Is This Enough to Learn Baby Sign Language?

I have the perfect answer for you! LOL. I have been signing to my daughter for quite a while. Anyway, she is 21 months old now and the only sign she has used back was "more". She was being stubborn and not using the words she could actually say. While visiting my mother, she started verbally saying bath. The only problem for me was that it sounded like her word for bottle and ball. I about cracked up when after I didn't 'get it', she started to say it again and sign it at the same time. Needless to say, she got her bath. They take it all in. Trust me. Your little one will end up using them. He is just storing them away until later. Just don't do what I did and let the signs slide. Keep up the good work. <3

4 moms found this helpful

you need to focus on two or three signs , with that many at a time you are over loading him and not giving him enough time to learn them. I'd start with eat, more and milk. Then after he's got those then add another one,

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Signing is just like teaching the spoken language...he is going to pick it up a little at a time...and with signing he needs the manual dexterity to imitate your hands. Our almost 3 year old grandson used signing a LOT when he was younger...but it took a while for him to really start signing in a way that was recognizable to anyone but his Mama and Papa!!! Just keep using it and don't worry about throwing a TON of new signs at him or he may get confused right now. Stick to the basics...."More" "All Done" Mama's Milk ( if you are bfing), Mom, Dad, Puppy, Cat...things like that that you use everyday. Patience and consistancy are the two key words here!!

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I thought I heard to do only 3 or 4 signs at a time. Perhaps you are doing too many and he can't absorb all of that. Try doing the ones you say most often (we did 'more', 'please' and 'all done.' My son only picked up the more and please).

As for another show to watch with him "Signing Time" is great. We have it at our library. There are very many to choose from. I know a lot of people who say that their kids love it too.

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Listen to your gut. I think he might still be a little young to sign back. Keep up with the signing and eventually, he'll respond in kind. It took a while for my daughter to start signing back. It's so much easier to understand her now that she can sign the words as well as speak them.

The BEST signing videos I've come across so far is "Baby Signing Time/Signing Time." They are soooo well done and I believe they encouraged my daughter to speak more too. They include songs and examples of other children signing and some dancing too! She actually asks/signs to watch them. As she ages, she picks up on different signs in the videos and also on different words used in the videos. I also supplement by learning different signs online.

Your son will sign back when he's ready to. And if he doesn't then it just means signing isn't his thing. No stress either way. Everything in its time. I wish you the best in your fantastic journey with him!

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I used simple sign language with my daughter starting at 4 months (when I started her on rice cereal) I only taught her eat, more, milk, please and thank you...(maybe a couple more) but I EMPHASIZED the verbal words...it took her a while to sign back-maybe around 8-9 months...but one thing-don't just accept the sign, make sure to verbalize it...(ohhh, you'd like MORE bananas? Ok, I'll get you MORE bananas.) My daughter started walking and talking the same week and hasn't stopped since. But I believe that sign language only works if you emphasize the verbal language along with it...it was very helpful in showing her that she can communicate, but I didn't depend on it...I taught preschool for many years and believe that you need to constantly speak to children for them to learn how to communicate effectively....I hope that makes sense and helps a little

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There's a book by Joseph Garcia called Sign with your Baby. Read that. Any signs are helpful and it's good to introduce as many as you know. One thing to keep in mind is that babies learn concrete words before abstract. So your son is more likely to learn ball and cat before hurt and play. The more consistent you are with signs, the quicker he'll pick it up. Both my kids sign but my oldest picked it up much younger than my youngest did. Different kids, different styles! Also, your son may be signing without you recognizing it as a sign. My youngest started signing milk months ago and then we thought she'd stopped. Just this week we realized that she had switched from the correct sign to something that looks more like she's trying to snap her fingers. We don't know where she got it from, but now that we know that's her sign for it, we can respond. She'll get the motion figured out soon enough. She's communicating her needs and we're able to respond. A+ for signing!

Oh yeah, and one of the tricks to teaching the signs is using them when his attention is already on the object or activity. Trying to teach a sign out of context just doesn't make sense to them yet.

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Consistancy is the thing when signing or talking to babies. Whatever I was doing, changing a diaper, getting food ready, nursing, reading a baby book, etc., I talked it through and used whatever signs I knew. It helped me to increase my knowledge of signs as well as introduce and sign with my baby. I started signing with my dd when she was 5 months. Her first sign was change. She imitated me as best she could at 7 months. With my son, he too signed change in a similar fashion when he was 5 months - I started at birth with him.

Their initial signs weren't really like mine, but they were deliberate. My dd would clap for more, ball, and one other that I don't remember offhand. But, it was deliberate and in context. She was about 8 months when signing these. All done might be hands are in the air and move a bit. They won't be exact, so watch closely. My friend's dd was signing all done at about 9 months and they were missing it, until one day we were eating together and she brought her hands up and then down every time her mom was asking, "all done." Her mom was in the moment and not seeing the response since she was focused on her face and trying to get the spoon in. I was watching from the side line, and saw the connection of the words from mom and the sign from her dd.

