Baby sign language

jennbaylor12 · November 2013

Have any of you STM+ given this a go? Any FTM's planning on giving it a try? DH and I have decided to learn baby sign and have chosen a daycare/school that also uses sign. Any tips, experiences, etc??

babylimas · December 2013

We used it simply. It's very common! My daughter picked it up easily and still makes the more sign when she is begging me for something.

We are going to try to use it in detail with this baby since he will most likely have big communication delays. I probably won't start planning for that until after birth though.

Andreabills · December 2013

I would like to use it, it seems like something that you need to use consistently so I need to make sure that my daycare uses it. Are there different "versions" or is it pretty universal?

lizardknitter · December 2013

We used ASL (as opposed to baby sign language) with DD. She was signing back around 7-8 months and it made tantrums and other communication issue practically non-existent. We still use it now, at 2.5 and she speaks in complete sentences, as it makes telling her things in public easier - potty? Be gentle. Be careful! Etc

SamJustice · December 2013

I really wish we would have tried with DS. It would have saved a lot of headaches, I think. He's two and still fairly nonverbal about his wants or needs.

BabiesFTW · December 2013

I took DD to sign language class when she was about 8 months old. It was great. I'm sure we avoided some frustration because she had a way to tell me what she wanted at times. And it was fun to get a little glimpse into what she was noticing or thinking about before she could talk.

ETA: the class was a Signing Smart class

ring_pop · December 2013

We did a few basics - more, all done, milk, etc. Consistency is key - I don't think it stuck as well as it could have because I didn't do it all the time. But I love the concept; I firmly believe that only good things can come out of empowering babies to communicate!

I found this site really helpful as it had links to videos for the signs. https://www.babysignlanguage.com/dictionary/

VanessaBee · December 2013

Definitely!! I know a couple of moms who have done it and been happy they did. We'll probably use ASL, since I know it already, or some combination of the two.

Andreabills · December 2013

@ring_pop, you're my hero! Thanks for the link!

avigailandcharlie · December 2013

I know basic signs from when I worked with kids with autism but could definitely use a refresher. I plan on doing signs for basic communication (more, eat, drink, ball, mommy). Does anyone have any YouTube instructional/tutorial videos they recommend?

DTNZ4Ever · December 2013

Yes! It helped communicate when dS didn't have the words to express himself. We really only used a few like more, please, thank you, eat, drink etc.

Bjordanemery · December 2013

FTM and were definitely planning to use a daycare that teaches signing. My nephew used it and it seemed so effective.

aLsMay24 · December 2013

DS learned some at daycare and still uses some signs. I'm planning to work with this LO to learn at least the basic signs.

AEL1107 · December 2013

I do speech therapy with the early intervention population (0-3 yr olds) and I just want to say how happy I am to see so many of you doing/planning on doing sign! It's such an amazing way to communicate with them before they can use their words!

mbhalla33 · December 2013

FTM and the day care that we will be using teaches sign language. DH and I will need to learn too.

TDeneeS · December 2013

FTM...we plan do use baby sign. Our child care places that we are looking at all use sign language.

Excitedmum35 · December 2013

Never heard of it- sounds brilliant. Wonder if there are courses In Australia *runs off to google*.

maryhale333 · December 2013

Baby Signing Time videos are wonderful!

mamamia866 · December 2013

I'm glad this topic came up. I am interested in baby signing, especially since it will make communicating easier. Now I just have to get H on board, but I don't think he'll be opposed.

nblondheim · December 2013

I've worked in the infant room at a daycare that used it and loved it! I've always had an interest in sign language. I do plan to use some simple basic signs.

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babylimas · December 2013

AEL1107 said:
I do speech therapy with the early intervention population (0-3 yr olds) and I just want to say how happy I am to see so many of you doing/planning on doing sign! It's such an amazing way to communicate with them before they can use their words!

