Baby Sign Language - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

Mommie-2-B · 12-06-2005, 09:21 AM

Have any of you tried this with your babies? At what age do you start? Do you find it beneficial?

Thank you!
Melinda

dizzygirl · 12-06-2005, 10:07 AM

Hi Mommy 2 be,

I don't have any experience in it myself, but my best friend did it with her son, and she wished she didn't, because he had a very delayed speech problem, because he could communicate with sign. I'm sure it was great for a lot of mom's out there, but it's just her experience.

Gayle0000 · 12-06-2005, 10:29 AM

dizzygirl, it's interesting that you posted about the speech delay. I have no comments or knowledge about the sign language, but my husband and I were just talking about this last night...we came to the same conclusion you posted just in our uneducated discussion.

We were talking about this becasue we feel DD is a little behind in just her cooing (she's 3 months old) compared to what we hear from others. We are convinced she's behind in it because she's spent most of her life with colic so far. If she wasn't sleeping, she was screaming. Now that the screaming has passed, she is having mostly calm and happy days and is finally starting to discover her voice. The cooing is now getting better as the weeks go by.

I think there are pro's and con's to everything...pacifier or thumb...breastfeed or formula...CIO or not...it goes on and on.

Boo Boo · 12-06-2005, 11:02 AM

Hi,

l have been told at my mums group to start sign language or baby signing at 6 months, the most basic words being food , home no food finish etc. I will be trying it though l think its really good. good luck

Kiera1595 · 12-07-2005, 06:16 AM

I never used it, but here are two stories from those I know who have.

1 is a friend who started her son at 6 months. He was pretty good at signing, but like Dizzygirls friend, her son had major speech delay. At 2 he was barely talking, mostly grunting and still using the signs. Fine for everyone who knew the signs. Really hard if you didn't know the signs. Now at almost 3 he is still behind, but catching up.

But I know another lady who's daughter really did well with it. At 1 year she had 5 spoken words but 50 signed words. She didn't have a problem transitioning. But her mom was also a teacher, so that may have helped.