Babies can become frustrated when they know what they want but aren't yet able to hold conversations with their parents.

But 18-month old Craig Turner from Three Bridges can ask his mother for milk by using sign language developed in America.

Now she's giving lessons to other parents at ante-natal classes in Crawley so that they too can communicate earlier than normal with their children.

The new techniques also save a lot of anguish for parents who can teach their kids to make meaningful gestures.

These simple but useful techniques for growing youngsters are an encouraging sign of the times.