Sign Language for 8 Month Old?

Hi C.,
I used to work with a woman who was an ASL interpreter. She taught her baby sign language, and had great stories to tell about the success of it. She's now a free-lance interpreter. You can go to her website: http://www.kathymacmillan.com to read about baby-signing, and there's contact information if you want to get in touch with her.
I also heard that some of the community colleges around her teach Babysign. You could contact the college nearest to you to find out.

Good luck, and have fun.
I.

I started baby sign with my daughter about the same age. It was probably the best thing we ever did. It helped me understand what she wanted and helped her not be so frustrated not being able to communicate. We did not do a lot, but worked on the basics (Milk, More, all done, hungry, please, thank you - I think there were a few more). But, I highly recommend it.

Good luck!!

Hi C.!

I started using signs with my son when he was about 6 months old. I used "more", "milk" and "all done". Every time I would say the word, I used the sign too. I actually gave up after a couple of months because he was not responding to any of them, but one day while reading the book "Bear wants More" he started signing. I was shocked because I had stopped using signs at least a month before. He still uses the signs and now I wish I had taught him more of them. I think babies get frustrated when they can't communicate to us and I can actually see how excited he gets when I understand what he wants.

I didn't use anything fancy, I just went to the American sign language website and learned from there. www.lifeprint.com

Good luck!

I have the Baby Einstien DVD "Sounds & Signs" my son is 9 months old now and he has been watching it very intently for about a month and a half. I have noticed him trying to put his hands together like the people on the DVD. I am just now starting to do the signs and say the words with him. I think it is just fascinating that they can learn like this! I am very interested to see how it will go. I HIGHLY reccommend that DVD! Let me know how it works out for you! Aren't these babies just AMAZING creatures???

I have deaf parents and sign language was my first language. So when my daughter was born I signed to her often and her deaf grandmother babysat her 3 or 4 times a week the first year she was born. She picked up signing within months! At 3 months old she started gesturing the signs and by the time she was 18months old she signed 45 words and spoke 45 too. For me signing with her in the beginning alleviated a lot of frustration because I knew what she needed by just a small hand sign. It was great to see what I have always known be taught to my own daughter. What really worked for us was that we signed "milk" everytime. I would say the sooner you start the better. If you need any help with some signs I would be glad to get together with you and we can have a signing class or something. Good Luck!

I haven't read all the other replies but we had wonderful success with my daughter who is now 14 months. We started with the signs please, thank you, eat, milk, and all done. She has many more now and she is also very verbal and will say the word as she does the sign. I found it was such a good tool in allowing her to communicate her needs to me. We eliminated any screaming and much frustration because she could tell me with her signs what she wanted. We learned them by using them all the time with her and we also have the Baby Einstein DVD that teaches signs. My husband and I will sit with her and watch it and do the signs with her (show her, then help her do them until she gets it). She is still learning signs from this video as some are more advanced than others, but she LOVES the DVD and when it comes on she gets so excited and does all the signs she knows during the intro. Good luck!

We use sign all the time. We started our now 2.5 year old on it when he was about6m. We love it, We started with more and eat and moved on from there. He is/has been a slow taker so the sign has given him a voice before he had one. He now talks all the time and signs much less. We have just started with the baby (7m old)

It will be some time before he signs back to you but keep signing when you say the words he will get it!

just a thought you might try renting a few videos with baby sign in them to help to.

Looks like you've had lots of great responses - Just wanted to add a link to one of my favorite articles on the subject. Some of our friends were really gung-ho on it, and this helped keep things in perspective. I taught my daughter a few helpful signs but didn't go too in depth with it:

http://www.babble.com/content/articles/features/dispatche...

We did it........its worth the "trouble". Its fun, take your time with it.
K.

Hi C.!
I have two daughters one is 4 years old and the other 8 months. I started signing with both at 5 months. My 4 year old didn't pick up on the signs until she was about 9 months old but she did pick them up VERY fast! She also started reading when she was 3, the docs said it was because of the signing so of course I started doing it with my youngest. She was taken off with it! She could sign "more" "good night" "good morning" "milk" by the time she was 7 months old. So I would DEFENTALLY say start it as soon as you can. The easiest word for your son to learn right now would be milk (make a fist and squeeze it like your milking a cow) and more but you can go to this site and it will teach you both :) http://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm

Hope this helps!!
A.

