Sign of the times

Just saw this article from your side of the pond: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/4096788.Look_who_s_talking_now/. Apparently baby sign language has become as popular in the UK as it is here. The last Zero-to-Three conference was full of sign language courses.
I'm not sure how elaborate you can really get with signing (the babies on YouTube always seem like they might be signing "More food, please, mummy,"... or they might be smearing mashed peas all over their cheeks. I guess it amounts to the same thing.) But from what I've seen, giving Ziggy-Leigh some way to communicate without throwing things or crying is all to the best.
I couldn't find any review that gave the best sign course for this, but this article on HumanHands.com seemed to have the right idea:

"The way to teach your child to sign is very simple. Just use any sign along with the verbal word every time you say it. Repeat, repeat, repeat - Keep using the same sign every single time you say the word. The child learns that this is the normal way to communicate. You don't need to use any "official" sign language - You just need a sign that is easy enough for the baby to do physically, and simple enough for you to remember. Some good early ones to start with are puckering the lips as a sign for "milk", poking out the tongue for "teething ring", and blowing air for "hot".
Once your child starts using the signs, gradually keep adding new "words", but make sure they are ones that are important to your child. Some very good ones are "more" (probably the most frequently used sign by infants), "good", "cup/drink", "bonk/ouch", "hot", "cold", and "all gone". Remember that you can use any sign at all, as long as you keep each one consistant for each word. The more obvious a sign's meaning is, the easier it will be to remember. Point to the different body parts as you name them. As your child develops, they will make up some new signs on their own.
For most parents, signing is just a temporary phase until the verbal skills develop. Repetition is the key to quicker learning, as long as you keep it fun, and don't be concerned if the signs aren't "proper" sign language. As long as you and your child are learning to communicate with each other, any sign will work. "

And if none of it works, you can always try finger puppets!
love from Sarah