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Baby Signs vs Speaking Words

Britt&ScottBritt&Scott
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months

DS is 19 months and is finally picking up on some baby signs. He signs please, thank you, banana, more, eat,  and all done among others.  While I'm glad he's picked up on it, is anyone else concerned about their LO using sign and not talking because they can communicate in this way?  I'm not a worry wart kind of mama, but other kids his age seem light years ahead of him and all he does is sign banana.

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Re: Baby Signs vs Speaking Words

  • skoorbniborskoorbnibor member

    signing is not shown to delay speech in any way. In fact, it seems to help some kids learn and certainly helps reduce frustration.

    Babies develop on their own time and some talk early, some talk later, but ultimately, he will be able to embarrass you in public when he is 5! :)  

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  • g8orellg8orell member
    I dont' think it will harm his speech development in anyway, it's like learnign a 2nd language. But thats' why I didn't do sign language with DD...why teach her twice? She says no, more, thank you, please, bottle, water...and plenty of other things. I know it's easier for babies to sign when they are younger, but I knew what DD wanted when she was younger. We live in Miami where most people speak Spanish, so at daycare, DD only hears spanish, which is great b/c she's learning it (and I speak enough of it, esp at work)...so at her 15 month check up, the doctor said that english words count the same as spanish words (she speaks less english words as her 15m old friends)...but when you had english and spanish together, she speaks a lot of words. So I'm sure it's the same as SL
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  • susanmosleysusanmosley member
    A child will use the modality that is "easiest" for them.  If he is getting signs, but slower on the speech development, he will continue signing (as long as he has the vocab he needs) until talking becomes the easier of the two modalities.  It doesn't really mean the signing slowed down the speech development though.  You have just given him a tool to use in the interim. Is he talking at all?
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  • LilrdmandyLilrdmandy
    Signing helps develop language and the fact that he is understanding words and communication with signs is great and the words will come soon enough.  Some kids who don't sign don't speak until they are 2, all kids are different and before you know it he'll start talking and won't stop!
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  • Britt&ScottBritt&Scott
    Yes, he talks.  Mommy, Daddy, MayMay & G-Da for my parents, mo for more, uh oh, dut for duck, dug for dog, ca for car, etc.  
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