Babies Learning Sign Language

I taught both my kids sign language --- but very informally. They used it for basics words like drink, more, hungry, etc. And even though I only used it for a handful of words... it really was a huge help! Good luck. Oh --- and it didn't stop them from talking.

My daughter will be 2 in December. I taught her and she still uses it occasionally, but says the word along with the sign. I have found sign language very beneficial not only when she was younger, but now as well as I can sign to her or reprimand her if I have to in a quiet place without yelling and she knows what i mean! Yup, i will never regret teaching her, the only thing I regret is not teaching her more.

We use sign language in our family because a lot of people in my family need it to communicate. My sister is deaf. My DH is hard at hearing. My stepson has a speech delay. My DS also had an ear infection that blocked his ears for two months. He now can hear, is 12 months old and speaks 2 and 3 word sentences. He also signs and says words all over the place. We use it in so many places that I am surprised this seems to be a new thing! Could you imagine three hundred years ago a princess getting signed to by her nanny to use her manners from across the great hall? I hope to see more children signing in the future. My sister isn't so lonely anymore.

Two comments here,

First what you are teaching is not sign language.  ASL is a separate language with its own grammar and structure.  It is more like French in it's structure. What you are learning and teaching your baby is ASL signs in English word order.  Much like kids learn Spanish words for the days of the weeks or colors.  Unfortunately most people don't know this so ASL isn't given the same status as Spanish, French or any other language.

Second, my twins have developmental delays.  We don't have a formal diagnosis like Downs or Autism.  However, their lack of language and my husband and I being sign language interpreters made signing a natural choice for us.  We signed words for common nouns and a few adverbs.  It was very helpful and much easier than other things like PECS, which is a picture system.  We always spoke the word and used it in normal conversation with the sign.  The twins picked up the signs much more quickly than spoken words.  Then as they learned the word they dropped the signs, all but one, the sign for bathroom or toilet. 

We've been doing the mommy/daddy signs since my DS was 2 months old. I use to get so excited when I thought he was signing to us, but I'm pretty sure they were/are just typical spastic baby arm movements :(

I still do the "mommy" sign several times a day, and DS is almsot 8 months old now. Not sure if his hysterical laughter everytime I sign is because he understands me...or just because I look absolutely rediculous.

Hi teamquinn,
It's true that there are some books and classes that have nothing to do with ASL and are just baby signs that can vary from book to book. I took ASL in college and the sign language class that I am taking with my baby is from a certified ASL instructor. Her whole theory is that if there is a already a real language that exists why not teach our kids that instead of some made-up signs, and I agree.

My 2 year old has been signing since about 9 months old.  He has asuch a great vocabulary in both speaking and signing.  I have been to a few baby ASL classes, but its not necessary for signing.  My brother knows sign as well, he was doing in speech theropy because he has special needs (Downs Syndrome and Autism), so thats where I started learning it. 

I have a group here on cafemom for sign language called Baby Sign.  check it out: www.cafemom.com/groups/signing

Hi,

Please don't worry a second about the fact that your daughter hasn't said a word yet. I am a perfect example of why you don't need to worry. Both of my parents are deaf - my grandparents who lived next door were deaf, my aunts and uncles are deaf. All the adults around me as a infant/toddler were deaf. I can hear perfectly. Imagine a hearing baby not being exposed to a spoken language until going to pre-school or hearing very little of a spoken language for the first three years of life. Guess what? :) I speak perfect English. I had no troubles what so ever in school, graduated in the top 15% of my class, went to college - got a BS degree and a MA degree. I taught at San Diego State University full time for over 10 years. I am bilingual - fluent in both English and ASL. Now I am a sign language interpreter and have my own business. Image that! I had VERY VERY little exposure to a spoken language for the first few years of my life and I can speak just fine. Your daughter will be just fine. The sign language classes are NOT negatively impacting your daughter at all. It IS benefiting her. I hope this helps. :)
Mary Kane
Say It In Sign

I've taught all three of my kids the Baby Signs Program and it's amazing! I decided to become an Instructor because I wanted to share it with other families. To be able to have that window into your child's life before they can talk is priceless.

There are so many benefits to teaching a baby Sign Language. Even if it's not ASL. I use Baby Sign Language as a way to bridge the communication gap before they can talk, not as a second language, so I encourage my babies to make up their own signs. As long as I understand them and they know they are being unsderstood, I'm happy.

It irks me when people say it delays speech, it does exactly the opposite!

Learn more at http://www.babysignsprogram.com/withelizabeth/