[Darisey]

Anybody use sign language with their older kids or are planning on teaching the new babies?
We do sign language with Layla and it's so much fun! She knows over 50 clear signs and speaks over 10 clear words. It's so much easier on both of us knowing that she can tell me exactly what she needs without the crying or guessing! I plan to keep teaching her new signs even after she starts talking a lot. It's always good to have a second language! I started teaching her at about 8-9 months and will probably start around 2-3 months with the next baby

[east to west coast]

I'm a pediatric speech-language pathologist (I currently work with the birth to 3 population), and I just have to tell you that your post warms my heart. Teaching your baby sign (even just a handful of very basic signs) is one of the best things that you can do to promote language development in your child. That, as well as talking to them as much as possible and reading to them from birth. As you mentioned, when you teach babies sign, it decreases both your and the child's frustration and provides a means of communication long before they're able to verbalize their wants and needs. So, kudos to you!!!!

[Kobain's Mommy]

We have the Baby Signing Times for LO. I have the whole set of DVDs, CDs, and flash cards. He's watched the first DVD a few times and enjoyed it. I need to get back into letting him watch it since we tried when he was 7 months old. At that time he couldn't sign the words but if I signed the word to him he'd respond, like asking him to drink his juice. After I signed it he'd take a drink of his juice.

[Jacobbbsmommy]

i didnt know anything about signs for babies when DS was born but being a SAHM while my hubby worked all day and i was alone i talked to him all day long like he was my best friend lol. now the kid talks like an adult! he just turned three but im confident his speech is like 1st-2nd grade level lol. i totally intend to teach new baby signs this time since i now know about it! i wish it was more well known about...

[TheWhiteRabbit]

In high school I took 2 years of "American Sign Language" and I understand it quite well. I had always intended to teach my "someday" children, sign language. My DF and I use subtle signs in social situations to talk to each other. It's always been easy for me, and now that DF knows quite a bit too, it will be nice to teach baby!

[eccomi]

i've always wanted to do this! probably just the basic signs (milk, water, hungry, etc.) but i can't wait to try 'em out!

[dansgirl]

Yes, I taught both my girls from an early age and they loved using them. My 3.5 year old sometimes uses one every so often if her mouth is full of food and she wants something, lol, or if she needs to be really quiet somewhere.

[wifey2kevin]

yes, we've taught all our kids signs and this baby will know them too.

[Seattlite]

We just never got into it with Jim, I got a book and everything but DH and I were terrible with follow-through on it. Maybe this time I'll be better about it! Luckily his language development was OK anyway, probably because I never stop yakking.

[MN Bunny]

My daughter Keira learned sign language at daycare starting when she was about 4 months old and it was great, it was so nice that she could communicate things to use before she could speak. Funny you should bring up this topic, Keira is now talking up a storm now but just this past week she suddenly took interest in one of her baby sign language books so we've been reading it together at night and she will say the word and then do the sign, it is really cute

[BrittneyLA]

We just recently started signing with Briar because he has a speech delay and would get very frusterated because he couldnt tell me what he wanted. He is picking up fast, he knows basics like, More, food, drink, please, and thankyou. It has helped so much and his tantrums are cut down by like 1/2. So I plan on starting early with this baby so he/she can let me know early (both of my boys speech delays)

[babybatax2]

We are teaching Rylan signs because she is unable to speak, due to the trach.

Dakota talks like a mad woman so she skipped that step of needing signs!

[army_wife1008]

We did some basic signs with Travis. He has a moderate-severe speech delay and it helped a lot. I really wish we would have done more with him because he picks up signs SO well. He is using a LOT more words now, so we really don't do much signing but it was funny because I realized the other day that EVERY time he asks for milk, he signs it as well as saying it. I can't even remember the last time we signed milk to him but he ALWAYS does it just automatically. Even in the middle of the night. It's pretty cute!

[BeachBaby]

I taught DS a few signs before he started talking and I was thrilled when he actually started using them! He's 2.5 now and I'm teaching him more since I'm taking ASL at our local comm. college. I'm planning on going right into the intermediate class and hope to be fluent within the year! I'm a huge fan!!!!

[natty]

Yes it is so nice to be able to communicate when they cant talk Elise knows 15 to 20 and communicates really well and is now starting to say it as she signs it

[Darisey]

Glad to see so many of you signing with your kids! Layla's first sign even before milk and food signs was "Duck" and it was just as exciting as when she said her first word! Now she's at the age where it doesn't take weeks to learn a new sign, I just show her a new sign and she wants to try it out right away! She doesn't usually get it right straight away but I'm happy that she's not too shy to try. I always praise her efforts
I'd love to be fluent in ASL and maybe get a job teaching it to children with special needs or translating or something and keep teaching Layla so that it opens up her career options also!

[PurpleTurtle]

Yep, definitely. I've done baby sign with infants and tods I've cared for. They love it. I'll have to get better at it, since I only know a few things, but I was inspired years ago by a close friend at college in England who is a British Sign Interpreter and now teaches her 1yr old son. She talked to me way back when about her studies, and the benefits of sign language for hearing people. Especially babies. My SIL kinda-sorta tried a little bit with her oldest son... She didn't really do it consistently, though, so he didn't respond to it very well as he found growling got her attention much better! Chuckle. So I think it has to be done consistently and with patience.

Originally Posted by BeachBaby

I taught DS a few signs before he started talking and I was thrilled when he actually started using them! He's 2.5 now and I'm teaching him more since I'm taking ASL at our local comm. college. I'm planning on going right into the intermediate class and hope to be fluent within the year! I'm a huge fan!!!!

Good for you! I've thought seriously about doing the same. I took a beginner's class in BSL in the UK, but then got married and will have to get better at ASL. I don't know much.

[BuckeyeGal23]

I definitely want to do this! It seems to make life a little easier for mom and baby