Has anyone tried baby sign language?

[Orlando]

I've read a lot about signing with your baby and wondered if anyone here has tried it?

It is supposed to be good for controling temper tantrums as signs are easier to make than words so they can communicate needs and wants at a much earlier age. It has also been reported that babies who learn sign language learn to talk earlier and have an increased vocabulary so I thought I'd start trying with my nine month old. He now recognizes and responds to the signs for eat, milk and no and I think he's just started trying to copy the signs. It would be fantastic to be able to know what he wants instead of going through the usual guess work!

[jan]

One of my instructors used it with her youngest and said he was easier b/c he could make his wishes known. I had to learn a little when I had a student with Downs and he picked it up quite quickly. Also the school I sub in has alot of international children who arrive speaking no English so I began using gestures a lot with them and now use them with all the kids. It is a lot easier and less disruptive to look at a kid, make eye contact and sign something than to verbally tell them.

[stupidANDcontagious]

We plan on doing it. We go through the motions now, just for repetition. But real teaching will start around 6 months (my son is 2 1/2 months right now). I am fairly fluent in ASL and my husband knows the fundamentals. We also have some good teaching tools that are preparing us. I learned to sign early on and want my children to do the same.

[Orlando]

I found a good site with about 70 basic signs at http://www.signwithme.com/main_signs.asp?ID=01 which I am sort of using for a guide. I'm unsure whether to stick to BSL so that he can be understood by UK signers or ASL as many of the signs are easier for babies. The BSL for milk is far too complicated for him at the moment!

I'm glad someone else is going to try. You'll have to let me know how it goes.

[monstersmom]

I have never really thought about it. They learn sign language in school and they have a cousin who is deaf, so they know a little. I don't see how it would help in the developement of language skills though, since chidren have to hear the words to be able to prounonce them. My aunt did not speak until she was four because her parents let her show them what she wanted instead of asking for it. I think it is a good idea though for people to know the basics. It came in handy for me when I was a waitress and had deaf customers come in.

[courey]

I saw Julie up there saying her son was 2 1/2 months and thought... wait a minute :p

[courey]

Gotcha ;)