Anybody planning to sign w/ your baby??

Aprilynn0206 · April 2009

I work with children and am always amazed when I see parents communicating with their children through sign language before they can speak. Anybody considering this? If so, what book/dvd/etc are you using?

TIA

lhull · April 2009

The teachers at my daycare sign all the time. I think my baby will pick up alot, but I have to learn more!

heyyohe · April 2009

I was actually going this week to look at books!

hisbabybear · April 2009

I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

ck715 · April 2009

We just did a couple of words/phrases but it helped us understand what DS was thinking. We used the baby Einstein video and my mom took a class on it years ago so she helped us with words we wanted to know.?

?

lhull · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

If you do both sign and speech, I am sure it's fine.

JWinCT · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

No, for this very reason.

krstokes · April 2009

Definitely, when I worked in daycare we used it a lot. The babies really amazed me at how well they responded to it.

Dulaney · April 2009

I am going to do a few signs...more, milk etc.

CalinsBride · April 2009

Yes, we are, and we will be using Signing Time resources.

CalinsBride · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

I'm sure it varies from child to child, but the kids I have worked with have all hit their milestones early when speech is CONSISTENTLY used with signing. That said, I know a two year old (a friend's son) who knows over 65 signs but is very behind verbally. I dont know if I'd connect the two, though, since at two he should really have a lot more than 65 words in his vocabulary.

kiki-W · April 2009

i did not sign with DD and she still picked up a few signs from her Nana that insisted on teaching signs.

now at 19 months the will not say the words for the few signs she knows... it has become a problem.

lsufan · April 2009

I've never used any specific program, but I learned a few basic signs and used them with my boys. ?My oldest never caught on (and I wasn't that persistent with it), and just eventually started talking. ?My younger son has picked up on a few signs (more, please, thank you, all done), and uses them in the right context. ?He usually attempts to speak the word at the same time, but I guess that's because he's at the age where he'd be learning to talk anyway.

I've never read anything suggesting it actually stunts verbal development, but maybe I haven't done the right research(?)?

wilson_ashlyn · April 2009

Yes, we are. We're still looking into different books.

smismar · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

I haven't heard this. My sister signed with my nephew and he's 3 now and talking up a storm!

ck715 · April 2009

We also read to DS from the time he was born...many people thought we were crazy but his language development is outstanding and continues to be that way. ( people always comment on how clearly he speaks and how fast he's able to pick up a word)?

We were worried about him being delayed in his speech because of teaching him signs but we always talked when signing and made language part of the signing. ?

Mrs.Carlybella · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

i thought that as well- and mentioned it to the pediatrician at the appt and he said the opposite actually happens and they communicate earlier. hmmm

trinise · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

I've been told the same thing.I probaly won't.

hisbabybear · April 2009

i know several parents who use signs with their children in my preschool and they are each developing at different levels yet their speech in all of them is somewhat behind. I am sure it depends on how you teach the signs and using language with them is definitely the best idea possible. My husband and I are still researching and i hope we come to a conclusion soon haha

tri-reader · April 2009

I signed with my DD and it was soooo helpful. She was able to tell me what she wanted. We used Sign with Your Baby by Joseph Garcia. We'll sign with baby #2 as well.

emaria · April 2009

we're going to try it. ?i bought the complete idiot's guide to baby sign language (how apropos in my case lol) and read it in a couple of sittings. ?there's an entire section that lists the words under different category and features a corresponding picture that teaches the sign. ?it's pretty easy and i'll just continue to review the signs before she's ready to try it! ?

tri-reader · April 2009

hisbabybear:
I really wanted to try and do a few signs but the more i research the more i find out that signing with babies can stunt their verbal communitcation... so we are still undecided.

I didn't see a stunt in verbal communication with my DD. She was speaking 16 words in context by 14 months and signing 6-7 words. And by 16 months she was up to speaking 36 words etc. And I would also say that I didn't notice a language slowing with different languages as well. DD is bilingual thanks to daycare and we're working on a 3rd language as well.

agmaso · April 2009

Mrs.Carlybella:
i thought that as well- and mentioned it to the pediatrician at the appt and he said the opposite actually happens and they communicate earlier. hmmm

They do communicate earlier if the signs are used properly. Most people don't realize that you have to use speech as well and they rely on signing hoping the kids will just start talking.

