Is anyone going to do baby sign language? Have you started yet ? If your a STM and have done this how long did it take for your LO to catch on ? I think I'm going to start with a few things like mom, dad, milk and play. Just curiouse about everyone else .
We were thinking about it Mr.MM was in to the idea because he trained in ASL for teaching. We haven't started yet though, I'll be stalking this thread to see what others say hehe.
I started when DS1 was 3months. I did mom, dad, milk, more, all done. I think it took about a month for him to understand but didn't start signing back until he was about 5 or 6 months. I think. Momnesia gets the best of me sometimes lol
We did it with DS1. I think we started doing the signs when he was a few months old. He signed back for the first time around 8 months. It was very helpful. We'll do it again this time.
We will be doing it. Probably starting around 6 months, with milk, eat, please, more, and all done. I've used baby signs as a teacher and a nanny and they have been life savers.
Disclaimer: I did therapy for littles before I was a SAHM (which was 3 weeks ago) so this is something I know a bit about. I'm not just SUPER into baby signs. LOL.
Baby signs are a great way to bridge the gap between understanding language and the ability to use words. I would recommend starting around 5-6 months, but you can start earlier if you want. At the beginning it's just you using the signs, so it's just a matter of when you want to start. I started with my therapy kids around 6 months because that's when they start to eat solids usually and most signs are easily used around food (more, all done, cup, milk, please, thank you etc.) You can make up your own signs if you want, but the baby sign books are REALLY easy to follow. A lot of times the baby will modify it a little when they start using it so it's easier. The MOST important thing about baby sign is that you SAY the word every time you sign the word. The goal is to promote language, so we don't want baby to use the sign to communicate for very long. They should start to vocalize pretty quickly after learning and beginning to use the sign, even if it's not the word, they should try. If there are any specific questions, feel free to ask. I will try to answer the best I can. I don't know if we have any SLPs on the board, but they'll know more than I do even.
I started at. 9 months with my kids but 6 would be even better. At 9 mos he caught on fast and was talking around the same time. Both my boys were conversational by 15 months which was awesome and made life so much easier. I credit the sign language
So if they start to just sign and at least attempt to make a sound or word you should keep on with it. But if they don't speak or at least try to should you stop all together? Stop for a day or two? I'm assuming not speaking while signing doesn't happen that often or people wouldn't attempt it in fear of there child being delayed in speech development ( because we don't want them to just sign we need them to speak )
@pink flamingo It depends on the age of the child. Most of the time, for example, if you say "Are you done?" while signing DONE, the kid might sign and just say "d d d" which is good. Unless they are 4, but at that point, they would probably be in speech therapy anyway. If you are saying the word and they are vocalizing, 99% of the time the language will come eventually. Also, something that helps is when they do say, "d d d," you say, "Oh, all DONE." That way they hear the word said correctly again.
I'm going to start it once she's awake more during the day, I worked in daycare and we taught it and I really thought it was useful when the toddlers were trying to tell you what they wanted but couldn't verbally tell you. I will only be doing the most common, please,thank you, eat, drink, more, and diaper change. They all picked it up very fast especially during feeding times.
I started a little under a year with dd1 and she picked it up so quickly. She knew so many words and was able to communicate her needs easily without getting frustrated. We kind of let it slide once she started talking more and now she doesn't remember any words in sign (she's 3). It's definitely something you need to keep up with to retain.
I took a baby sign class that was fun, but you can learn on your own too - there's a really good baby sign language app for the iPhone. I can't remember its name but it was $2.99.
Re: Baby sign
Baby signs are a great way to bridge the gap between understanding language and the ability to use words. I would recommend starting around 5-6 months, but you can start earlier if you want. At the beginning it's just you using the signs, so it's just a matter of when you want to start. I started with my therapy kids around 6 months because that's when they start to eat solids usually and most signs are easily used around food (more, all done, cup, milk, please, thank you etc.) You can make up your own signs if you want, but the baby sign books are REALLY easy to follow. A lot of times the baby will modify it a little when they start using it so it's easier. The MOST important thing about baby sign is that you SAY the word every time you sign the word. The goal is to promote language, so we don't want baby to use the sign to communicate for very long. They should start to vocalize pretty quickly after learning and beginning to use the sign, even if it's not the word, they should try. If there are any specific questions, feel free to ask. I will try to answer the best I can. I don't know if we have any SLPs on the board, but they'll know more than I do even.
Good Luck!!
Me: 31 | DH: 33
DS1: 12.23.13 | DS2: 05.06.16
BFP: 06.30.19 | EDD: 3.9.20
TTC3: 11.18
BFP: 02.05.19
CP: 03.07.19
*really traumatic recovery*
It depends on the age of the child. Most of the time, for example, if you say "Are you done?" while signing DONE, the kid might sign and just say "d d d" which is good. Unless they are 4, but at that point, they would probably be in speech therapy anyway. If you are saying the word and they are vocalizing, 99% of the time the language will come eventually. Also, something that helps is when they do say, "d d d," you say, "Oh, all DONE." That way they hear the word said correctly again.
Me: 31 | DH: 33
DS1: 12.23.13 | DS2: 05.06.16
BFP: 06.30.19 | EDD: 3.9.20
TTC3: 11.18
BFP: 02.05.19
CP: 03.07.19
*really traumatic recovery*
I took a baby sign class that was fun, but you can learn on your own too - there's a really good baby sign language app for the iPhone. I can't remember its name but it was $2.99.
Eta - I think it's called My Smart Hands.