https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 08:25:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1679932 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 06:33:31 +0000 Cherrybee 1679932@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrswonderwoman: Wow, that's LOADS of signs!! Where on earth did you learn all those signs? Gorilla?! Moose?! </p> <p>The more I think about this, the more I'm convinced that E is going to take to it. She has started pointing to things in books now and saying "ah!" "ah!" - she's desperate to be able to describe things! She now says "mmmmm" when she wants some solid food and "ah!" when she wants a drink, during her meal. :happy: Initially, I planned to do it so she could tell me what she wants or needs but the more I've read here and observed her the most I think she will love being able to communicate what she sees.....! </p> <p>I just need to get my bottom into gear and buy some cards or something! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1679916 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 06:19:31 +0000 Mrswonderwoman 1679916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Moonmoon - I thought signing was pointless, since DS didn't sign back for a LONG time. Don't give up! It takes a lot of fine motor skills to sign. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1679914 Thu, 05 Jun 2014 06:18:26 +0000 Mrswonderwoman 1679914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started signing around 6 months casually, and more seriously at 9/10 months. We signed a ton of things - food, animals, action signs. His first ones were apple and butterfly (we read the very hungry caterpillar a LOT!). Then he finally started signing more and all done around 1 year. Now, he has probably 30 signs at 17 months. He doesn't have a ton of verbal words still, so it's certainly helpful. He signs more, all done, finished, help, fish, banana, cereal, strawberry, milk, please, cat, dog, gorilla, mouse, hat, stars, sun, shoe, book, bear, moose, yogurt, water, drink, food, diaper, change...probably more in forgetting. </p> <p>Kids pick it up fast if you are consistent. We did a lot of signing while reading, but also just TONS of repetition. Now that he's bigger, he picks it up usually within a day if we introduce a new sign. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1673412 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:27:11 +0000 MoonMoon 1673412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe we haven't been consistent enough? But we've been signing milk, eat, and water since about 6 months, and LO (almost 12 months) had never done them or shown too much interest. Even though his receptive language is great, he has no words, so he would seem like a great candidate for signing, but not yet. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1673279 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 13:34:58 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1673279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now, K signs 'more' and 'milk'. She understands 'all done'. I sign with her frequently though- I often sign whatever I'm doing/saying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1673043 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 12:47:36 +0000 LovelyPlum 1673043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Excited to see this! I think it will be great to teach her to sign! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1667719 Fri, 30 May 2014 05:29:47 +0000 bookwormmama 1667719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"More," "eat," and "all done" were the ones I thought to the boy I babysit. They were simple but extremely helpful because before I taght him he would just screech at me to feed him or get him down. At least with these simple signs I avoided the screeching for the most part (although he refused to do "all done" for the longest time) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign/page/2#post-1667562 Thu, 29 May 2014 22:44:34 +0000 mrskc 1667562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a little bit. I taught him "more" first. He picked it up really quickly and it soon became his sign for when he wanted something. So he would point to something and do the more sign. Then I taught him "all done" for when he was done eating in his highchair. We did "eat" a little bit but he used the "more" sign the most. I think it did help with his frustration of not being able to communicate with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1667560 Thu, 29 May 2014 22:41:51 +0000 Pepper 1667560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow. This thread has totally inspired me to try this with my 11 month old!! I feel like he should actually catch on quickly to something like this... He mimics me all the time! Thanks for posting this, @Cherrybee:! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1667558 Thu, 29 May 2014 22:38:05 +0000 immabeetoo 1667558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: sorry, I was skimming! But yes, baby sign makes its worth known VERY quickly once it 'clicks' so I wouldn't be surprised if his mind is changed! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665833 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:48:09 +0000 Cherrybee 1665833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: @Desertmama: He doesn't think it's a "circus trick" (definitely not my words!), he just thinks that any idea that is eases toddler frustrations is nonsense. It sounds from this thread though that people have had a lot of success so maybe we will be the ones who change his mind! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665771 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:30:19 +0000 Desertmama 1665771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: exactly, my DD's daycare doesn't sign either but she still uses her signs along with her words all day. They are actually learning from her some basic signs!</p> <p>@cherrybee I had to chime in, my gal is hard of hearing and wears hearing aids. Signing was so fun for her before she could talk, and she still signs just as much as she speaks. It's such a great way for all babies to communicate, and they really do love being able to express themselves. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665743 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:23:37 +0000 immabeetoo 1665743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think your little girl will pick up even if it is sporadic - eventually she will do them at her caretakers whether they think it's a circus trick or not :P</p> <p>DH was 'meh' about it but once LO started signing back instead of crying or screaming, he was ALL about it. We just did the very basic milk, more, eat, all done in the beginning. Once he was older we added help, which was awesome. I just googled for the sign and ran with it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665721 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:18:43 +0000 Cherrybee 1665721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Desertmama: Wow, I just noticed that your first posts on this site were to help me with this! Thank you! :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665698 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:11:25 +0000 Desertmama 1665698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check out the signing time DVDs. Most libraries have them and there is a special series that is baby signing time which includes really useful signs for little people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665692 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:09:49 +0000 LuLu Mom 1665692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Some, she actually only started signing when talking, so she would say the word when doing the sign but never before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1665690 Thu, 29 May 2014 13:09:14 +0000 Desertmama 1665690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Does your FIL think baby sign language is some sort of circus trick? How does he think hard of hearing and deaf babies communicate?