baby sign language

Emeraldeyed315 · November 2013

Anyone else thinking about doing this? It looks like most people start around 6 months signing to their LOs. Any btdt moms have experience?

J&Jaggies06 · November 2013

We used it with DD1. Her daycare started it then I just looked up more signs online and taught her ones I thought would be helpful. It was great! I plan to do it again for sure and highly recommend it to friends and family.

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

I was thinking about it. One of my mom friends IRL says it's fantastic. She highly recommended it when dd is old enough.

SarahinMD · November 2013

We started with DD1 but she was verbal early so we didn't use it as long as I though we would. Just be sure you use a program that uses actual sign language (some dont) so if you want LO to learn sign language later LO doesn't have to unlearn anything. We're teaching DD1 American Sign Language now and I'm really glad we used a program earlier that also was

WildRumpus · November 2013

We used it when I worked in daycare and as a nanny, and I plan to w/ E. It's amazing how fast they puck it up and so helpful for that in between time when they want to be verbal but can't quite get their needs across.

rh10264706 · November 2013

We are going to try it also. We are going to start with 5 signs and see how that goes.

Emeraldeyed315 · November 2013

Am I right in reading that 6 months is a good point to start?

ktbear9512 · November 2013

I have a mommy friend who did it with her daughter. She really caught on and it was great to be able to understand her needs before she could verbalize them. She did basics- milk, more, all done, and please, and later added more signs. I was wondering if it would cause her to delay speaking since she could already communicate (having done no research on it, that was my initial assumption) but she speaks just fine. I am considering starting it with my LO too but am worried I wouldn't be consistent enough to make it work, so we'll see.

prayin&dreamin · November 2013

Those of you who have used it, did you use a video or simply practice with you?

WildRumpus · November 2013

ktbear9512 said:
I have a mommy friend who did it with her daughter. She really caught on and it was great to be able to understand her needs before she could verbalize them. She did basics- milk, more, all done, and please, and later added more signs. I was wondering if it would cause her to delay speaking since she could already communicate (having done no research on it, that was my initial assumption) but she speaks just fine. I am considering starting it with my LO too but am worried I wouldn't be consistent enough to make it work, so we'll see.

Just be sure that you don't replace the speech with signs. When you're teaching, make sure you're saying the word along with the sign, and respond when they sign- "Oh, you want more (sign) milk (sign)?"

LJUTCMommy · November 2013

Emeraldeyed315 said:
Am I right in reading that 6 months is a good point to start?

Yes. There is a baby studio in my area that recommends the sign classes for 6 mos and up.

WildRumpus · November 2013

prayin&dreamin said:
Those of you who have used it, did you use a video or simply practice with you?

We just looked up the signs we wanted to use and practiced them. No need for a video

tanabeans · November 2013

I got a free book at aconsignment store called signing smart for babies. It says to start at 6 months. I want to try, it seems like when dd cops at me she is trying to get something across and then gets mad when I don't respond. I could be crazy of course but I have seen my cousins do well with a few signs

Revez · November 2013

I didn't know signing was so highly recommended. I think I'll give it a try!

kwrecks · November 2013

The lactation consultant at my bf group teaches a baby sign language class that we plan on taking. I'm so excited to start!

LokiLahve · November 2013

Jill9288 said:
We used it when I worked in daycare and as a nanny, and I plan to w/ E. It's amazing how fast they puck it up and so helpful for that in between time when they want to be verbal but can't quite get their needs across.

This. We used it when I worked in a center as well. It's a lifesaver in helping them to communicate before they can get the words formed.

Michelle N · November 2013

very interesting! I hadn't thought about it but I will definitely be looking into it! tx

Texasmomma13 · November 2013

FTM so obviously I haven't done it yet. But, I have heard great things about the class. The instructor told me 6 months was a good age to start it.

Moosesoar · November 2013

I've started using some signs since day one. He gets excited when I give the 'milk' one! Even though he is unable to do them back just now, I know he understands at some level.

zora51 · November 2013

I'm fluent in ASL so I will definitely be teaching LO some signs. I've already started to use a few, but I know it's very early.

AprilRaine · November 2013

Daycare did the basics with DS1 and I will definitely be continuing them with LO. It made things so easy when DS could let me or a family member know that he was hungry/thirsty without getting upset.
I'll probably use them around 6 months once we begin solids but I probably could be using "milk" right now.

youtubebeauties · November 2013

Great info here...we will definitely start signing around 6 months. There are a TON of youtube videos out there as well....

rooftop · November 2013

we've started using signs around LO already so we will be in the habit of using the sign with the word. Although 6 months is recommended to get results soonest I kinda feel like its never too early to expose LO to any sort of language.