@AEL1107 - could you give me a bit of expert info? My baby has Down syndrome and I keep reading to use sign language and he will start in speech therapy early. When do you start with the signing? I remember doing milk very early, but nothing else. How many signs should I use at once? Will too many overwhelm him? I have been researching but would love your thoughts from an EI perspective!

avigailandcharlie · December 2013

AlexisDKruse said:

I plan on using it since my youngest siblings and other kids that I've babysat have been such a breeze when they know what they want. I'll be teaching selected words, though. I don't think that "please" and "thank you" are crucial until kids are verbal.

@alexisDKruse - I SO agree on the please and thank yous. In my opinion, this will just confuse them because they're not basic communications at such early ages. By the time they understand the concept of please and thank you, those signs can be introduced if they are not vocal yet. (In my opinion). I think that those words can be overgeneralized, and then a very frustrated 1 year old can sign "please" over and over again, and the parent doesn't know if please means "milk" or "ball" or "banana". @ael1107 - at what age to typically developing kids begin using two word phrases? I think I will introduce please and thank you at that point.

babylimas · December 2013

My kid just used "more" for everything. That's the sign she still does while whining pleeeeeeease. I never knew what it was for, but with my child it was most likely some form of food!

lindsey1031 · December 2013

In the preschool I worked at (2003 - 2007) we taught baby sign language using ASL. There was lots of research around that time that teaching and using baby sign consistently helped to build the neurological connections used in speech. I liked it especially because we could communicate with babies before they were able to verbally communicate with us. Took out some of the guesswork.

I think that "please" and "thank you" are important signs to learn IMO @AlexisDKruse, because it helps to make it a habit that can easily become a verbal habit a few months later. It's only two extra signs. It's so very nice to see young children using their manners.

theluckiest9 · December 2013

@avigailandcharlie - Typically developing children start using 2 word combinations around 18-24 mos (but this doesn't mean ALL typically developing kids will - they may be a little earlier or later).

@babylimas - I'm a speech therapist, but don't work with kids anymore. You may want to search on asha.org for resources and information on language development in children with DS.

This link has some good resources for explaining language development in typically developing children. https://www.asha.org/SLP/schools/prof-consult/norms/ The "related resources" section has some good sites as well to peruse.

SomersIsles · December 2013

Naive question... Does signing ever lead to delayed speech? I would assume no because why would so many teach sign if that were the case... But my logic leads me to wonder if children do not speak quite as soon because they can communicate in other ways?

Just curious

Khope87 · December 2013

I've not really heard of this being all that popular over here. I'm keen to try it but DH wondered the exact same thing - does it delay speech? I will definitely look into this more

jennbaylor12 · December 2013

Of my friends that have used it it didn't delay speech at all. The used it in conjunction with verbal speech and the babies started with sign, then started using both words and sign and now use them interchangeably. They all agree it significantly lowered the fits being thrown when their babies were young as they could communicate their needs so much more and that it is super helpful now when out in public to be able to communicate effectively and quietly

@ring_pop - Thanks for the link!!

msBlackandGold · December 2013

I started signing with DD at 4 mo. She started signing back to me "milk" at 7mo. It is WONDERFUL!!

DD has at least 100 signs under her belt. I do have her use "please" and "thank you". She used those before 18 mo, but I often have to prompt her, "how do you ask?" "What do you say when you get something?"

I would encourage you to check out signing time.com. The videos are about $20 each, but there is a discount going on right now. I think the music they use helps it to be easier for us adults to learn as well. (For me, my daughter picked up faster than I did)

Also Baby Einstein has "my first signs" and "wordsmouth" or something like that. Both of those you can find on YouTube.

We've used the baby signing time for quite some time, and just bought the signing time series 1 to expand her knowledge.

As far as speech delays...I think it depends on the child. And really? Who determines it anyway? Early walker? Early talker? I think (personally) we put a lot on our babies. I don't know when DD started speaking, but she started communicating at 7mo. And when she did start talking, she spoke with sign too....which is great because she didn't always speak each word clearly. The sign helped me to determine what she wanted even if I couldn't totally understand what she was verbally saying. (Just my two cents)

msBlackandGold · December 2013

Oh, DD also knew her alphabet and numbers (up to 10) before she was 1.5 and I attribute that to signing time. (Like able to recognize letters and numbers out of order)

Baby sign language

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