BABY SIGN LANGUAGE

[RachelC]

Cindy - I always used the milk sign (as I tell her it's milk and don't tell her she's nursing, KWIM?

Avery's Momma - I do milk before I nurse her (even before I pick her up to do so, or to "call" her to me).  i then do milk as she is feeding.  Just keep doing it, whether she's watching or not.  She'll get it.  And no, there is no need to force her to do the signs.  As she gets older, she may put her hands out for help (we've done that with more) and then you can help her form the sign.

fleadle - baby here yet?

[Marisa's Mom]

Marisa, at 18 mos, understands a lot of what we say now. She's trying to communicate verbally, signing (asl), and gesturing in her own way. I've noticed that she has stopped using some of the signs she used to use regularly, such as "all done" near the end of the meal. She knows signs like "eat", "drink", "up", "more", "change", "bed". The sign she uses the most now is "more" when she wants to eat more of something. She used to use "help", but now she makes a certain noise to indicate that she wants help.

But the other day when I was doing something with her shoes while she was in her car seat, she made the "more " sign. Puzzled at first, but then I realized she was really doing the "shoe" sign which is pretty close to the "more" sign. Wow, I hadn't realized that she picked that one up! I've been making the "shoe" sign for her when I put on her shoes, same with "socks", I just hadn't expected her to sign it to me. Cool!

[avery's momma]

cool about learning "shoe"!!! they see everything, don't they??

thanks for the advice! i do the "milk" sign, so as not to introduce too many signs for the same thing.

and... we started 2 weeks ago this coming tuesday night. she didn't do "all done" this morning after her feed, but she was pretty sleepy still.. 

ok, i better go feed her... thanks for the advice, we'll keep signing!

[Freya'sMum]

Freya (28 months) is about one year speech delayed (she was born at 27 weeks) and we have been signing with her using the Makaton system for ages now. She took a while to get going but now knows loads of signs, and can independently put together 2 and 3 signs (eg. big black dog). She can also now say about 10 words and has dropped the signs for these words as she no longer needs to use them.

The Makaton has been invaluable in allowing Freya to communicate with us, she's very bright and would have been so frustrated without a means of expressing herself. Signing will become part of Eryn's life too by default, I'm pretty good at signing many stories, songs and rhymes now and do it without thinking, so I'm sure she'll pick it up!

I'd recommend using a signing system to all parents, whether their child has communication difficulties or not, to assist communication and relieve frustration!

Ax

[avery's momma]

that's really neat, freya's mom... i have heard amazing stories about how much sign has helped babies with slower speech development. it is great that you have a second language in your home for baby #2 to learn!

still signing with avery... but avery's not really doing "all done" anymore.. maybe it was my imagination the first time!

[sunnysummer]

Does anyone know the sign for poop, pee, potty, etc?

[RachelC]

We used toilet for potty (and to mean all functions).  Make a the "t" sign with your hand (a fist with the thumb between the index and middle fingers) and then shake it up and down to simulate the flushing of a toilet.  HTH and makes sense... hard to describe and the site I normally use is down.

[Marisa's Mom]

How do you sign "peanut butter & jelly sandwich"?

[EmMUK74]

for all the UK and BSL signers, here is the website for the new BBC Cbeebies prog for signing called Something Special.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/somethingspecial/  It is mostly Makaton based but most of the signs I have seen are the same as the BSL baby signs we are using.

[Christa]

What sign do you use for "juice"... I have a feeling ds would like to know one for this as its his fave thing in the world, but the ASL sign looks too hard for a baby... involved using the little finger on its own

[RachelC]

Christa - I use the ASL signs and both Paige and Jalyn adapted them so they can communicate the idea.  I always show the correct sign and accept their adaptation (just like speaking).  IMO, show him the ASL sign and let him adapt it.... and improve on it as he gets older.  Paige still asks me to help her and move her hands.  HTH 

[Lucas & Mum]

Hi to you all, really interested in this baby signing idea but was unsure of whether to teach ASL as some nurseries and daycare centres teach BSL and didn't want to start with one & get LO confused.  Saw EmMUK74's link to Cebeebies site and have watched to program occasionally with LO (DH thinks I'm crazy & can't stand the presented but who cares!!!).  Do any other UK mum's know any other good weblinks to site teaching BSL
Thanks for help

[x95stocchier]

Okay, I need some inspiration......we've been signing for 5 mo now, and Although I once thought he was doing all-done, I now think it's just the position his hands are in when I remove the highchair tray.  

So, what age did your lo starts signing back?  I'm getting a wee bit frustrated.  I can see myself starting to slack off on consistency a bit if he doesn't start signing back soon!!!

[avery's momma]

sorry.. i wish i had a success story for you about signing back, but avery hasn't signed to me yet... (i don't think) but she does seem to expect milk, more, water, when i sign those to her...
keep it up and be consistent, it will pay off!!

[Zoey]

Is it Ok to use the same sign for "finished" - for the potty AND for being done with a bottle, meal etc?

Be honest!  LOL

Thanks,
Zoey