Hi C.,

I see that you have gotten a lot of responsed to your questions and thought I would still share my view on this. I have two boys ages 7 and 3. My oldest was taught some signs to help him communicate until we could get him to tell us what he wanted with words. We were told that he had an expressive speech delay at the age of two. It did not work that well with him. My youngest on the other started showing the signs of a speech delay so we got him help at 18 months and they did the same thing with teaching him some sign language and he picked it up really well and really quick I could not believe it. It really helped him not get so frustrated and he ended up picking up spoken language really easly. He was only in speech therapy for 10 months. So really believe that sign language can help and that the younger they are the easier it probably is for them to pick it up. I don't know how early you can start teaching them for them to pick it up. Well I just thought I would share my story. I would give it a try. I can't hurt him.

Hi C.,
I am Deaf and use ASL. All my children are hearing. We sign with them the day they are born and by 10 months they are able to communicate basic needs like "milk" "more" "eat" "cracker" "mommy" "daddy" "bed" etc.
I have 4 children and all of them have spoken earlier and developed language considerably faster than many of their peers. I have noticed a similar trend among my Deaf friends with hearing children. I truly believe that giving them a way to communicate with you early (their hands are much more able to create signs than their vocal cords are able to create words at 10 months) opens up neural pathways in the brain that then allows them to develop spoken language at an accelerated rate. In fact I have an MEd in Deaf Education and research done over the years supports this. I recognize that another mother had problems with her daughter but her daughter had a myriad of other issues and problems so that is not an example of normal language development. Anyhow I would suggest you start by learning basic signs you use with your baby on a daily basis.. like the ones I mentioned above. After she can tell you she is finished, or wants more or is tired you can add things like animals and colors. Most libraries will have videos you can use to pick up some basic signs. Have fun!

C.,
I started teaching my first child sign language when she was around 8 months old. She picked up the basic words (eat, more, all done, milk, yes, no, and sleep) within a week or so and we added a new word each week after that. By the time she was a year old, she could sign and tell us just about anything she wanted. She talked in sentences very early and I think it had a lot to do with signing. With our second child, we did the same thing and she picked it up quickly as well. My oldest helped her a lot as well. I think it is funny now, because they are 5 and 3 and know how to sign to each other when mommy isn't looking! There is a child who goes to school with my oldest daughter who is partially deaf and she is one of the only kids who can communicate with him through signing. I think it's great! It stimulates their little minds and makes them more attune to their surroundings. I think your son is the perfect age to start. Good luck!
S.

C.,

You and your son will LOVE it! Start now!!! For us, the eat and drink were at the top for us. Once he could tell me what he wanted it was soooooo much easier and he was happier too. It really works and it is fun! Just stay consistent. Sometimes it feels time consuming but once you make it a habit, you'll catch yourself signing to everyone. LOL It's funny.

Have fun with it, okay?

Take Care,
N. :) SAHM homeschooling 3 boys 13, 8 & 2 yrs old and married to my Mr. Wonderful for alost 15yrs. I love to help other moms who want to become SAHMs reach that goal.

I taught my daughter some sign language when she was about 8 months old. just the signing for "eat" "more" "please" "thank you" and "milk" and i think it made a BIG difference. she could tell me with her hands, what she wanted, before she could say it with her words. A few children that i watch also know some signing and it seems to cut back on break downs because its easier to communicate.
Anyway i think its a good idea. Good luck!

I did a sign language class twice with my daughter and it was so worth it. She did the beginner class when she was six months old and then a more advanced class when she was 10 months old and she did very well with both. She did her first sign at 9 months and began speaking at 12 months and I believe it was due to the sign class. Having her be able to sign has saved us quite a bit of frustration in figuring out her wants and needs and it has been nice just being able to communicate with her.

We taught our son sign language and had a wonderful experience! He could tell us what he wanted before he could talk which kept everyone sane! I started with meal times, "eat, more, all done, drink," and then moved on to food items and emotions. We started introducing it around 4 months and he caught on at about 6 months. I suggest sign to all my pregnant friends and have bought the book "Baby Signs" so many times I should've bought stock!
Good Luck.

Hi C.,
Please don't listen to people's opinion, just it and decide for yourself. We adopt a 9 months old child from china, I am not fluent in Chinese, and our daughter did not speak english. My husband and I started to basic sign language, with the milk sign. It took some time, about 3 months, then one day she did the had motion. You and your husband have to be consisted with doing the signs. Later I added the eat, sleep, and bath. She'll be 3 next month and I still try and use the sign languages. I purchased a basic book, that cost about $9, cuz i was unassure as like you. Good Luck. The books out on the market mentions that it may take about 6 months, but i think its worth it. When your starts to cry and uses his hands to motion, cuz he is not at the stage to talk, you will get so happy. So start working with your hands. let me know how it goes.

