Rowan Lowe, a mum from Bearwood, has turned her passion for baby signing into a thriving business that has quickly gained national recognition. She runs Sing and Sign Birmingham, teaching ten baby signing classes a week to families across the West Midlands. Just two years after launching, she was named number 12 in Club Hub UK's Top 100 Children's Activity Providers in May 2026, making her the highest-ranked baby signing teacher in the Midlands.
From London to Bearwood: A Career Change
Rowan's journey began when her daughter Lowry was born in 2022. At the time, she was living in London, having spent 20 years working in fundraising and marketing. Wanting a flexible job that would allow her to spend more time with her child, and seeing the benefits of baby signing first-hand, she decided to move back to her hometown and start her own franchise.
"Signing helps babies to feel understood, builds relationships and hugely supports language development," she said. "I saw this first-hand with my own daughter as well as my friend's children too and I knew that I could share my passion with others."
Rapid Growth and Community Success
In the summer of 2024, Rowan travelled back and forth to deliver free taster sessions to show local families what Sing and Sign was all about. By September 2024, her business began with just 25 families across five classes. Now, she has around 100 families each term, and some of the original families still attend classes six terms later.
"In September 2024 my business began with just 25 wonderful families across five classes - some of these original families still come to class six terms later! Now I have around 100 families each term and I'm so proud of our Sing and Sign community," she added.
The Benefits of Baby Signing
Sing and Sign classes include 45 minutes of songs, rhymes and activities that make it easy to learn over 100 baby signs. Unstructured time is also factored in so that grown-ups can chat and make friends. The classes help parents understand a baby's thoughts, needs and ideas from a very young age, which builds trust, reduces frustration and strengthens relationships. It also supports early vocabulary and understanding, encourages speech development, and builds confidence and self-esteem.
Rowan shared a recent success story: "Another mum said she was sceptical at first, but now at almost one year old her baby can sign the words 'milk, finished, loud, music, twinkle, yes and no, wash, bird, dog, cat, tired, home and stop!'"
She added: "Baby signing is so inspiring and really does feel like magic. Just recently a mum told me that she thinks signing has helped her to be a better parent as she's able to communicate so well with her little boy."
Recognition and Community Pride
Rowan expressed her delight at the Club Hub UK award, saying: "To place so highly after just two years of running my business was a real honour and I'm thrilled that my passion and commitment came across." Her daughter Lowry will be four in October.
Reflecting on her return to Bearwood, she said: "I grew up here and lived away for almost 20 years, but moving back feels like returning to a friendly village. Everyone knows everyone in Bearwood and the community is just brilliant. People I grew up with now come to my classes – my old neighbour, my best friend from primary school – as well as wonderful new faces too."
Rowan's story is part of the Brummie Mummies Kitchen Table Business series. To find out more about her classes, visit the Sing and Sign website.
