anyone else signing with baby?

Stephanie - posted on 01/02/2010

My son AJ was born on Feb 25th and I have been practicing with him as well as my family because both of my parents are deaf so eventually he will be able to sign to them. He is not signing as of yet but he does understand the ones that we have taught him.

Venessa - posted on 12/30/2009

Aisaia was born February 21st, and I started signing to him just simple things, more, all done, eat, drink, car and bird when he was 4 months old. By 6 months he could sign when he was done, but has not yet moved onto another sign, if I sign to him "more" he smiles and get's excited but he won't sign himself. Although he has only just started waving properly in the last 2 weeks so, I'm hoping if I'm consistent he'll get more confident.

My step Daughter signed as a baby, I meet her when she was 8 months old, and at about 11 months she signed I love you, talk about bring me to tears!!!! Aren't they precious?!?!

Joslyn - posted on 12/28/2009

i do sign with my son but he like to talk and i think it funny becus my son was born feb 4 and he love to woch me sign evon thow he cant sign back yet .

Kay - posted on 12/27/2009

Hi my daughter Maisie was born on 13th Feb and I started baby signing with her when she was 5 months old, I find it really educational for me and now Maisie loves it as its so much fun!
Maisie has done 2 signs in the last month which I was delighted with, they were food and monkey (of all things ha ha!)
Kay

Bethany - posted on 12/27/2009

It is so true, signing is great for distanced communication. Growing up, my Dad taught us the Australian Signed Alphabet, out of the back of the phone book, and could always communicate to us across a room or any distance. So handy. I try to remember to use the More sign and the Drink and the Food sign, but I forget sometimes. Charlotte is just starting to wave byebye, and clap when I say "clap hands", without the visual cue of me clapping. So I think she'll start picking it up soon.

Erica - posted on 12/26/2009

Quoting Michelle:

Hi, we have taught Livi the milk sign and she's been using for a couple of months now. It's so great for her to be able to tell us that she wants "milk" (actually formula)...it's cut down on the guessing if she's hungry/thirsty or does she want or need something else. :)

I've been using the milk sign for nursing and two weeks ago Genevieve actually started using it back to let me know she wants to nurse!  It's great!  Yesterday  at my in-laws for Christmas, she was pulling at my shirt and I told her, "don't pull at my shirt, tell me what you want" and she signed milk - it was awesome!  My in-laws were impressed.

Tracey - posted on 12/25/2009

Hi, I interpret for the deaf and have many deaf friends. So I use the language frequently. I have taught all my children sign language from birth. They usually start signing back at about 8 months if you are consistant with it. I am very amazed at how well my older children sign and can read it at a nomal pace. Keep up the good work!

Danielle - posted on 12/24/2009

Hi, Casey! Yes, I do signs with my 10 month old. She started signing "more" about a month ago but she decides when she wants to use it...she tries to revert back to slapping the table if she wants more. Generally, if they are able to wave they are able to begin performing signs. I used signs with my son, who is now almost 3. I was anxious to start with him so I began showing him the signs around 7 months old. He didn't start doing them until about 10 months, then it was only days after the first sign that he learned 4 more; milk, all done, eat and water. One challenge I found was deciding which signs to use..I had three books and they all showed me different signs for one item. I chose to use the standard american signs, but choose one that works for you. Now, his vocabulary is so high and he still uses some signs...meaning I use them and he understands. The best ones to continue to use are; sit down, don't touch, and no. Even when we're away from the house or he's at a distance from me I only need to get his attention and he sees me sign and he listens. It also helps that he tries to teach my daughter now how to sign. I couldn't have introduced them to anything better as babies. Studies show that using signs not only improves their vocab but also their comprehension level as early as third grade. (I'm in the psychology field) Also by helping them to communicate you have a more confidant, secure baby.
Danielle

Bethany - posted on 12/23/2009

remember that signing is a gross motor skill, like any other, so they will develop in line with the child's other motor skills. That said, repetition will help them know what to do when the time comes for that skill set to be developed.

Dawn - posted on 12/23/2009

We are signing here and there....I wish I was more consistant, but he still seems to understand me, jsut doesn't try himself yet...he loves "All Done"!!! : ) :) We have the "Baby Signing Time" DVD, but he isn't into it that much.....

Patty - posted on 12/22/2009

I also use sign language, my son responds to the signs more than he signs back. He knows milk, more, eat, all done, mommy, daddy, change ( as in diaper or clothes), and we are working on grandma, grandpa, sleep, and other relatives. He will sign back sometimes, but not as often as using other ques like grunting.

Bethany - posted on 12/22/2009

Hi, I am. I use the signs for More, Food, and Drink whenever I say those words. Charlotte can already wave when someone is leaving, or we are leaving. She reaches for her cup if she's thirsty, and pulls on my shirt if she wants milk. When she's in her feeding chair and wants something to eat, she will pinch her fingers together and put them into her mouth. That is the Eat sign, but I didn't teach her that one, she just started doing it, so now I reinforce it. She doesn't use the other signs in context yet, but she will eventually, she's such a llittle smarty.

Casey - posted on 12/22/2009

Quoting Michelle:

Hi, we have taught Livi the milk sign and she's been using for a couple of months now. It's so great for her to be able to tell us that she wants "milk" (actually formula)...it's cut down on the guessing if she's hungry/thirsty or does she want or need something else. :)

haha yeah i ebf. so my son usually just starts pulling my shirt or hitting them or somthing lol! thats great though

Michelle - posted on 12/22/2009

Hi, we have taught Livi the milk sign and she's been using for a couple of months now. It's so great for her to be able to tell us that she wants "milk" (actually formula)...it's cut down on the guessing if she's hungry/thirsty or does she want or need something else. :)

Lorraine - posted on 12/21/2009

im not but i had to do it with my little brother he was delayed but i have done a couple with my daughter she seems not to want to do it she rather talk