Yes, it's great!!!! I used Joseph Garcia's method, which is based on American Sign Language. He was an ASL interpreter who noticed that his deaf friend's kids could communicate months before his hearing friend's kids, and took it from there. Since, a lot of studies have been done, and it is very, very good for their language development and has long-term effects in encouraging interest in reading. It is really great with boys because they often talk later than girls and they can become REALLY frustrated as two-year olds when they know the word and cannot make their tongues into the right shapes to say it. We started with my son when he was about seven months old. The first signs we showed him were "milk," "eat," and "more." At that time the only words he would say were "Da-Da" and "cat." When he was about 11 months he started to sign back at us. He began to use "milk" first--it is a very easy sign--and also used "eat" early on. Next we taught "up" and "medicine" so he could ask for teething pain relief or to be picked up. "Stop," "water," "hurt/pain," "no," "yes," "shoes," and "sleep" were also useful early on. By the time he was about 3 he was basically talking (and hasn't stopped since!!!!!) so we didn't need the signs any more.

I have loved using signwith my children when they were young-and am excited to teach my newest sign also... I didn't know much sign so I borrowed videos from the library to learn some... I found a set I absolutely loved called signingtimes, They really helped me to teach my children some of the simple signs that I needed to use with them like milk, more, ball, eat, sleep... and as they have gotten older they still love to learn sign language although the speak fine. I beleive with my children that it has really made life easier and they picked up on vocabulary much easier.

If you don't know where to start try checking out signingtimes from the library volume 1... if you like it there is a series of 13... We bought the first three and check out whatever others the library has.

C.,

I am a Deaf education teacher and taught both my little ones sign language. It is definately worth the effort!! Babies as young as 6 months can begin using signs appropriately. It limits the frustration of communication of basic needs. Start with the signs MORE, MILK, EAT & FINISHED. Then sign them everytime you say them. This works best at meal time. FINISHED works well at meals, baths and at the end of activities.
Children who sign also increase their verbal vocabulary faster then non-signers. When the child learns to speak, it is physically easier to talk than sign and its natural for the signs to go away. But in the interim you know what your child wants. THere are a lot of sign videos/DVD's as well as books and tv shows (Sign time). You can also find seminars or classes of Baby signs (check your local recreation center or YMCA).
Good luck!
M.

Definitely go for it! We started teaching our son signs at about 8 months and have absolutely loved it. It took a long time for him to sign back to us, but he understood our signs long before he responded in kind. We were consistent in using signs with the words, and now at 20 months he has an astounding signing vocabulary. (He still uses signs with his spoken words, and I'm always looking up new signs to teach him.) Now that he can communicate with us, I think the ability to sign has really cut down on frustration/tantrums.

Some of our favorite videos are the series called "My Baby Can Talk." They're engaging and fun, and I have enjoyed watching them the inevitable zillion times with him. I think there are a couple of Baby Einstein videos with signs too. Joseph Garcia's video and book on teaching sign was a good introduction for us. One of the most effective ways I've found of learning new signs with my son is to watch the videos with him, show him the signs myself, and form his hands into the sign as well.

Start simple, with words you use all the time: more, eat, drink, please, thank you. Be patient and repeat every time you use the word. Then once he's got the hang of it, branch out! It's like any "foreign" language-- the more you use it, the more proficient you all will be at it.

Good luck!
C.

Hi C.,
I started to teach my son to sign when he was 7 months. I just taught the basics. please, thank you, more, happy, sad, hungry, cat, dog, sleep, and other daily words. I worked with him daily on this but as a game and not in a "schooling" way. I bought the book at Borders. It is a fun way to bond and it really cuts back on the tears(his & mine!). He also picked it up really quick! Use lots of praise when he is trying. I had friends that thought it was "stupid and dumb" or " too much time to teach their kids". When my son would sign he was hungry and their kids would scream...who is the "dumb one" then!!!

