2 Questions: Frustration and Baby Sign Language

Here's my two cents: One - trust yourself - I often lack confidence and when I do, that's when my daughter (15 months) seems the most frustrated - if i can fake calm, make up a stupid game or tell her what she is feeling (ex - oh, you must be frustrated - yes, we cry when we are frustrated, hmm.. do you want milk? did you go potty? **** talking him through it)

Sign Language - YES! My husband is Deaf so with our daughter, we didn't have a choice but to use it to communicate with her so she could talk to daddy herself :) I have a teaching degree and am a certified interpreter - and it's been wonderful for her!

half the time i didn't think she was even paying attention, but at about 4 mos she was signing milk and knew what it mean, then next was i think dog, more, please, ... now she's 15 mos and doing, 'outside please', 'walk',' potty', 'garbage' 'banana' 'drink' and about 45+words. My frustration went down IMMEDIATELY and so did hers

She's now at the stage where she has to learn about her emotions - when screaming is appropriate, when crying is appropriate and what to do instead of those :)

Anyway, my sister's kids learned it til they could talk and then stopped using it except when we come over and they need to tell Uncle Tom something. They are all just fine too :)

Hope this helps! Having the kid watch videos won't help, you'll need to start using it yourself - go for the major sources of frustration for you and your son - you'll be great! And watch for 'approximations.' for noelle the sign 'more' was like her two fingers touching until she had better handshape control.

At this point, you are worriying so much that you arn't following your motherly instincts. He needs to know that you know what he is trying to tell you. If you do try sighn language, now's the time. The only thing is, you have to remind him to use it, and respond quickly or he will start the whining again. Basically, it never really worked for mine, and they eventually learned to use words, but it takes time and don't feel bad about giving in, it only reinforces to your son that he is loved, and understood. You may even want to keep toys that he can play with near him, so that when he is done eating, he can play with something until you are done. Good Luck!

I don't know how young is too young, I think it depends on the personality of the child. Maybe try telling him that he can get out of the highchair but he may not sit in your lap until you are finished?

On the sign language note, it is wonderful! I have done american sign language (NOT baby sign-that won't help in any way when they're older) with my three younger kids, it definitely lessens frustrations on both parts. The only trouble we had was that my husband thought it was silly and refused to learn with us-then he couldn't understand the kids! He eventually learned the basics, and with #4 actually encouraged the use of sign language, because he noticed #2 & #3 being less whiny after we started it.

Good luck!
~J.

Hi D.,

I remember that stage for my daughter. Look out, as soon as that mobility DOES get coordinated you'll be like, "where are you going!?"

I just wanted to put in an encouraging word for Baby Sign Language. We had (and are having) a VERY successful experience with it. I took a class at the local hospital, but basically all we needed were a couple board books - Signing Time.com can give you the titles or online like Amazon(and most libraries can help too). Apparently there are videos too, but we never used them. As soon as our daughter started waving bye-bye (I think 8-9 months) we started trying signs like "more" and "drink" and "eat" and "milk" then objects like ball, kitty...things that were around our house and people - Mom, Dad, Grandma, etc. The key point (that I got from the $30 class!) was that when you introduced a sign, you actually take the childs hands and help them do it - "rewarding" them even if someone else helps them with the sign until they get it. By the time our daughter was 18 months old she had around 45 signs, and ANOTHER 50 words that she used verbally, and though some people would classify her as demanding (this is true) WE are happy because she is content and communicating. And now that she's getting older, WE have to work on that "no" thing... but you're a while from that!

So, if you aren't getting my opinion - YES! TRY IT! I don't believe you have anything to loose! Contact me if you have any specific questions about it.

And very best wishes with all the other challenges to come for you and your little one. In my short experience, it only goes faster!