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February 2013 Moms
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Do you do the whole sign language thing?

BoonhildeBoonhilde member
in February 2013 Moms
I'm thinking of maybe trying out "sleep." 'Cause it would be great to know when he actually WANTS to go to bed. (Although, I worry it's never.)

But how do you actually teach that? Just keep making the sign when he seems tired and he'll pick it up eventually?
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Re: Do you do the whole sign language thing?

  • wifeofadamwifeofadam member
    edited October 2013
    My sister and SIL did it with their oldest (but then never with any after that because they didn't have the time).  My babysitter is also doing it with her one year old right now.  I think it's really cool, but I've never felt the need to do it.  And I'm too lazy to mess with it ;)

    To teach it they basically just repeat the motion while saying the word.  Like, for example, I know the sign for "more" is to tap your fingers together.  So, if their baby is whining after they finish eating, they will ask "More?" while doing the sign for a bit and then give the baby more.  After a week or so of doing that, the baby stops whining and does the sign.

    It's really cool, actually.
        
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  • tdmd09tdmd09 member
    We've been kind of inconsistent about it but we're trying "more" "all done" and "milk." Usually when I feed him purees, in between bites I'll ask if he wants more, and sign more, and then take his hands and help him sign it, and then I give him a bite. And when we're finished, I sign "all done" and clean up. He hasn't started signing back yet but I'm hoping it'll help.
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  • musicalmama5musicalmama5 member
    We do "more", "milk", and "all done". Although, I'm not very consistent because I keep forgetting to do them haha. 
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  • wholenewworldwholenewworld member
    I really like this idea, but I don't really know anything about it. It sounds like it may be worth a shot, though. Has someone who has looked into it/done it know if there is any truth to what people say about it delaying verbal language skills?
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  • TheNewMrsYTheNewMrsY member
    Speech pathologist chiming in :). All research shows that it does not inhibit verbal communication, but facilitates it. You'll use it in conjunction with speech so baby will be looking at you - focusing on what you're saying as well as the sign you're making. Since probably the vast majority of people your baby will communicating with will be using speech as their primary form of communication, signing will eventually not be "easier" to use than words. Which is why they'll naturally stop using the signs when they have the verbal word for it. But it's easier to teach signs before verbal language because babies learn gestures first (like how they wave before they'll say "bye bye" or point before saying "look!"). Hope that helps! I use it with DD, but she hasn't signed anything back just yet!

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  • SidraJediSidraJedi member
    I started signing with DD at about 2 months. She started signing back at about 4 months. She does "milk" and a dodgy but recognizable version of "diaper" and a few of her own made up gestures, some of which I am still trying to decipher.

    I hsven't introduced "nap" or "sleep" or "bedtime" yet but I want to. I figured That i would just sign "sleep" or "nap" to her if we were laying down. Since we nurse to sleep she will sometimes sign to "milk" when she is sleepy.

    Also, signing for us right now is inconsistent. She flat out stopped signing "milk" for a month while she was learning to pull up and cruise.
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  • Abca13Abca13 member
    We've been doing it with LO since we brought her home from the hospital (mostly just to get ourselves in the habit if doing it, not because we thought our newborn was going to start signing, haha) and she loves it! We do everything from the basics, milk, sleep, eat, all done, etc... to animals, objects, feelings & actions. There is a lot of "gentle" going on around our dog now that she can pull up on the couch and grab at her! It may seem like a lot but every time I think that she seems to recognize a new sign. The other day she even touched her own throat when I showed her a toy giraffe! I think it's a great thing to do at your own pace and with whatever works for your family.

    I think the key to it is to be diligent but don't stress out about needing to be a signing Nazi and just find a groove that will help you both communicate a little better. Sorry for being long winded, I'm just a big fan! :-)
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