Hello C.,

My husband and I have two wonderful sons, 15 and 8. Our 8 year old was born with hearing loss (and ADHD) and uses hearing aids, an FM system and has a full-time sign language interpreter in school. When he is in a quiet room sitting just a few feet away, he can hear pretty well. But, as you may know classrooms are not quiet places! Sign language has helped him in that it clarifies what the teacher is saying and gives him an alternative way to express thoughts and emotions. Sometimes he'll know the sign for something but not the word. If he gets frustrated expressing himself I just ask him to sign (which he does most of the time anyway).

If you want to learn some signs I would suggest at least familiarizing yourself with the manual alphabet then learn the signs for mommy and daddy, eat, milk, happy, sad, wet, dry, juice, potty, etc., the words you would use on a daily basis. Check out aslpro.com. It's a great site with several animated dicationaries. You should also be able to find DVDs at your local library.

Good luck and enjoy learning!

Janet

There is a great little book at Target for about $8 -- it has pictures of "typical" signs for a baby. There is also a video by Baby Einsteins called First Signs (I think that's the name) & it teaches Mommy, Daddy, milk, play, and basics like that.
Good luck!

My sister taught sign language to her little boy who is now 22 months. She didn't go overboard with it but taught him the basics like "help me", "hungry", "milk", "juice", "more", "all done", and "thank you". She had great success with it. It helped with the toddler tantrums because she was able to get him to communicate what it was he was screaming for. He's now 22 months, and I don't know if it was the sign language or just his personality, but he has a great vocabulary and can even say two and three word sentences. I've been doing it with my 8 month old for a few months now. She doesn't do any signs herself yet but as with learning any language I've heard the earlier you start the easier it is for them to pick it up.

Yes, do it now. We taught our kids the basics like "milk", "more", "enough" to start with. Those few words help your child communicate with you nicely instead of screaming and you guessing. They are so frustrated when you don't understand and they are trying to communicate, sign language helps. I got a book called Sign with your Baby and it helped to offer good suggestions. I chose to pick only a few signs so they would be clear (and I was able to understand what they wanted most of the time), but I imagine you could teach them all sorts of signs. My children spoke early and with a great vocabulary, part of that is the incessant reading we do, and part of that may be teaching them sign early.

Later on, our children (5 and 3) have learned sign language in Sunday School and public school. Many teachers include it in their daily lessons. My Kindergartener knows: Sorry, thank you, yes, no, me too, I love you, your beautiful, friends, Jesus, and a bunch more. Some we taught her but most she learned in school (Jesus was obviously from Sunday school). They teach signs with songs.

Also, I think it is important to expose your children to children with differences... like deafness or blindness. I recently made a deaf friend and my children were very interested in how we worked to communicate (I took one sign class a decade ago, so communication is VERY difficult but worth the effort). We did a presenatation together for the Kindergarten class, showing them the tools she uses in daily life and teaching them various animal signs and fingerspelling. They loved it and absorbed it like sponges. Teach him early!!

Good luck.
Liz

oooh, just saw another response about how it was a detriment because other people couldn't understand the sign, not even the father. Well, I thought it was obvious but incase it isn't, don't do it in a vacuum. If other people will be caring for him, teach them the signs as well. If you start small, they should be able to handle learning a few signs to help with your child. (food, milk, more, etc). If he is in daycare, maybe you should choose only 4-5 signs and stick to that. It would be useful for the providers to learn 5 basic signs as well.

C., I guess I sort of dig being the minority opinion...but truly, I do believe that all good parents want to consider competing opinions and then evaluate what's best for their children. Or at least, that's how I've always felt.

In that spirit, I will tell you that I'm NOT a fan of sign language for babies (who are not deaf). The desperate need to communicate is the primary reason babies are motivated to speak -- especially to speak early.

I started speaking in short sentences at 9 months, as did my daughter. That is unusual, I understand. But, when you examine birth order studies you will find that younger children often begin speaking coherently much later than older siblings. Why is that? Many believe that it is because older siblings are able to interpret and clue-in to the baby's needs even better than parents are. The older children "speak" for them, and thus tend to eliminate the immediate motivation for younger ones to speak for themselves. (classic first word for younger sibs: "Mine!" -- goes to show that one says what one NEEDS to say).

I do have a cousin who is deaf, and I have NOTHING against sign language. (I used to speak it, am very rusty now). But I am a HUGE believer in incentives when it comes to children. Certainly you hate to see them frustrated! That is brutal (and VERY irritating, when whining is the result). But your primary objective when it comes to communication is to encourage your child to learn English as well as possible, and as quickly as possible. (Or another language, if that it was is the norm in your community). Remember that frustration is part of the process. That necessity is -- to use a School House Rock cliche -- the mother of invention.

