Little boy goes viral after his call for help while on Santa's knee

A young toddler has gone viral for his sign language gesture while on Santa's knee. Photo / Kerry Spencer

A photo of a young boy sitting on Santa's knee is going viral on social media for his silent desperate message to his mum.

Kerry Spencer shared an old photo of her son when he was just one-year-old sitting on Santa's knee. But it was his hand gesture that has the internet in fits of laughter.

It appears this little boy wasn't a fan of Santa, with Spencer tweeting an image with the caption: "We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for 'help.' You're welcome," she wrote.

We taught our baby sign language. This is the sign for "help." You're welcome. pic.twitter.com/i6NkxBf4KP

— 🌈Dr. Frizzle (@Swilua) December 5, 2017

If you missed his subtle call for help, the little boy's face gives it away - looking unimpressed at the man from the North Pole.

The photo has received more than 6900 shares and been liked upward of 26,000 times.

Since sign language can have some variations, a few people on Twitter pointed out that this didn't look exactly like the sign for help.

"It's ASL baby sign, so he is slightly 'mispronouncing' the word," Spencer said.

"But it is the sign he always made when he needed help.

"We taught both our kids baby sign because they can sign before they talk and it is so very useful to be able to communicate with your baby."