Any Mommies Teaching Sign Language to Baby?

Rating: 5 after 2 votes

I'm attempting to teach my 9-mo Emma sign language with Signing Time. So far she can sign "eat/hungry" but she doesn't always remember to do it. Her favorite way of signing she's hungry is to grab my shirt and bury herself in my chest, lol. I also am focusing on "more" (so she can tell me she wants more without screaming for it) and "mommy" and "daddy" sometimes. But "eat" and "more" are the priorities right now.

I don't know how extensively I'll go with it... if nothing else, Emma LOVES the DVDs! She smiles and bobs around when she hears the Signing Time theme. It's very focused on little children and repetitive - even I can learn! lol Lots of children's faces and children signing and saying the words, so I think it's wonderful and so does Emma. Better than the puppets on Baby Einstein (I don't like those puppets, don't know why).

Anyone else? Thinking about it?

Tags: baby, language, sign, signing, time

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Permalink Reply by April on February 13, 2009 at 8:46am: I am def. going to teach this baby on the way baby sign. My best friend has got her 15 month signing and she says it works wonders. She also said that at first she wasn't sure her daughter was grasping it but one day it just clicked. So keep having yours watch those videos and yours will get it too. I am a total believer in the benefits of signing with your child, how else do you communicate with children of that age when they can't speak. I wish i would have taught my other two it would have saved a lot of confusion on all of our parts. I can't wait to learn it myself, i think that's key as well. Good Luck with it, i think it's worth it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lindsey on February 13, 2009 at 9:08am: Thanks for the encouragement! :-) I have kind of fallen down on it the last couple weeks. I'll keep it up, though - I know that when I ask her if she's hungry and she puts her hand to her mouth it really brings us a connection... I want more of that! It's a lot of fun, too.

Can't wait till it "clicks" :-)

April said:
I am def. going to teach this baby on the way baby sign. My best friend has got her 15 month signing and she says it works wonders. She also said that at first she wasn't sure her daughter was grasping it but one day it just clicked. So keep having yours watch those videos and yours will get it too. I am a total believer in the benefits of signing with your child, how else do you communicate with children of that age when they can't speak. I wish i would have taught my other two it would have saved a lot of confusion on all of our parts. I can't wait to learn it myself, i think that's key as well. Good Luck with it, i think it's worth it.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Denise on February 13, 2009 at 10:11am: I am planning on it...I have been waiting until he is a little older though. But my friend hosts a monthly playgroup at her house where she does sign language...so I go to that. I only want him to know like 10 basic/important signs for now...I don't want to overwhelm him.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Emily on February 13, 2009 at 2:06pm: I've been really interested in this. Not sure what the right age is to start... Do you like "Signing Time"? I've been looking around for the right thing!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by stanfield999 on February 15, 2009 at 7:10am: Hi there,

It's quite a big thing here in the UK (we call it Baby Signing) and I am starting in a few weeks time with my LO (who will be 14 weeks then). There was a query as to what age to start and I think that it's suitable for any age LO.

I'm really looking forward to it!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lindsey on February 15, 2009 at 11:29am: I love Signing Time but I don't have anything to compare it with... I know that it's presented really well, in a way that I can learn and teach it myself easily. They start with Rachel (the mother who created S.T.) demonstrating a sign, then move on to kids signing it and saying the word - it is so cute to watch! Emma loves it, and every time they start singing the Signing Time theme song, she grins and starts "dancing". Maybe you can try one out at the library? That's what I did. :-)

Emily said:
I've been really interested in this. Not sure what the right age is to start... Do you like "Signing Time"? I've been looking around for the right thing!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lindsey on February 15, 2009 at 11:30am: How fun for you! Definitely keep us posted. :-)

stanfield999 said:
Hi there,

It's quite a big thing here in the UK (we call it Baby Signing) and I am starting in a few weeks time with my LO (who will be 14 weeks then). There was a query as to what age to start and I think that it's suitable for any age LO.

