome," her father replied.

During this exchange, P.J.'s parents used their voices and hands; but P.J. "spoke" with her hands alone.

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