Since you have an only (or someday oldest), I recommend that you avoid the crutch of sign language. To me that is just "dumbing down". Make sure you talk to your child constantly, and read to him as often as possible. Narrate everything you do while you're with him. Make him WANT to speak, and NEED to speak.

Just my two cents, of course. Hope you aren't offended by dissenting opinion here! Best luck either way!

We used sign language with our daughter when she was a baby (now she's 7-1/2). I HIGHLY recommend it! Use easy signs...start with milk, eat, finished, more, please and thank you...all very easy for very young children. We stared when she was about 6 months signing those things...she picked them up quickly and by 8-10 months was using them! They were so helpful for communication as babies don't have the ability to talk/verbalize at that point. She could tell us if she wanted milk, to eat, more of something, or was finished with an activity/eating, etc. We had a great book of basic signs. Here is the link to it on Amazon.com... http://www.amazon.com/Sign-Your-Baby-Communicate-Infants/...

We found she soaked up signs and added more...the book recommends that if your child makes up a sign for something...go with that. At a pediatric appt when my daughter was 18 months...the pediatrician asked how many words she was speaking and she wasn't speaking many...I expressed concern and when the doctor learned we used signs, she asked how many signs she knew when I added them all up it was almost 25! The doctor was so impressed because that was more words than she was expected know...My daughter would use full sentences in sign..."more milk please" We also spoke and signed so she was hearing words and it had no impact on her learning words...she just didn't need them immediately because she was able to communicate so clearly! Good Luck!

D.

I just wanted to add that while your son is the perfect age to start sign, don't be discouraged if he doesn't start to produce signs right away. I did sign with both my hearing children and absolutely recommend it to anyone and I know it saved a LOT of tantrums and helped me understand my kids, especially my second child.

The reason I say he may not sign right away is because that is what happened with my first child - it seemed like a 'thankless' job while I was the only one who was doing the signs, beginning at 6 months. Then I realized that she was beginning to respond just by body language (waving her arms or calming down once she knew I understood her) and once I relaxed I realized also that her 'signs' were a little off the textbook style so I wasn't recognizing them right away. Just when I was about to give up it seemed that she suddenly started using sign - 3 or 4 new signs per day! THEN she started to speak clearly very early, phasing out the signs over time. I just wanted to add this perspective - I wish someone would have told me this stuff!

Good luck and I hope you enjoy this time in your baby's life :)

I'd say go for it! We started teaching my son at about 7 months of age and just kept introducing new signs every few weeks. It was several months before he signed back to us but it was amazing once he started. We did this in a fun way and the benefits were huge. We have since continued this with our younger girls and will again soon with baby #4. It's been a huge success and I highly recommend it!

Dear C.-

I have read with interest all of the very positive responses to the use of sign language. My take may be a little extreme...but it IS/WAS my experience with MY daughter none the less...

Shannon was a premature twin...she also had severe cardiac anomolies, and was expected to die. She did NOT.

She DID however, spend the first three years of life in a hospital, on a vent...and had myriad surgeries. She finally came home, on a vent, with a trach. In hospital, they had tried SOME signing...but frankly she was too medically fragile to really have had much success. She came home to her six siblings (including her healthy twin) and i was ALL kinds of excited to sign with her. All the research I did indicated that signing in fact helped promote spoken word. I also felt it would be a 'second language' for myself, and the other kids as well.

The fact is...the MORE we signed...the less SHE tried to speak orally! I know this is contrary to the research...and certainly contrary to the opinion in here...but it IS my experience.

The only way I can explain it is that maybe, for shannon, she needed a little frustration to help her try harder. When we stopped signing...she tried to speak more. I liken it to myself somehow...when all is well in my life...I go with the flow. When things are 'challenging', I grow and develop, I try harder. Maybe shannon does not fall far from the tree!

Any way...I felt the need to share a different view.

Good luck!

Michele/catwalk

I didn't teach my kids sign language but it is like any language. We start talking to our kids in the womb and continue on through life. They don't respond with words until much later on but the building blocks are there in place from the time they are newborn. I say you should definitely go for it. The more you sign, the more your son will get it. We speak spanish at home (same concept) and while the kids don't speak much, they understand everything. My neighbor's son signs almost everything with his mom as she is a deaf ed teacher and has always signed at home with him. It is awesome to watch even though I don't understand a thing :o).