I'm really looking forward to it!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lindsey on February 20, 2009 at 10:31pm: Hey, you all have to check out this video of Emma signing for the first time! She's getting it! :-)

http://kindredthought.blogspot.com/2009/02/emma-is-signing.html; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sara Bingham on February 21, 2009 at 1:57pm: Hi everyone! My name is Sara Bingham and I'm the founder of WeeHands Baby Sign Language Inc. and I'm the author of The Baby Signing Book. A few comments

...Signing Time is wonderful! :)

...you can start signing with your baby at any age. Most babies will sign back between the 8 and 12 months of age, but babies from 5-8 months of age may understand what you signing to them, e.g., will get really excited when you sign MILK or BATH.

...don't worry about overwhelming babies with too many signs. We speak using so many verbal words and it's not overwhelming. Sign the number of signs that you are comfortable using. If you know 3 signs show your baby 3 signs. If you know 10 signs, sign 10 signs with your baby, etc.

...if you go to my website, www.weehands.com, you can find a getting started sheet on the lower left hand side. It's a PDF you can print off a few times and put them...on the fridge for family members to see, on the wall behind a high chair so you can see the signs and be reminded to sign at mealtime, on the wall above a change table for the same reasons, etc.

...focus on signs for things that are really motivating to your little one, e.g., milk, more, dog, etc. as well as signs for activities that you do frequently throughout the day, e.g., eat, change, play and sleep.

...show your baby the signs you are focusing on before, during and after activities. For example, before giving your little one milk, sign MILK; as your little one drinks, sign MILK; when drinktime is over sign MILK FINISHED.

Have fun!

Sara Bingham, author of The Baby Signing Book
WeeHands Baby Sign Language Inc.
e: info@weehands.com
t: twitter.com/WeeHands
visit WeeHands on Facebook
linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/sarabingham

“There are no hands so small that they cannot make a difference in the world." - Author Unknown; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rachael on March 12, 2009 at 7:26pm: I am definately a believer in Signing with babies. I plan on teaching my 5 month old. I started with my 23 month old before he could talk. I think he was around 6-7 months and now he signs almost 12-15 words. So, it is worth it, for sure!!
p.s. don't get discouraged, just keep practicing it yourself & your baby will want to mimic you as well ;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kizze l harris on May 6, 2009 at 10:20am: oh wow this is cool i searched all over twitter for other parents that was teaching their baby how to sign. I watched alot of videos of babys signing and i was amazed. So i read and researced and they say that babies will do the 1st sign between 6 - 8 mths. So i went and got a book with signs to teach the baby. We do drink eat and more. I started when he was four mths i cant wait for him to sign back. But i think it will be only a matter of time when i say drink no response when i say drink and do the sign he says mmmmmmm or start fussing. And then i know hes hungry. He just turned 6mths. I'm glad to know other parents that are teaching sign. I have'nt got a video yet that will be the next step.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Julie Anne on May 7, 2009 at 6:08am: If you'd like a suggestion for a video, I would highly recommend "Baby Signing Time."
It wasrecommended to me by another mother, and my daughter LOVES it! She can't take her eyes off the video when it's on, and I found that singing the songs to her when she is crying calms her down.
It teaches all the basics that babies should know: eat, drink, cereal, milk, crackers, mom, dad, more, pets, and other signs.
I think it's great for learning :)

kizze l harris said:
oh wow this is cool i searched all over twitter for other parents that was teaching their baby how to sign. I watched alot of videos of babys signing and i was amazed. So i read and researced and they say that babies will do the 1st sign between 6 - 8 mths. So i went and got a book with signs to teach the baby. We do drink eat and more. I started when he was four mths i cant wait for him to sign back. But i think it will be only a matter of time when i say drink no response when i say drink and do the sign he says mmmmmmm or start fussing. And then i know hes hungry. He just turned 6mths. I'm glad to know other parents that are teaching sign. I have'nt got a video yet that will be the next step.; ▶ Reply to This