Baby Signing?

amy0105 · May 2010

Anyone planning to do this?

A friend of mine did with her two little girls and it seemed to be really helpful before they were verbal...

If you are doing it - are you doing anything to prepare before the baby gets here?? (Just to add to my "to-do" list!)

nooniesgal · May 2010

we did a few signs and I loved it...milk, more, done, eat. I will do it again with ds.

Cilley · May 2010

Oh definitely! I will even start on day 1! Baby will not be able to sign back, but he will see me doing the repeated motion(s) and hopefully will sign back when he is ready. I have The Baby Signing Book by Sara Bingham. So excited! GL

ZooBaby2010 · May 2010

I've been considering it. There are some really great videos and books out there. I have a friend who was babysitting a LO who knew it. She said it was amazing how much LO could communicate through it. Although she didn't understand it until mommy and daddy came home and translated. LOL.

It seems like a viable way to communicate with LO. Plus it's a great way for mom and dad to learn something new.

NicoleR524 · May 2010

you do have to be careful that it doesn't replace language though. Children who learn sign language or more then one language often have speech delays - it's fine, they will typically catch up - but you do not want to rely only on the signing. You have to ALWAYS use the words with the sign - even when baby makes the sign you should repeat the word outloud.

kerrerin · May 2010

I am going to do this. I have always wanted to learn myself and think it's a great extra language to have.

CoastieWife08 · May 2010

NicoleR524:
you do have to be careful that it doesn't replace language though. Children who learn sign language or more then one language often have speech delays - it's fine, they will typically catch up - but you do not want to rely only on the signing. You have to ALWAYS use the words with the sign - even when baby makes the sign you should repeat the word outloud.

Where are you getting this information?

Everything I've read actually shows the opposite. I'm curious to see what your sources are on this.

ETA: I do agree about using the word while signing. I'm talking about the speech delay part.

amy0105 · May 2010

Anyone have any good sites - I have only found some weird ones...look like mom and pop decided to create their own website for baby signing...which could be fine...just want to do it right!!

CoastieWife08 · May 2010

amy0105:
Anyone have any good sites - I have only found some weird ones...look like mom and pop decided to create their own website for baby signing...which could be fine...just want to do it right!!

I looked up whatever signs I wanted to use on an online ASL dictionary (one where they have videos of the signs so you see exactly how to do it) and just incorporated them into our daily routine.

https://www.aslpro.com/cgi-bin/aslpro/aslpro.cgi

That's the one I used. Free and easy to use.

laubeth87 · May 2010

NicoleR524:
you do have to be careful that it doesn't replace language though. Children who learn sign language or more then one language often have speech delays - it's fine, they will typically catch up - but you do not want to rely only on the signing. You have to ALWAYS use the words with the sign - even when baby makes the sign you should repeat the word outloud.

THIS

Qmommy · May 2010

CoastieWife08:
NicoleR524:
you do have to be careful that it doesn't replace language though. Children who learn sign language or more then one language often have speech delays - it's fine, they will typically catch up - but you do not want to rely only on the signing. You have to ALWAYS use the words with the sign - even when baby makes the sign you should repeat the word outloud.
Where are you getting this information?
Everything I've read actually shows the opposite. I'm curious to see what your sources are on this.

I agree... where did you get your information from? I know countless kids who learn 2 languages and are NOT delayed in speech. Of course you're going to say the word while you're signing... I'll be doing the same thing when teaching them how to read. Say the word, show the word, act the word.

SGolden7310 · May 2010

NicoleR524:
you do have to be careful that it doesn't replace language though. Children who learn sign language or more then one language often have speech delays - it's fine, they will typically catch up - but you do not want to rely only on the signing. You have to ALWAYS use the words with the sign - even when baby makes the sign you should repeat the word outloud.

Uh... no. That is false. Of course you should pair the sign with the verbal word but don't worry about causing a speech delay. Teaching your child sign at a young age promotes the development of communication and language. It's a great idea.

Jeane_P · May 2010

I am going to teach my little one. How early do you start, since I don't know sign language should I start learning the signs now so that I will be able to teach them to her when I talk to her?

CoastieWife08 · May 2010

Jeane_P:
I am going to teach my little one. How early do you start, since I don't know sign language should I start learning the signs now so that I will be able to teach them to her when I talk to her?

I started at 3-4 months. She didn't sign back for a loooooong time after that, but it's better to start early on and get the associations down. By 6 months, I could sign "milk" and she would get excited and knew it was time to eat. You can start from day 1 if you really want to.

The signs that you'll use the most are super easy to learn.

JulzRulz · May 2010

We did a little bit with DS, and it was helpful until he started talking. I think we started around 7-9 months, when he started sitting in a high chair and eating more solids, since most of the signs revolved around food. And once he actually had some control of his hands.

I didn't use a book or anything, just looked up a few common signs. I think all we really used were "all done" "more" "milk" and "food". He started talking pretty early, so we didn't use them for very long, but it was nice that he was able to communicate.

Jeane_P · May 2010

CoastieWife08:
Jeane_P:
I am going to teach my little one. How early do you start, since I don't know sign language should I start learning the signs now so that I will be able to teach them to her when I talk to her?
I started at 3-4 months. She didn't sign back for a loooooong time after that, but it's better to start early on and get the associations down. By 6 months, I could sign "milk" and she would get excited and knew it was time to eat. You can start from day 1 if you really want to.
The signs that you'll use the most are super easy to learn.

Thanks, I got a ASL Baby Book so I guess I have to add this to my to do list as well. I want her to be able to communicate with me when she is in daycare and is not really able to talk.

tessab2515 · May 2010

We did it with DD and I'm so glad we did. Our daycare provider had a couple years of sign language in college so I could ask her signs (and it was nice that she'd do them at daycare as well). We started with eat, milk, more, all done, etc. Let me tell you, when she signed "I love you" back at me I almost started crying! She still signs when she says things but she'll say the word with it.

mommyrenee · May 2010

i used signing with ds & will again with dd. it was really incredible.

i didnt prepare ahead of time though - just taught myself, then introduced a new one to him every few days.

eta- my pedi said it is absolutely not true that signing causes speech delay, confusion, etc. i do agree that the word should always be said with the sign.

queenofkings76 · May 2010

We will be doing it. Plus our daycare teaches it as well to newborns on up.

I actually have two family members who are deaf so this is a no brainer for me.

scottienme · May 2010

I think she meant that they have speech delays when signing is NOT paired with verbal word skills as well- I disagree about the multiple language thing, however. I used to work as a nanny for a family that had a toddler that became dependent on signing and didnt really speak at all besides "Mama, Dada, and more" and was 20 months... I know its not common for them to have a HUGE vocab at that point but my nephew didnt sign and he was WAY more advanced than this boy (who seemed to know HUNDREDS of signs)

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