BelhurstBride · November 2013

We did it with DD1 and loved it. We started around 6 months and kept it pretty simple with just more, all done, milk, eat and I think two more that I forgot. As she got more into it when introduced more, like please and thank you and things that interested her. (Animals, swing, ball, ect) no need for any fancy videos or books; we just looked things up online.

Mini Noupamo · November 2013

When I worked as an Au Pair my hostfamily used it with their son. It was a really big help! Especially since he was taught both English and German which caused him to get all mixed up and this eventually delayed his speaking.
Besides "milk" and "more"- what do you think makes sense to teach to LO?

That.Just.Happened · November 2013

We did it with DD1 and it was fantastic. My BFF is an instructor as well. Love it, so helpful!

You can start trying at 6 months but there probably really isn't much point until 8-10 months. They won't sign back until at least then (and DD was more like 11-12 months). Around a year she got it and would do the basics (more, milk, hungry, all done), and around 14 months there was an explosion of signs. Then it's just how much do you want to teach them. My BFFs kids both knew upwards of 100 signs. I stuck to the basics with DD and she probably knew maybe 15.

It didn't slow down her verbal development at all, and my BFFs boys were both actually super verbal at a very young age. (Younger than DD)

We continued to use signs in addition to actual words until she was 2ish.

carrotcake06 · November 2013

Yes, we used it and I'd rec it.

We started maybe a little after 6 mo and it was really so helpful bc he was a late talker and there was a lot of frustration between 12-20mo when he wanted/needed something but didn't have the words.

I just looked them up and practiced with him, no videos. I would always sign and speak.

Even today when he really wants something, to be extra emphatic hell sign "please" while saying it. It's cute.

FeetFirst · November 2013

I have a funny story about signing.

We knew, but sort of forgot that daycare used baby signs. DS started there when he was 3 months so it was was easy to forget by the time he would be using it.

For about a week or more when he was like 8 months he kept sort of clapping his hand together in what I assumed was excitement every time he was eating. It took me at least a week of this, with hubby and i clapping along with him going "yeah that's right eating is fun!" Before we had a duh moment and realized he was saying MORE, haha! We then took time to sit with his teachers and make sure we knew all the signs again lol!

Anyways we loved it once we knew what the heck we were doing! And he could sign back to us pretty easily at 8 months. We used "more" "milk" "food/eat?" "Please" "thank you" pretty regularly.

Sascha3 · November 2013

I used sign with Layla and it was wonderful. I stuck to basics...more, eat, sleep, milk, change, poop. Then expanded to her favorite things...like book, blueberries, bread, banana, etc. I never taught her mommy or daddy because she already said them, and I always spoke with signing so it never inhibited her speech. She is highly verbal and knew about 100 words by 18 months. She now speaks over triple that at 21 months. Signing really helped eliminate some frustration to her before she could speak. I started at 9 months and she started responding after about a month with one sign (more), and then learned more over the next few months.

RK125 · November 2013

I'm so excited to use it! My original job choice was to become an educator of deaf children. That didn't happen, so I'm excited that I'll be able to you my sign language knowledge with dd!

laabeja · November 2013

We started with DS at 9 months old. By a year he was signing back and by 18 months he had 100+ words. People would always make comments about him having delayed speech because of it. Yes, he started a tiny bit later than some others BUT now he is way more verbal than other kids his age. We did a class to start, but then used Baby Signing Time and now Signing Time videos. They use songs to help you remember the signs. I can't wait to have DS help us teach DD signs. Unlike what pp said, I don't think it's not worth teaching until they can sign back. Babies pick up signs well before they have the ability to control their hands enough to sign back so it's worth starting early!

laabeja · November 2013

Oh, we also definitely felt the signing helped limit tantrums. So much less frustration when they can communicate.

wifeyvana · November 2013

We used baby signing with our first and LOVED it. It prevented many meltdowns and significantly increased his comprehension. We'll be doing it again.

LilMissScareAll · November 2013

My friend did it with her kids and it worked really well.
I'd really like to but with LO's hand, I'm not sure he'd be able to sign. Does anyone who's familiar with signing know if you can sign with left hand? LO's right hand will be in a brace until he's at least a year.

laabeja · November 2013

Lots of signs use only one hand and those that use two can be modified.

CharmedBAcMF · November 2013

We have started already. We know
It's super early but we wanted to get into the habit of signing the things we would like her to start using. So when she is ready to start signing, we'll be on our way! Plus it's fun for us.

Ftr: we talk and sign the words multiple times while doing the activity.

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