You might need someone else around to observe as you are doing everyday things with your tot to see the responses. And remember, don't expect them to look like your signs.

My 3 yr old son was so proud at around 2 when he manipulated his fingers to sign airplane using only 2 fingers like a y hand shape. And at 2.5 he was thrilled when he manipulated his fingers and signed "I love you."
Keep practicing and when they start to talk, don't forget to keep signing or he won't either.

1 mom found this helpful

The real benefit of signing I think is to help kids to express themselves so they don't get frustrated. We focused on the big stuff with the signs for my girls - more, all done, bed, milk...and that was just about all they ever signed. They were both really early talkers so I don't know if they stopped signing because they started speaking early or if that is all they would have signed anyway. It certainly helped the feeding battles! We signed other things like dog and help, but my girls never signed those. If I were you, I'd scale back on the number of signs you emphasize - just use the ones important to you or the ones that he is trying to communicate with you.

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My daughter is extremely verbal. I started doing signs with her at 8 months, and at 10 months, she started signing AND talking like crazy. I've been doing signs with my son since he was 8 months, and he is now just 10 months, and I can tell you that I won't be seeing a sign back anytime soon. He just isn't there verbally. But he is close to walking ;-) They put energy into different things.

Also, only teach 5 signs at a time. And, please, no TV or videos till they are 2 --this is what is recommended.

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My first son didn't sign back until he was 10 months old and my twins only started signing just before they turned one. I just taught them eat, water, milk, all done and I was the only one who did them with them and I wasn't that diligent, but they got it. Funnily enough, though, they are almost 15 months old and trying to talk so they have stopped signing even though I still make the signs to them. Every child is different, but I'd say they will probably start signing somewhere between 10 and 12 months. Maybe you need to cut down on the amount of signs you're using and focus on the ones you really want him to communicate. I'm not an expert by any stretch, but maybe he's getting overwhelmed by so many signs...

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Mom. I would not waste my time on the baby signing thing as a teacher of young children. Spend your time talking,and reading and interacting in a loovng and nurturing way with your baby to encourage him to talk. As for the Baby Einsten DVD, they are not a real learning tool. Google Baby Einstein DVD's and you will see that they have little if any educational value, in fact the co that produced them Disney I believe was in a class action lawsuit over them in the last 2-3 yrs and had to refund $ on many of them to customers since it was proven they do not teach as they claimed. I would not expose my baby to much TV or DVD/ videos, they are not good for babies and why not spend one on one time with him instead.

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We signed for a long time with our daughter and we were about to give up when she started signing back. The thing to recognize is that their sign may not look anything like the 'correct' sign so you have to keep a close eye out for anything that looks similar. For instance, it's difficult to make the 'w' letter as an infant and put it to your mouth asking for water. So our daughter would just point at her mouth when she wanted water. I'd keep it up, he will definitely get it eventually. Good luck to you.

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We started signing about age one and didn't get anything back from our kiddo for months and months, and then suddenly - bam! He used about 15 different signs in one week. Keep at it - your kiddo is learning them, and he'll used them when he's ready to.

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Your son is only 8 or 9 months old...give him a break!! I think you need to chill out and if you do want to use some signs, the best ones are more, no, yes. Sign language does not slow down verbal language development nor does it speed it up. It just reduces a child's frustration at not being able to say what they want before they are physically able to say the words. I personally don't get what the big deal is about sign language. There is a little boy who is 2 at my son's babysitters and he physically can not speak words. He uses signs and its great for him. Just keep talking to him and reading books with him. Also point of things when you are out and the communication will come.

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Just keep "doing". One day he will start signing all those words and you will be running madly to your books in an effort to keep up. Babies are like that.

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Hi, I haven't read all of the responses, but I did use some sign language with my babies. I think it is great that you are using so many words, but I think it also will take him a certain amount of time before he has the hand coordination to do the signs. With my first I focused on fewer words: more, all done, eat/drink, tired (and added a few more as he got a little older and learned those). And with some of them I adapted them to how he would try to do the sign. For example, around 4 months old he would start scratching his head when he was tired, so I just made that the sign. The main thing is for the two of you to understand each other, not necessiarily teaching him a second language, so modify as needed. Good luck, I bet he will start picking them up soon.

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I think you may be expecting a lot fom your 8 month old. I started signing with my daughter at 6 months and she didn't start signing back (eat and milk) until she was a year old. With my son he signed back one word (eat) starting at 11 months. You'll need to really watch them. The signs don't always look close to what you have been showing them.

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I think all kids learn these things at different paces. We started signing with my daughter at around 7 months and she was signing back within weeks. She also started talking in full sentences by 17 months. She was VERY verbal. My son, on the other hand, didn't really sign until around a year old and didn't really start talking in sentences until he was around 2 years old (he had some words before then, but just wasn't much of a talker). He did, however, walk at 9 months old. His pediatrician was surprised that he had as many words as he did at his 1 year appointment considering he spent so much of his time and energy trying to walk. It's kind of a one or the other type of thing, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just continue to use the signs and the words along with them and he'll pick it up when he's ready. It may just be a few more months. I'm not sure the DVD's will teach him anything. He will likely learn more from you. Good luck and enjoy that baby!

