Inside a coffee shop in Alexandria, Virginia, there is quite a conversation going on - and it's babies doing the talking with their hands.

The class is called Tiny Fingers, and is taught by sign language interpreter and certified deaf educator Eileen Ladino. In the coffee shop, she's teaching hearing children who, along with their moms, are learning what's known as baby sign language.

Advocates say it gives babies a way to communicate well before they can use words to get what they want.

The signs are based on American Sign Language.

Eighteen-month old Max is one of the stars of the class. He started signing at 12 months and has worked his way up to 90 words.

"He has yet to have a full fledged temper tantrum like other children I know in my neighborhood of his age," says Sarah Buxton, Max's mother. "He'll start to get frustrated and then remember he can tell me what he wants and cuts it off. It's incredible."

Babies between 8 and 14 months are ripe to learn signing.

And rather than delay speech, Max's mom is convinced signing accelerates verbal skills.

"I tell people if your child isn't signing they are way behind. "It gives them a real jump-start on learning language."

Whether Baby Sign Language is a craze or has enduring popularity remains to be seen -- but Ladino is convinced the lasting benefits will continue to attract customers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9877540/