Baby Sign language

Jewel - posted on 03/25/2013

my daughter is almost 8 months old and still very quiet, starting to make sounds. I really wanted to learn and teach her sign language...I hope i'm not starting too late. I checked out mysmarthands and if I can't make a class work, I was thinking I would just get the baby sign bible and/or flash cards. Is this a realistic way to introduce to an 8 month old when i've got no sign experience myself?

Melissa - posted on 09/03/2010

hi my son and I LOVE it, in fact I am taking a 4 week class at my local college to learn more :D but here is a great place to start:

mysmarthands.com

This lady is a awesome teacher and specifically targets baby sign, on her site she has videos of babies signing (so cute) and she has a app for the iPhone/iPad if you have one of those, its nice to have a quick reference.

GOOD LUCK and have fun.

Tracey - posted on 09/03/2010

I have a 6 month old with braces on her legs. I have been showing her hurt, legs,and teeth.She can't talk yet so this has been helpful so to know what hurts her. She can sign for all 3. I think it is good to know a few words. It has come in real handy so far.

Heather - posted on 09/02/2010

I bought the Baby Signs videos for my first son. Starting at 2 or 3 months he loved watching them. I would practice the signs with him as well. By 5 or 6 months he did many of the signs on his own and when he got older his language skills were remarkable. He never did "baby talk" and spoke very clearly from the start. I think that they were wonderful and I believe that it really helped him with learning language later on. He is now 5 years old and the benefits are still evident.

Kristy - posted on 08/31/2010

There are DVD's you can buy, like 'Baby einstiens signs' which gives you the most basic ones to start, my son loves watching it and I just interact with him as we watch it. Of course he is not signing yet, but it helps him to mentally be comfortable with it.

I agree with Mindi when she says not to over stimulate them with words, they are still trying to link together what words are to objects, it might confuse them - I start my son off with basic things he does - like 'bath', 'water' or 'all done', 'more' and evn 'drink', 'milk', 'food'. Good luck :)

Mindi - posted on 08/30/2010

I did this with my first born and am now doing it with my son. We kept it REALLY simple- so we did More, Help, All Done (for when they are done eating), and Nurse (breastfed babies) and she occasionally would tell me Poop (but I could smell that one! HAHA). Those are the most basic signs and instances where I want to know what they really want. I start doing the signs around the 5-6 month mark and just keep doing them when you talk to them. I would say it was more so around 8 months that my daughter was good at communicating with the signs and it lasted until she was a year and a half when she could communicate well with her words. Don't over stimulate with too many words- just do the basics so you can understand what they want.

Rebecca - posted on 08/27/2010

Hey there, my son is deaf so we have been introducing signs into his routine. Our case worker at a deaf facility suggested that we start off small, with only a few signs (5 at most) that are very basic.
Whatever signs you want to use are fine, so long as you use them at the right time, like use bed when putting your child to bed.
Also, children learn signs easily than language, other families in our program have had their children sign back as early as 8 months old.
Good luck with everything.

Sheila - posted on 08/20/2010

I'm very interested in doing sign with my 6 month old - could anyone eccommend a book or class - thanks

Heather - posted on 08/19/2010

also...you can learn a lot from youtube!! i use this playlist that I made with Noah a lot



http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=...

Heather - posted on 08/19/2010

you just sign the word as you say it...also while having that object or doing whatever your signing. like when i get my son ready to read i sign that i'm getting his food and then we sign ok it's time to eat (eat and food are the same sign) or when i get a bottle out i say i'm getting your milk and do the milk sign as i say it. some people say not too many...but my aunt is deaf and lives with us and i know a decent amount myself so sometimes it helps....we use so many words it'll make him bilingual. he even signed back "yes" to me last month..and we've been signing with him since he came home (was a preemie, so around his due date). it's never to late to start! i'd start with "more" "food" "milk" "poop" "mommy"....things that you know your baby will use to communicate with you

Trisha - posted on 08/17/2010

I am starting to sign to my daughter when I do things and I know of many people who have..VERY HELPFUL! Half of the time when hildren throw tantrums when they are older is because they hve trouble communicating there needs. I am starting out with just basic signs (honestly I don't think i am going to sign for everything) fo now it will be hungry, more, sleep, need change, and cat. There are some god books on baby signing as well....good luck!

Jo-Anne - posted on 08/17/2010

I do it in a "Baby Sensory" class once a week great fun. Been doing it since Ethan was 5 weeks old and while he doesn't sign he finds me very amusing!!!!

Morgan - posted on 08/16/2010

My sister in law did this with her girls - VERY helpful for early communication. I was so impressed with how it worked for them that I am doing it as well. She told me to start signing AND saying the words to them while they are doing the action or concept (eat, change, more, finished, sleep, etc.). From what I have read, the earlier you start doing it the better. She said they will start to to the motion on their own (no need to force their hands to do it) just all of the sudden. I got a baby sign book that was very helpful. Once they start signing back to you, I think you can introduce a new sign or two each week (outside the basics) From what I understand consistency is the key to success - getting the whole family involved. I hear that children who sign learn to put verbal sentences together faster than other children. I will say that when babies sign, their first attempts at the motion aren't very accurate, but if you both know what your baby means, then mission accomplished! They will get their coordination eventually, as long as you keep doing the right way back to them. I would definitely recommend getting a baby sign book. Good luck!

Sophia - posted on 08/15/2010

My baby boy is 6 months old and I would love to hear from someone also who has done this.