Baby who does not speak but babbles in sign language to interact with deaf grandparents

A 6-month-old infant in Florida is developing the ability to “talk” to her grandparents.

And, despite her young age, infant Jane McCullough has gone viral for her attempts to interact with her deaf grandparents, Michael and Jessica Stultz.

A TikTok video shows the newborn “babbling in sign language to grandma and grandpa.” Jane’s mother, Mara McCullough, commented over the video showing the three in discussion, adding in the description, “Notice as she waits for her turn to sign back.”

Mara said, “She’s trying to communicate!”

“You love talking to grandpa,” Jessica says to Jane, who is sitting on the floor in a bouncy seat. The baby’s hands then move quickly and appear to form the word “yes” in response.

As the grandparents continue their talk with Jane, they inquire if the baby had any “good dreams” during her recent lengthy slumber. Jane continues to move her hands and “babble” sign language, which delights her grandparents.

Mara told WJXT-TV in Jacksonville that she was astonished by the video’s popularity, which has 10.2 million views and two million likes as of Friday, July 19. “She’s starting to show us that she’s trying to communicate and use the language, so it’s been really cool,” she told us.

McCullough added. “She’s still chattering in sign language, so there aren’t any right signs yet; those will probably appear in a few months. She’s showing us that she’s starting to get it.”

Sign-language specialists confirm that the connection between an infant and their grandparents is not uncommon. “There’s no wasting time when you’re teaching children,” teacher Karen Lewis-Hannah told the station. “They’re like sponges, so you want to get right in there.”

Jane, her parents, and her grandparents all live in the same house, so there are almost unlimited possibilities to interact. “She’s been pretty alert and observant since the day she was born, so we knew it was coming,” Mary explained on Good Morning America.

Her TikTok fans found the video moving and illuminating, she said. “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 told the press.

“I think a lot of people already knew that babies can use sign language before they speak, but I think seeing her babbling in sign language took things to a new level for a lot of people,” she told me.