Baby Sign Language- Experiences Pls

[Beautitude]

I am interested in baby sign language. Has anyone on this site used this and what were your experiences of it? DS is 3 months old, is that too young to start? Does it delay normal speech? Are there any books you can recommend on the subject?

Im really interested to know how people found baby sign language and if they would say it is a worth while exercise.

Thank you in advance for your stories.

[aimz78]

Hi Isabel,
we tried to do the baby sign language, but it did not really seem to work for us. We probably gave up too early, but DD did start to learn one sign, "milk" but did that for everything and did not seem to learn any other signs, we also found that a lot of the signs seem like normal behaviours for a baby, so we were confused whether she was attempting a sign or just pointing to her mouth or waving her hand or whatever.I hope this helps. Good luck!

[beckoes]

ive seen alot of really interesting things about baby signing, i try it with DD but probably dont use it enough, i think you have to REALLY stick at it! DD is 7 months and just looks at me like im a crazy person waving my hand about before i give her a BF....''like just give me the boob, never mind the hand flapping'' and she hasnt caught on yet. Im only trying the sign for milk atm. i think its worth it, apparently it doesnt delay speaking and can actually mean they pick up words quicker when they do start to talk. and can help avoid tantrums as they can get thier point across to you without having to scream!
HTH. there are some interesting videos on you tube of young babies signing!

[AnyDream]

Yep we're doing it, TBH it's been more useful > 1 year than it was before then. But even so DD consistently used signs for 'booby" and "more" "hungry" and "milk" before then, which was useful at times.

Now it's great because she will see or hear something and use the sign (before she has the word for it) so we understand her in some situations when she might otherwise just be jabbering on to herself, kwim? It's fun for other family members too.

And no, it definitely does not delay speech - you speak the word every time you sign it and if anything that reinforces their spoken language skills.

[Ezz]

I had a friend who used it really consistently with her DD & by 18 months she had 75 words! (either signed or spoken). Her language skills are well above others her age (she is now 2.5) - but I don't know how much that is just her & how much it is the signing.

I tried it with DS for "eat", "drink", "all done" - we started when he was 6 months (when we started solids) - but he never copied the signs & I gave up eventually (maybe at about 11 months), becaues he developed his own way of communicating (eg he points at the bench if he wants a drink).

[Georgi]

I come from deaf parents & am fluent in Auslan sign. I started signing to my baby a few months ago, just basics, milk, more, finish, bed, mummy & daddy. My niece was also taught like this though was close to 12months old when she actually started doing the signs. IT WAS FANTASTIC... She would tell you she was finished, wanted more or wanted to go to bed. It was sooo easy. I would definately be persistant with it, it does pay off. She was also a great entertainer at parties lol. At 1 year of age she could sign about 20 words. We would ask her how do you say Aunty, then she would sign it and so forth like that. It was very impressive

Here is a link to Auslan - Signbank Just punch in the word you want to know how to sign & it will show you.

Feel free to PM me anytime if you want any help with it.

I say give it a go for sure. Now is definately the time to start though It will take time before your DS will respond to it. Show the sign first, repeat it, then grab his hands/fingers & get him to do it. At other times just make sure he is watching you, say it, do the sign, then repeat. It's also a nice way to spend time together.

I can't say I know of any books out there but I'm sure there is.

It definately does not delay speech. If anything, it helps. My niece is now a very, very intelligent 3 year old. I don't think it's the sign that made her that way, but it obviously didn't hinder her developement.

Good luck.