Baby Sign Language - Share your thoughts

AshleyMatt1215 · September 2013

Are any if you planning on doing this? Has anyone done it?

H is on the fence about it, partially because he knows no sign language and partially because my MIL and grandmother in law have him convinced our child won't talk if we use it.

I love the idea of it and I know a lot of signs already because of my job.

One of our older nieces used it and talks just fine, she just didn't talk when everyone wanted her to talk. I think she just didn't have anything to say, because she now doesn't stop talking.

BackseatDriver · September 2013

We have started it. I think it will be worthwhile if it helps reduce frustration and facilitates communication. We will still talk to him and encourage him to talk. Even if his language is very slightly delayed I have t seen anything suggesting that there are any long term negative effects.

botanicalbliss · September 2013

BackseatDriver said:

We have started it. I think it will be worthwhile if it helps reduce frustration and facilitates communication. We will still talk to him and encourage him to talk. Even if his language is very slightly delayed I have t seen anything suggesting that there are any long term negative effects.

All of this. We plan to use a few signs. I think it will help me feel better when he goes to childcare when I start work back up.

AshleyMatt1215 · September 2013

I wonder if they think that we won't make the baby talk and just rely on the signs. Making them talk is so important! I wonder if my mil would read a book about it.

wiggyslilsis · September 2013

I didn't plan to use any signs but I knew some from working daycare. Ava Nichol knows please, more and all done. All done is nice because instead of screaming and crying when she is done eating she puts her hands up and waves them. She signs please when she wants something. She only does more if you say more. As she is learning words and talking more she is saying the words along with the signs.

iwalktheline · September 2013

I plan to. My cousin did with her son and it was incredibly helpful for them

Kaiene · September 2013

We used it with DS when he was younger. We still kind of use it, but he tries to talk so much that we aren't using it much anymore. Instead, we are focusing on the spoken word for items/objects.

He knew and used milk, water (drink), and all done. We also used bath and play.

I don't think he was delayed in talking. He didn't have any words at 12 months, and at 15 he had a couple words (dada and kitty). Now, he babbles all the time and says milk, mama, dada, hi, kitty, meow, uh-oh, night night and more. He even tries to say one of our cat's names that is pretty tough.

I remember at 9 months I was worried because he wasn't really babbling. But he's been really into gross motor stuff so I think he was more into that than talking for a while. His pedi has not been concerned with his development in any way.

When you use the sign, you always say the word, so it's not like they aren't hearing anything.

Kaiene · September 2013

I forgot, he also knew more and yes (signs).

BackseatDriver · September 2013

I think most people use a few signs. No one is up in arms about teaching babies to wave or shake their head no, but "all done" is where they draw the line? Seems silly.

Whippet8 · September 2013

I am obsessed with the fact that Cora can communicate with using her signs. Receptive language develops faster than expressive, so they can understand but not always have the ability to speak what they want. Baby sign language helps with that gap.

It took Cora months to get "milk" and "more," but after that, she got "all done" pretty quickly. Now, in the past two weeks alone, she has picked up "eat," and "help."

It saves so much frustration.

Plus, once your family sees your child signing, I think they will STFU about it. My mother was so skeptical, but she thinks it is so cool now.

tdmd09 · September 2013

We just started doing this. We do milk, more, all done and maybe one more I'm forgetting. I say and sign it together and sometimes take L's hands to make the sign too. I think it will be helpful for him to be able to communicate basic needs to us and I see virtually no drawbacks. A few of our friends taught their sons some simple signs and said it was a life saver.

pb&fluff · September 2013

We started signing milk with bottle in hand at about 6 months. Whenever we make the sign and say the word (even if we're still making the bottle and he can't see it), he gets super excited and smiley. Same with the word bath. Now that he's eating more I'm trying out "more" and "all done."

Also, signing was HUGE for my nephew. He didn't talk until almost 2 years (I think), so it was key for my sister. He wasn't delayed because of the signing, they were able to communicate because there was signing. They also did signing with my niece, and she was a chatty Cathy at like 13 months.

sgautschi · September 2013

I really want to use some signing. Anyone have any resources? I don't know where to start.

bobcee · September 2013

They taught Delilah basic signs at daycare and they really helped us and her communicate before she could talk. It in no way hindered or slowed down when she began to talk. And at two and a half I can't believe how articulate she is. We definitely will teach the same simple signs to Zack.

BackseatDriver · September 2013

sgautschi I used this site http://www.babysignlanguage.com/

cinderin · September 2013

I have never heard of it delaying language. Is there any studies on this? I wouldn't think it would delay language, jmo.

Kaiene · September 2013

I used the app ASL lite (free). It has videos of people doing the signs.

CincodeMayoLove · September 2013

cinderin said:
I have never heard of it delaying language. Is there any studies on this? I wouldn't think it would delay language, jmo.

Hi gpm ladies! Butting in for a minute. I work in early intervention and sign absolutely does not delay speech. Gross motor develops faster than fine motor and speech is the epitome of fine motor. Just say the words as you sign, even when they are signing and eventually they will speak as well. Just remember to educate your parents/ inlaws as they learn new signs because nothing is more frustrating to a baby then signing milk, more etc and "being ignored" because grandma didn't know the sign. HTH!
**butting out

**

sgautschi · September 2013

Thanks Cinco!

AshleyMatt1215 · September 2013

Thanks lady!

Baby Sign Language - Share your thoughts

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