</p> <p>As far as starting to sign, 6 months is a good time to start teaching. My daughter didn't start physically signing until a few months later but once she started she loved it. For signs like dog and cat that you think you may not use, I would still teach them because they see these things in books and on clothing and just love to have a way to use words to describe what they are seeing, be it verbal or signing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664626 Thu, 29 May 2014 08:05:30 +0000 lisa1783 1664626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I think it will still work! My DH and I both WOH and we started with "more" as our first sign. We would do it at every meal and he picked it up after a while. I forget how old he was when we first started - maybe 9 months? And he picked it up after a few weeks and then we did "drink" and "all done". I wish we started earlier and did more words. Babies learn very quickly - don't worry, as long as you do it with your LO, they'll pick it up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664319 Thu, 29 May 2014 04:50:15 +0000 Cherrybee 1664319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664313 Thu, 29 May 2014 04:25:47 +0000 birdofafeather 1664313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: I was relating the most useful! ;) We did those because we used them all the time (instead of your cat example) so we could practice them with her. She understood the signs before she could do the signs herself. And with few words at 16 months, they most definitely help. The first set is signs she does and the second set is signs she recognizes. I meant I couldn't remember of there were more that we do with her. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664288 Thu, 29 May 2014 01:55:29 +0000 Cherrybee 1664288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@birdofafeather: Haha, I love that you just told me what signs YOU learned (not your baby)!!!!! Has it helped you to be less frustrated at the dinner table, though?! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664285 Thu, 29 May 2014 01:54:27 +0000 Cherrybee 1664285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lisa1783: How did I miss that post yesterday??! </p> <p>How did you teach signs if you WOH? @grizz: @lawbee11: I asked my FIL yesterday if he would use signs with her; my inlaws have her three days per week - and my FIL is a retired early years specialist - but he said that it's just nonsense and he has never seen it work. Then E is in nursery three days per week and they don't use signs either..... will it work if I'm the only person doing it? (I doubt DH will do it, especially if he dad says it pointless. :meh: )</p> <p>Oh and @grizz: , I laughed so much when I read your reply - he thinks your name is Milk!! Hahaha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664157 Wed, 28 May 2014 22:38:55 +0000 MrsMccarthy 1664157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes!!! A lot of success. I recommend the baby signing time DVDs. They helped us both learn the signs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1664148 Wed, 28 May 2014 22:33:07 +0000 birdofafeather 1664148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>yeah, like PPs, we did milk, more, water, all done first. then mama, papa, bath, thank you, please, hurt, help, share, poop. she doesn't know all these, but it's what i remember. as she notices more things, i'm going to try to learn the correct signs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662421 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:15:37 +0000 MamaMoose 1662421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: She has stage fright with the video! but I'll see if I can sneak it! She started doing this while my parents were babysitting and they called me to ask if she always announces her poops.... um, nope, never had seen that before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662405 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:12:41 +0000 T-Mom 1662405@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mamaof2: my kids love the baby signing time DVDs too.. we even listen to them in the car.</p> <p>They still sign just for fun at ages 5.5 and 2.5... my DS will randomly come up to me and say "I want a cracker" while signing cracker (knock on your elbow with a fist) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662399 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:12:02 +0000 lisa1783 1662399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the point is it's supposed to help your LO communicate with you, particularly their wants/needs right now - if you wouldn't normally say cat or dog on a daily basis, I would skip those words. But a lot of words that are food related are great because that's a daily need they have. Sleep related words are great also - check out Mrs. Chipmunk's post from yesterday! <a href="http://www.hellobee.com/2014/05/27/baby-sign-language-bedtime-rituals/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hellobee.com/2014/05/27/baby-sign-language-bedtime-rituals/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662398 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:11:51 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1662398@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaMoose: Hahha aww that's so cute! Video!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662390 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:09:41 +0000 MamaMoose 1662390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: oooo I didn't know there was a sign for diaper change. M just walks around pointing at her bum and announcing "poop poop"..... Even when she didn't poop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-anyone-have-success-with-baby-sign#post-1662384 Wed, 28 May 2014 11:08:37 +0000 MamaMoose 1662384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Smurfette: hahhaha yes!! M often requests more tickling!!</p> <p>@Cherrybee: I think it's more just an additional way to teach them they CAN communicate the things they see around them. We never taught her things like cat and dog, but if she was a late talked I could see how it would be useful to her if she wants to show me something she would have a successful way of communicating. </p>