C.,

I grew up with sign language even though nobody is deaf in my family and I have also taught it to my children. My children are late developers so it has been a huge help for us. My daughter is also slightly autistic and sign has helped in that area as well. When you loose your voice from like a cold or something, sign is really good so that you can save your voice so it can heal. I would suggest getting any book on sign language and teach the real thing. I would not recommend the baby signs too much as some of them are not the real sign and can be confusing later.

Hi C. - we used sign language with our daughter and started early - it's never too early! We taught her MORE, FINISHED (ALL DONE), EAT, PLEASE, THANK YOU, SLEEP, DRINK and several others, including colors and some animal signs that she enjoyed learning while she learned the sounds the animals make. We eventually used the alphabet when she was learning that. She's in first grade now and is reading at a third grade level and is the narrator for the Christmas play at school this year! I understand that using signs reduces their frustration when they cannot form the words but they can use their hands to communicate. The child's sign may "look" different than the "real" sign, but it is their sign and it works! We always paired the sign with the word and even when she was old enough to speak, I would remind her to say please and thank you with the sign. I can't recommend it highly enough! We used the program called Sign With Your Baby, but you can just pick up a sign language book at the library and start teaching the easy signs. Teach one sign at a time and when they get it, add another! Have fun!

Hi C..

I've introduced sign to both of my boys (now 3 1/2 and 16 months) and I've definitely had success. I started very early on, even before 8 months of age. Mostly signed mommy and since I was nursing I'd sign mommy milk just before nursing. In the beginning it seemed like they weren't picking it up, but then all of a sudden one day completely out of the blue, they would do a sign. I wasn't sure at first, so I said the word and did the sign again, and one of my boys did it right back. I also use the sign "no"...it definitely gets the point across. My boys are now able to sign several words. My 16 month old signs please, thank you, more, and I think he may have done milk once (he isn't speaking yet). So I definitely recommend it. Even if it seems like they aren't picking it up, they are....babies and toddlers absorb everything!

~K. F.

YESYESYES! It can work. My two boys still use signs... I look forward to building our vocabulary so we can become more fluent in sign language. My 21 month old doesn't speak much yet... still just in the beginnings of vocalizations for him... but he's still learning new signs. Now he can tell me if he's hungry, or needs help, or wants a drink of milk. I love the way he uses it, and it cuts frustration down a great deal. I can tell him, No screaming, use your signs... and he does. I started when they were just starting to eat... around 4-5 months old. Neither one really started signing back until about 10 months, but I just kept signing with my words and they each caught on. My four year old still likes to use signs to help his brother... pretty cute.

Check out different signing books and give it a try. Perserverance is the key... and repetition. ;)

Have fun!

I am a firm believer that sign language is great for babies! We started teaching our baby at around 6 months (she's 7 yrs old now) and she picked it up so quickly! They learn/use certain signs more over others - milk, water, play, etc. You will be a amazed. A great way to introduce babies to the joy of signing is through music, and video. We bought the Signing Time series (http://www.signingtime.com/) and it was perfect. Sign language helps kids who still don't know how to talk express themselves. Knowing that you understand them - even if it's just a word at a time helps lessen the frustration level. When she'd cry, I'd asked what she needed and she told me in sign. : )

C.-
I have always had an interest in Sign Language. I have taken some classes and even belong to a sign choir (we "sing" in sign). I started signing to my son from birth. I did basic words...you've seen them mentioned in previous responses. I always said the word as I signed it. People were amazed that my son had such an extensive sign vocabulary well before he could talk. It was a huge help for my husband (who learned the signs with our son) and I. Those who cared for my son also knew basic signs.
My son is 4 now and still signs now and then. I continue to teach him new signs. I am in total support of teaching children sign language. I would strongly suggest to anyone who is planning to teach their child sign language that they encourage the child to use their voice as they do the signs. This will help so that the child does not totally rely on sign language.

C.,
I have used sign with all 5 of my kids. My 3 youngest have all been late talkers and sign has been amazing so they can tell us what they want instead of grunting or whining at us. I also encourage them using their words and my older ones also use sign with my younger ones. My 18 month old is still really not talking but she is able to tell us when she wants more of something, a drink, she also signs please and thank you. I also have used sign with kids that I babysit for and again it has been very successful. I love the Baby Einstien Sign video as well as my kids.