Just as if you never signed and say... used the word "baba" for bottle... that's what your kid is going to know unless YOU teach him/her the proper word.

Signing is really helpful when children are just plain unable (meaning "too young") to speak. Not for those who just don't want to speak. We are talking about 1 year olds.

By the time they reach the age where speech can be developed that should be the focus and not signing. Signing provides a way to communicate and eliminates frustration and a child who is confident enough in his/her ability to express their needs is more willing to learn new ways of doing that.

Most people start too late... they realize "oh my 2 year old doesn't speak, I better use some signs" and that's when the real trouble starts.

Others have a good run with signing so they continue because it's easier and by the time the realize, it's too late and the kids is put in the "late talker" category.?

I have taught several (not related) children signing since birth and they were all hit their speech milestones earlier then average.?

In fact, signing is especially helpful in bilingual families. Many of those kids tend to be late talkers only because they have double the work. They get the same word in the different languages that they have to remember. Having the same sign for that word is a nice way to tie it all together.

Anyway, it's all about knowing how to use signing properly.?

?

NHGirl04 · April 2009

Yes I will!

prettyshoes · April 2009

I tried very hard with my DD and the only one that stuck was "all done" which is still very helpful.

I know how to sign already so I didn't use any books. I think I will try again with the new LO- hopefully it will stick better this time around.?

jen41581 · April 2009

I plan on trying a few signs, but not going to make myself crazy....I read and reccomend "Baby Signs: How to talk with your baby before your baby can talk" and i have also gotten a few children's books that have baby signs in them. But I found the Baby Signs book to be very interesting!

mrsbhk22 · April 2009

We taught a few signs to DS (more, milk, please, etc). It was very useful before he could talk, however, we ALWAYS said the words when we did the signs. He was an early talker and already talks in complete sentence sometimes as a 2 1/2 year old. His vocabulary is bigger than is 3+ year old cousin who didn't sign. It's all a matter of the individual kid and how much you work with them.

Kimmie LovesEric · April 2009

Ladies, I am a mother of a 12 year old boy who has always been at the top of his class in many MANY ways. I signed to him from the moment he was born. Signing to your children DOES NOT STUNT THEIR VERBAL DEVELOPMENT.

I'm also the mother of a 2 year old little girl who has a sign language vocabulary of over 70 words and counting... she is showing all the same developmental progress as my son.

Sign language is such a blessing for babies. They can pick up the signs when their speech is underdeveloped allowing them to communicate all their needs eliminating frustration for parent and child. Both of my children were and are extremely happy, well behaved, intelligent people who have never ceased to amazing anyone! We constantly get compliments on our children for their creativity, attitude, thoughtfulness and their thinking capabilities. I know there are several factors that play into this (including genes Wink ) but I credit signing!

I thought for sure that I just lucked out with an amazing son and my second baby would be a holy terror. I was wrong. So now we are baking baby number 3. We will continue signing with all of our children including baby Allie, KNOWing that this early form of communication will help her to be as comfortable and secure as the first two!

Gallaway · April 2009

DH and I are both sign language interpreters, have been for about 14 years now. ?His parents are deaf and he was raised using sign language as his first language, he had no speech issues. ?He actually has a much better grasp of the English language than I do.

?A lot of research shows that babies are ready to communicate with us long before they are able to form the words on their mouth, simple signs help to bridge that gap. Not that you shouldn't be talking with them too of course.

?Obviously we will definitely be teaching our LO sign since his grandparents use it and his father and I do too.?

Kimmie LovesEric · April 2009

Gallaway:
DH and I are both sign language interpreters, have been for about 14 years now. His parents are deaf and he was raised using sign language as his first language, he had no speech issues. He actually has a much better grasp of the English language than I do. A lot of research shows that babies are ready to communicate with us long before they are able to form the words on their mouth, simple signs help to bridge that gap. Not that you shouldn't be talking with them too of course. Obviously we will definitely be teaching our LO sign since his grandparents use it and his father and I do too.

YEAH!!!! That's awesome!

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