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http://www.aslpro.com/ This is a great website to use too look up some other words.

Really the basics more eat, some foods, milk, water are the best. Don't expect signing back until he's a little older. It's really most helpful before they start to talk at the stage of not being understood, you'll understand him before he can actually talk. Make the age of 1 to 2 much easier.

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he will get there give it time. my 2 1/2 yr old signs when its convient. he does know the signs just to lazy to use them it is more fun to whine. if i give him something that is hot I sign hot and say the word. If he brings me his sippy I sign drink and say drink. if he wants another cookie i either sign cookie or more and say cookie or more whichever I sign. he would do the signs while watching the video but wouldnt sign to me for about 4 months after he started watching the videos and its a matter of convience with him. I think you are getting worried and expecting to much to soon. give him time the more you worry about it he will pick up on your anxiety and hold out on you.

just keep signing to him and when he signs more or whatever mine will sign more and clap for himself. with a big grin on his face. but at other times its more convient to whine and point even though he knows the sign. i think the whining and pointing instead of signing is due to him being tired and lazy. :) like past nap time.

Try 1 or 2 words at a time. It takes months for them to do it. My daughter loved signing buy we only ever did a few words at a time until she got them then we would do more. To answer your question you are doing enough... I think the point is you might be doing to much. Or your expectations of an 8 month old are really high. Plus he is in my opinion too young for TV but that is just me. i think it is over stimulating. Babies learn from people.
I would just keep at the basics milk, food, eat, more, tired, please and thank you...and one day he will surprise you. The first word my DD learned was more.
Good luck and stop worrying so much hes just a baby. :)

I just answered a similar question. Here is my response:

My family absolutely LOVES Signing Time! Our daughter started watching it when she was about 9 months old. She's 4 1/2 now and still loves them and still loves to sign.

Signing Time! is created specially for kids. They are 30 minute videos that teach American Sign Language vocabulary. Rachel is the host, and her daughter Leah and nephew Alex are the main characters. Leah was born deaf, and the need to teach family & friends to sign inspired them to create Signing Time!. They introduce the word - verbally, written, and signed - and then show many people & kids signing & saying the word, as well as showing what the word means. Such as for "dog" they would show dogs.

Very easy to learn from, and if you watch a couple times too you will know all of the signs as well! They make it so much fun for kids that they don't know they are learning!

They also have a couple videos called "Baby Signing Time!" that are cartoon based & designed for babies.

Once you learn some of the basic words, use them every time you say those words to your daughter. Milk, more, eat, mom, dad, etc. As long as he sees it repeatedly in the right context, he will learn the sign, the verbal word, as well as the meaning. My daughter has had an amazing vocabulary & could speak pretty clearly early on, and I believe Signing Time! has contributed to that!

They used to show an episode on PBS on Saturday mornings, but they quit. I think they show some of the songs at random times on Nick Jr (I think that's the right one), but I don't watch that channel enough to know if they are still doing it.

You might be able to find it at your library if you'd like to try it before buying it. Otherwise, the only place I know to buy it is direct from their Web site: http://www.signingtime.com

You could also see if there is a Signing Time Academy instructor near you. http://www.signingtimeacademy.com

They are trained to teach sign language to babies/kids and parents with the help of Signing Time materials. Wish I had the time & money to do that, it would be fun!

Good luck, and happy learning! ASL is a great language for anyone to learn, even if you don't know anyone who is deaf. I've even used it to communicate with my daughter while rinsing my mouth with Listerine! LOL It worked :)

They have videos on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/user/SigningTime

I practiced signing with my son; it took him nearly 6 months to sign back and even then, he never used more than two of them. What I think Does Help about signs is that when we consistently use them, our children have two ways of being reassured that their needs are going to be met. First, the sign makes the spoken word more concrete for the child and second, if they are upset and crying, having a visual cue can get their attention better than a spoken one they mightn't hear. In my opinion, you don't need to introduce every single sign all at once. I'd stick with the immediate needs first and don't give yourself a hard time for not knowing many other signs. I think one thing that does help, though, is if you are interested in using signs, keep doing it and follow up with library books or online resources, etc.

FYI-- Disney was successfully sued over the Baby Einstein videos for claiming they were 'educational'. They are children's entertainment, and no more than this. I just say this because of your comment that you weren't seeing any change or effectiveness with the video...you likely might not. "Mama Doing" it is better than "TV Showing" it, most especially at this age. He has an interactive relationship with you, not the signs on television, and is likely focusing on puppets because nothing is more interesting to young children than other human-acting creatures, especially other kids. (This is the success behind Barney and Lamb-Chop's Play Along, not os much the characters but the kids who uphold the characters and make them "real". ) Not to single Disney out either; most anything presented in an 'educational' video will be better taught personally by a parent with an average level of education.:) Good luck!