Baby Sign Language - just got my kit in the mail!

[Mrs P]

I'm super excited to try this out - wondering if anyone has had success with it? I am thinking it's going to be a case of "repeat.. repeat.. repeat" ha ha. But even if we can get DD using a few simple signs like "eat drink bed bath more all-done" - that would be awesome!
I had been thinking about getting the kit for a while but couldn't justify it, then they had a sale following the floods in QLD Bad for them, but good for me I guess - got the kit, including postage, for under $30.

[*Twinkle*]

I used it with Gemma when she was a bub/toddler. Just basic signs: food, drink, toilet. But it was more makiton sign. She caught on super quick and it is so much fun! And when you are out and about and need to ask about toilet, you can just sign it to her! It is awesome! Good luck!

[HotI]

i am doing it now, mainly just "milk", "enough" and "more" for now, focussing on "milk" cos that is a fav and most relevant to my DD. She has copied my sign a few times but has stopped again.

[onthefly]

We did baby sign with DS - absolutely wonderful thing. I started on my own at around 6 months (got a book from the library), just with a few basic signs - milk, eat, drink, mummy, daddy. The key is to stick with it - and that's hard at first because it can take a while for them to really get it. It helps if everyone in contact with you and your baby also do it.
I think DS started signing at 8 months - milk. We started doing a class at around 9 months, which helped to reinforce our efforts a bit. By 14-15 months he had around 70 signs and he learnt some more after that but I stopped counting. He didn't really start talking till 18-20 months or so, but he could communicate really, really well, even stringing together signs (and later the odd word) to tell us things from around 10 months.
Some worried that this would stunt his language development, but if that's so, then I'd hate to see what he'd be like if we hadn't done signing. He is a total, complete chatterbox now and stopped all the signs long ago.
I plan to do it again with DD.

[nickle730]

Mrs P, I'd like to try it with my DD. Where did you get your kit from? That sounds cheap!

[Mrs P]

The kit says bubs can't really sign themselves until after 8 months, but I think I will try doing just a few now to get used to it - I think 'milk' 'bath' 'bed' and 'cat' (because we have two cats!) would be good. Great to hear some success stories

Nickle730 - I got the kit from Baby Signs Australia ("Complete Baby Signing Kit") - they had a post-flood sale and I'm not sure if they have any left at the sale price. Normal price is $59. But you can get it for around $45 from the Book Depository UK (google it) with free postage.

[onthefly]

I understand that they have the dexterity to do it once they're able to clap

[Mrs P]

Oooh ok MadB - that would make sense! I was doing the cat sign to her when DH got home, and he was like "what are you doing? smoking something?" - pretty funny as the cat sign does look a little like that ha ha...

[UsPlus2]

I use the same method with my DS. My brother has Downs, so thought it would be great to teach him early. We started around the 8 months mark and now at 18mths he does use them alot. Its great, espec the finished and more, makes meal times so much easier. He also like the animal ones, if he hears a bird outside he will make the sign for it, and gets so proud of himself for it All the best, its a great tool for both of you.

[jackrose]

I did it with DD1, starting when she was 6 months as recommended but gave it up pretty quickly as it was hard to keep it up with what appeared to be lack of interest on her part. I picked it up again at about 12 months, starting by using "milk", "up" and "more" and she was signing back to me within a month. From there I was astounded at how quickly she picked up signs and sometimes had trouble keeping up with her! I found that she would often look at my hands when I was saying something or pointing out something to her, to see what the sign was. Sometimes she even made up her own signs!!

I found it incredibly useful on a number of occasions when we could not make out what she was asking for (we called soda water 'bubbly water' and she had trouble saying that but could sign it easily) She might have become upset at not being understood but very quickly we were able to placate her. Mostly, I just found that it was a heap of fun and a great way to bond with her as she loved to be understood and to understand us.

In my experience it absolutely assisted DD's language development as we always used the verbal word with the sign, she was talking quite early and has very good language skills. We used a mix of a commercial baby sign book, makaton and signs from the Auslan website (they have a sign dictionary for almost every word you can think of with videos of people performing the signs - a great resource)

We are now doing it again with DD2 - again starting at 6 months and already seeing progress, it is just amazing!

I remember when I began with DD1 I was really inspired by some youtube videos of a little girl signing, she was phenomenal. I will see if I can find some of them to direct you to them. They are really inspiring... ETA: found it, it is 'SmartHandsCA'. I think that they are selling a baby signing kit with these videos but no need to buy into that, just get inspired by what a baby can sign when given the opportunity! They have heaps of videos of their little girl Fireese, check out "cute baby signing... baby sign language" for her signs at 12months.

[turtleschell]

I bought the Australian Baby Hands DVD, watched it once and thought it was impossible. I still think DD wouldn't really grasp it. She never really watches me that much. Hmm. Maybe I should actually attempt it though.

[jackrose]

I still think DD wouldn't really grasp it. She never really watches me that much. Hmm. Maybe I should actually attempt it though.

Maybe keep it up with just one main sign, keep it fun and you will get there... My DD1 sounds a bit like yours, never watching I think this is the reason I gave up early on. DD1 was never the type to engage in much as an infant, not so keen on peek-a-boo let alone signing. When she worked out the significance at an older age there was no stoping her. My DD2 is much more engaging and interested, hence, I believe, has picked it up much faster.

[onthefly]

It's like that at first turtle - its' the hardest part of the whole process, actually getting started. They do get it, though, and once they do it gets easier and easier. It was a couple of months before DS started signing, but a few months after that he was picking up signs first go.