Baby sign language?

charpe · February 2014

Does anyone plan on using this with their LO? If so, at what point do you start?

Chilko33 · February 2014

We have started. LO and I go to a class once a week....more to teach me and we have incorporated a few signs into our activities (I.e., milk, more, bath). He does not sign yet, but he recognizes the signs because he gets super excited when they are used.

RagsdaleA · February 2014

All I can think about when reading the title to this post is Meet the Fockers with the poop and boobie signs that kid was taught....lmao.

bermybabe68 · February 2014

I have just stared and DD is 4 months. I use the signs for 'milk' and 'all done'. I think they say to start at 6 months with 5 signs and then baby should start signing back at you by 8 months (at least attempt to sign). I'm disappointed that her daycare doesn't sign. I asked them and they said they 'encourage words'. I'm going to print some literature about it for them and try to convince them to give it a try. Not asking them to learn everything, just a few basics. https://www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/

Violet1372 · February 2014

Were are starting with some basics. Mostly milk. I feel like so far she is seeming to get it cause she stops screaming as soon as I make the sign.

StefSwank23 · February 2014

Hi ladies, I do not typically post because I am a FTM and hardly feel that I can offer any advice. However, this is a topic I can offer some advice as I am a Speech Pathologist (therapist) for preschool children. Signing can be useful for parents of children who have delays in speech and language. I often find that children who use sign language are "late talkers" due to using their alternate mode of communication (signs). Also, we look for communication to be functional, children who sign will use their signs, but unless the person they are trying to communicate with knows sign language their message is not effectively communicated leading to frustration and the signs to become non functional because they are not getting what they are requesting. Even if many people in your family use sign odds are your young child will not be able to produce the sign correctly due to muscle development and the inability to use those fine motor muscles to produce some signs.

Become aware of the milestones and if your child is not meeting the social and communication milestones then look into alternate modes of communication. Signs can be a great resource for children who are not using speech, but there are also many more options. As a speech therapist we find signs to be the least likely mode of communication for another individual to understand.

When teaching language talk to your child! Label things you are doing.

Ultimately your child is your responsibility, so please do research and decide what you think works best for your family. There are many studies who agree with parents teaching sign language early. I am just sharing my opinion and professional experience with sign language.

kimberlymacrae · February 2014

@StefSwank23: Thank you for the thoughtful insight, I had heard of delayment as well. Do you have any articles you could share with us on this?

kimberlymacrae · February 2014

Yeah, stop lurking...

We need your opinion instead of all these internet crazies... like me!

StefSwank23 · February 2014

Thank you for your sweet replies, even though I have just been lurking! I will try to find some articles I can link to, many are journal articles so you have to be a subscriber but I will look. There are tons of articles supporting sign language out there, but not as many showing any other effects of using signs. I was just sharing what I have seen throughout my profession. I would be happy to help anyone who has questions dealing with their little ones social and communication skills. Have a great night!

quietanchor · March 2014

Hi Stefswank23,

You've opened up a great angle to discuss on this. I know you posted this months ago, but hopefully others will find it as I have when searching for postings on Baby Sign. : )

My name is Monta Z. Briant, and I'm a baby signing teacher of many years, and also the author of the best-selling book, Baby Sign Language Basics.

You mention that what you have observed has all been through your profession.

Have you considered that, as an SLP, your sample of kids would perhaps be slanted by the fact that all the children you see are being brought to you because they are late talkers? I have worked with many SLP's over the years, (sometimes even bringing my baby sign class into their practices) and you are the first I've heard suggest that sign would contribute to late talking in children, rather than the other way around. I'm in San Diego, if that makes a difference...

I have signed with both of my children and taught thousands of families and their babies to sign over the past 13 years. Among the families I work with, I find that most of the children are early or typical talkers, and that the small percentage who speak later (about the same percent as with kids who don't sign) are much more relaxed and happy due to having less frustration.

As for a child being frustrated by adults not being able to understand some of the signs they produce, believe me, it's far more frustrating for a baby to be unable to communicate anything at all than it is to have some adults in the family misunderstand some of their signs.

Yes, many of their signs do look alike in the beginning, due to their limited small-motor coordination, but at least a parents knows that when baby pats his head, it's either COW, BUNNY, HORSE, or HAT, for example. Then, by taking it in context (daddy just walked in wearing a new hat, or we are looking at a picture of a cow) we can usually figure it out pretty well and affirm, "Yes, that's a COW!" or "Yes! Daddy has a new HAT!"

In addition, babies very quickly start attempting to say the word such as "DA" for daddy, so if baby is saying "Ba!" and tapping his head while looking at his stuffed bunny, I'd guess he's signing "BUNNNY". If he's saying "Da!" and tapping his head, I'd guess "daddy" or maybe that he's referring to daddy's new hat. Signing get's parents in the ballpark of understanding what baby is trying to communicate and it also encourages early speaking, because baby/ toddler can clarify the meaning by adding a sign to those often impossible to decipher early attempts at speech.

By the way, for anyone who's wondering how early babies can produce signs, I have a baby not yet 6 months old in my class this morning, who just did her first sign, MILK. Most parents don't start the signing process until about 6 or 7 months, so this is not typical, but it is possible if parents start early enough-- and it's just fun.

Which reminds me of one more important thing-- you should only do it if it seems like a fun thing to you. It's for fun, communication, and bonding-- that's the point. If it feels frustrating, or like a contest, don't do it. Hearing babies got along fine without it until just this past decade or so, so it doesn't have to be for everyone.: )

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