who did/does baby sign language?

who did/does baby sign language? how old was your dc when they started to understand signs and how old were they when they signed back? what signs did you use most?

i've mostly been working on "eat, more, all done"

tia!

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

Alex did, and still uses much of her sign language. She learned it at daycare - they brought in a sign language teacher who taught a sign-music class 3 times a week, and all the teachers learned and used the sign language with the babies.

I *think* they started using sign language around 8 months. At around 10 months my daughter started signing back. At her peak, she mastered about 30-40 words, but the ones she used most frequently were hungry, thirsty, milk, please, thank you, booboo, work, more, all done, her name and all her friend's names.

It helped TREMENDOUSLY with the frustration tantrums because she was able to communicate before she actually spoke. Good luck with it!

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

I've been wondering this too. I have only been doing a few signs so far, but he's only 3 months, so he barely has control over sucking on his fist. I'm only doing the signs that will (hopefully) help him before he can talk, so he can communicate. Once he gets a bit older I will start teaching him more. I am originally from an area of a dense deaf population and I think it's important to learn.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

I have been doing it since he came home. He is 6 mos and does not sign back, but if I do "hungry" and he wants a bottle he squeals. So I think he sort of gets it in a Pavlovian sort of a way. We also do "happy," and "sleep." So far no real reactions to those (although I'd love it if he were to go to sleep when I sign sleep ).

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

I only did a few (All done, more) and I wish I would have done more. I started late (around 7 months), but she got them. It was great to communicate with her before she could talk. And now that she is talking, she still does it. When she first started saying "mo" I had no idea what she was saying, but then she did the sign for "more" and I knew what she meant.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

I didn't, but I met up with a friend today and her 20 month old signed and said "More Eat Mummy" it was very cute.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

I bought a DVD/book and learned a few signs. Milk/sleep/ bed/ bye/daddy/mommy/hello/more. I bought a system based on real ASL not a "make your own" sign system like Baby Sign.

The book suggested starting at 7-8 months. I started at 3 months.

He cannot "repeat" yet at 5 months but he is introduced to it already.

I heard great things about how it helps.

Message edited 11/26/2007 4:16:55 PM.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

Since DH and I are both deaf and use ASL as our first language, we are signing a lot with DS. He is 3 months old, and we *think* he is starting to understand us, before i nurse him i always sign milk, eat, mommy feed you, and now when i sign that he smiles big ,and expects to be fed. My Nephew started signing at 6 mos. and today at 4 years old he still uses his signs.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

We signed with Ava, not too much, but she knew probably 5 or 6 essential signs like eat, drink, more, all done, etc.
I think it cut down on a lot of her earlier frustrations. Even now, at 17 months, when she REALLY wants more of something, she'll sign more while saying it

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

We just ordered a bunch of flash cards to start the process.

Logan is 6.5 months.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

DDs sometimes do "more" but right now they do it whether or not they truly want more (I think anyway). I think I have to do a little more research on how to get them to do it when they REALLY mean it.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

We started a few weeks ago. Later than I wanted to.

We're doing the Baby Signing Times DVD's.

They will be 8 months tomorrow.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

We started at around 8 months. We would do the signs and then one day a few months later, he just started doing them too. It realy helped with communication. Now he signs and says the word at the same time.

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

thanx for all of the replies guys! know i'm even more motivated to use more signs with him!

i use asl and found this lsite very helpful if anyone is interested.

link to asl dictionary

Re: who did/does baby sign language?

Posted by LoveBeingMrsT

thanx for all of the replies guys! know i'm even more motivated to use more signs with him!

i use asl and found this lsite very helpful if anyone is interested.

link to asl dictionary