Baby Sign Language

Hey tracie, I (as usual) agree with TripMom! We began using baby signs with Lyd at 5 months, using signs for all done, more, milk, bath,bird,  and sleep. She used all done on her own at 8 months, and soon began with the others. Now, I add more each week, two or three at a time. Now, at 15 months, she's got those plus dog, kitty, pacifier, juice, daddy, mommy, dance, music, and on and on ... trips to the zoo are super fun now! Some people say that it can cause a speech delay, but as someone who has had this work successfully, I would rather Lyd communicate successfully earlier with 15 signs than to be whinng, throwing fits, and frustrated because I can't understand her three or four words and whines. You know? And, you really can find everything you need online. I would reccomend one or two board books to share with your baby, and go from there. :-)

Working in a daycare in an infant room, we use signs!!! We say the words when we use the signs starting as early as we get the children! Most of our kids say the word with the signs by the time they transition to the toddler room (around 15 months). It helps with frustration and trying to figure out what they want/need. Good luck!

I used signs with my son from the time he was 2 months old.  What a huge help it was when he got a little older (before he could talk).  We used just the basics like milk, more, all done and a couple of others and always said the word as we signed it.  When my son started talking his speach was very advanced for his age.  He's now almost 6 and has a larger vocabulary than I do.  I just started watching my nephew for a couple of hours 3 days a week (he's one) and I wished my brother and SIL would have used sign language with him.

Thanks everyone for the info. I have my degrees in chidhood development so I know why they are used. They are not used for just children with speech delays. As others said, it is way to start early on learning and cognition, communication, and also temperment.

I just wanted someone who was a mom explain how they used it and how it worked for them.

Thanks,
Traci

I actually just purchased a DVD from BJs to start teaching my 7 month old.  Of course it won't be our primary way of communication, but I do think that it will cut down on frustration.  However, I am not sure how my daycare is going to feel about it since they don't use it.

Hey Traci-
First off, I am a Speech Language Pathologist. I have a master's degree is communication sciences and disorders. Including my externships, I spent seven years learning how to be a speech therapist. I work in the pediatric population. yada yada yada... lol

SO...my point-  

Baby Sign is an excellent way to IMPROVE your baby's cognitive and communication skills. It will not cause language delays but will actually improve them, since all communication whether it be sign, English, Spanish, Swahili or whatever you teach your baby, ties in together. Language is Language is Language- meaning that if he learns sign to bridge the gap until his motoric capabilities come online then he will be less frustrated and he will figure out reciprocity or how to exchange his needs and wants wth his caregivers. Once he has learned that there is feedback from his caregivers from using signs then later on when he can orally express himself he will already understand that he has ways to interract with the world around him. Teaching him that at an early age can only improve his cognition and communication. Basically, you're putting synapses together that will be built upon in years to come.

You can't start too early either. Sign when you feel like it. Talk to him bunches, and read to him whenever you can. All of these things will help.

Also, as long as his other caregivers understand his signs it doesn't matter what he chooses to use. Don't feel pressured for his signs or yours to be perfect. Signs (as well as words) are arbitrary and as long as there is a perceived meaning to what he is signing then it works just as well.

Good luck!!
Tracey

This is exactly what I would have said!  I went to school for Speech Therapy and Deaf Education.  I am currently a sign language interpreter.  I plan on signing with all my children, just because its such a big part of my life, and it will increase their language abilities as they develop.  I noticed that on and off with my neice using it (not consistantly across the board, but just with me)  She used it expressively at about 8 months.  I have heard generally around 6 months or so children can respond with simple signs.  There is no harm that can come from it so I would definetly do it! 

One of the greatest things (to do with teaching my kids sign) happened to me later on in my daughter's early years was that I could "scold" her in public without anyone being any the wiser. I could just sign- "stop now/trouble". usually even with a smile on my face, and she'd generally quit. It kept the rest of the world from knowing our business, and I didn't look like a crazed mom. She knew other signs beyond stop and such so we could "talk" about different things. 
I wasn't sure that I didn't want to be a Deaf Education Teacher so along with my SLP studies I went as far as student teaching. About the second week in the classroom I discovered very quickly that therapy was where my heart was truly at! God bless teachers!   

I had to laugh at your post, even now my 8 year olds will stop dead in their tracks if they see the sign for "enough", they know it's even bigger trouble if I smile at them as I sign it LOL

The daycare Rowan went to for his first year actually uses it. I would say most aren't going to pick much up until they're about 6 months old. We use it at home as well, although we really only use a few signs so far. Rowan uses "please" "more" "finished" and "food/drink" the most. It's pretty helpful!