Go for it! It totally enhances their ability to communicate with you, including early speech since they see the value of communicating well, and minimizes frustration and tantrums. My favorite 4 to teach first are Eat, Drink, More and Help. My son signed more first and he wanted more everything, dogs, outside, etc. He'd point to the dog, then sign more. Help is a great one too because he can work on something just until he's frustrated and then ask for help. You aren't always cutting him short when he really needs more time, or letting him get too overwhelmed either. We talk to our kids from the day they are born, so start signing as soon as you're ready. Keep it up for months even if he doesn't sign back for awhile, he will and the joy at getting his needs met will delight both of you. The library is a great resource. Enjoy it! D.

I started using a few signs "all done", "more" and "drink" when my daughter started solids at 6 months. She was way too young to get it and repeat them back to me, but I figured I'd start early and maybe she would pick up on it. She did pick them up after several months, and we used them for a while but she was an early talker so we didn't use them very long.

I've had several friends who have used the signs with their children and they worked wonders in lessening frustration for both parent and child at feeding time. They found it especially helped if the child didn't learn to talk until later.

Best of luck.

My DIL was teaching her fourth child to sign and he was able to communicate with her exclusively. Neither I nor the daycare knew he what he was asking for so we all experienced frustration in not being able to give him his request. He had to wait until his mom returned to tell us what he wanted. That was a lot of time lost for this baby. Even his dad couldn't help. I felt if he'd communicated like the rest of us, even his siblings could have helped with his requests. Traditional communication means he won't have to relearn the same thing twice.

Hi C.,

We had tremendous success with sign language with my son when he was about 8 months old. We didn't go overboard, we picked a few signs that were important, like "eat", "milk", "more", "potty" and "all done". It made mealtimes a breeze. He also learned a few other words from his favorite bedtime stories, like "moon" and "apple". He's now 33 months and although he has an ever-expanding vocabulary, he still remembers and uses the signs, particularly "milk". When my husband goes into the Apple Store, my son still signs "apple".

To introduce sign language, my husband and I signed up for a local gymboree introduction and demonstration. With those materials we were able to tailor the signs to our needs. Sign language also came in handy when my son would visit other family members who weren't so familiar with his toddler-speak. We showed a few signs and everyone could communicate. He was especially proud when he would sign to someone and would say, "oh, do you want milk?".

Hope that helps!

I have not used it with my daughter (she is only 4 months) but plan to when she is old enough - usually between 6 and 10 months. I am a pediatric occupational therapist and have used it with many children I see - those with and without language delays. Studies are showing that it helps advance their language by giving them ways to tell you what they want before they have the words to do so. Many day cares are now incorporating into their programs because of this. There is a great Baby Einstein video that you can watch with your son and there are also several kid books with common signs. The best ones to use are things he would want to say - eat, drink, sleep, book, play.... "More" is usually one of the easiest one to start. It doesn't matter if he doesn't use the exact sign either, as long as you have one that you and he understands and that you can teach to other family members! Good luck!

This is actually the perfect age to introduce baby sign language. I used it with my son and it was a huge help. It cuts down on tantrums and frustrations in communication. We started with simple signs surrounding every day tasks like eating. He was able to grasp the sign for more, milk, and eat very quickly. Keep using the word with the sign so when your son is ready he can replace the sign with the word. The sign for help was also good one. I kept a visual chart in my kitchen to remember the signs and had a few board books to read with my son so he could learn them through both me using them and looking at the books. Try to give lots of verbal praise if he tries to use a sign- he will catch on :) Good luck-

K.

I did it with my daughter and loved it. He might be old enough. You start doing them and he may try or it may take another few months. My daughter was closer to 12 months. I think the book was Baby Signs. It was 7 yrs ago so I don't exactly remember. Start with "more", "eat" "milk" "Please" "thank you". I think the book lists an order that they feel is best. She was a late talker to it helped so, so much. But on the other hand, it didn't do much for my son because he was a big talker and chose to say the words instead of sign them. My niece now uses some of them. She came to visit at 13 months and wasn't "talking" much so I tried a few and she picked up on them real quick. Good Luck!

Hi C..
I taught my son a few signs starting at 6 months. He didn't actually start using them until he was about 12 months, and was also trying to speak then as well. It has DEFINITELY helped him to communicate with us (plus it's really cute!) The big one he knows is "more". My view is that if you use a few ones consistently, it can't hurt. :0)

GOod luck!

J.