My son is 9 months old and seems to be a perfect candidate for sign language. He's very expressive and physically communicative, but he's hardly talking at all. Both our pediatrician and the Follow Along program have reassured us that his development is right on, and that second siblings often tend to talk later. (And if you knew his older brother, you'd see that he wouldn't be able to get a word in edgewise!) He's also a little ahead on the gross motor stuff so we think he would just rather concentrate on the physical fun in life rather than talking. But he does things like bang the high chair tray when he wants more food, grab for the bottle, etc., so we know he's trying to communicate. I've been attempting a little sign language with the basics (eat, more, all done, milk). But I did that, too, with my first son and it didn't really take--I think because I wasn't diligent enough, and also because he was an early talker. So I guess my question is, other than consistency and persistence, is there something else I should do to teach him sign language? For those that use it, how long did it take before your kids actually started using the signs? Thanks!
Thanks for all the great advice! I certainly don't expect my son to be close to talking yet, but he's behind on the babbling, so I figured when the time does come for talking, having had the sign language on which to fall back might help minimize his frustration. I'll work harder this time around to see it work...it's helpful to know what I should be expecting for results!
Keep trying! It took about 2 months for both of my boys to start signing back to me (I started between 7 & 9 months), but they understood sooner than that - it is a tremendous help.
There is a fantastic set of videos called Signing Time. It makes sign language fun and easy to learn. Even if your baby doesn't pick it up from the video right away, you will and then you can teach him. My oldest picked it up quickly as a toddler; he was an early talker so we didn't need sign language to communicate. I've only just started doing some simple signs with my 1-year-old. He uses what he wants (milk and all done) and even that little bit helps.
I have friends who started very early and their kids picked it up and used it when they were ready.
I've never met a 9 month old that could hold a conversation so I think you're aiming a little high with expecting him to be talking already. My oldest starting signing around a year old (started signing to him around 6 months, he's 2 now). My youngest is 11 months and babbles a lot more than my oldest did and hasn't picked up any signs yet (also started signing to him at 6 months old). Signing isn't an instant thing for babies to pick up. Just like anything else it takes time, patience and practice.
Someone mentioned earlier www.signingtime.com and all of their signing DVD's are wonderful! My 12 month old daughter can do quite a few signs but I believe that's because we use them everytime we say something to her and then she started saying the word not that long after but 9 months is young to do much talking other then babbling. Good luck!
We started using signs with our son around 7-8 months but didn't expect him to sign back for awhile. Around 10 months he started using the signs for "milk", "more" and "all done". We taught him about a dozen signs for common things he might want (water, tired, hungry, food, and a few others). It really helped his frustration level for the months before he started talking (which wasn't until 20 months). I found the signs related to eating and drinking the easiest to teach because you are usually sitting facing him anyway at mealtime and mealtime happens 3-5 times a day so it is easy to get good repetition.
My daughter's daycare did signlanguage and it went so well I started it up at home too. It maybe took 2mos. before we were using it consistantly. Now I'm a single parent with an only child so it was really easy to keep up with there was no one else in the house to "speak" to. I do believe because of the signlanguage it made my daughter a earlier talker too. She was so good other's thought she was deaf.
My daughter is 15 months and only says Mama, Dada, Bubba and last week started with a clear Bye-Bye. At 9 months both my kids were not saying a thing but babble. I agree with the doctor there. Our daycare lady started signing "more" with my then 11 month old and then I purchased Signing Time off of e-bay and they also have a website if you were to google it. The programs is awesome and keeps kids focused on it. The DVD's we have include the author's daughter Leah and Leah's cousin Alex. By two years old my daughter knew over 200 signs. She'd watch one DVD almost everyday and we'd sign to her when we knew the sign. My 15 month old is not watching as much of the DVD by she know signs "more", "milk", "please", and "eat". She is prompted at this point but will copy us and try to say the word if she knows it. The daycare lady also tries to sign with her which helps.
I also point to the milk and then have her watch me sign what it is and I'll do it like 2-3 times then give it to her.
I think consistency, reinforcement, and dedication will go a long way.
There is a book I recommend. It is super simplified signing that babies can execute and, supposedly, speeds verbal development as well.
Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk, New Edition by Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn, and Douglas Abrams (Paperback - Jun 24, 2002)
Both of my daughters were about 10 months old when they started to use the signs to communicate with me. However, I started using the signs at around six months and they were able to understand the sign itself and what it meant, they just weren't able to physically do the sign themselves until about 10 months.
For example, when they were 6 months old I would roll a ball to them and then do the sign for more and you could see that they would get excited knowing that there would be more ball fun, but then at around 10 months, I quit doing the sign and they would pick up on that they needed to let me know what they wanted and eventually they started doing the signs.
It's important to remember that babies will understand the sign far earlier than they will be able to do it physically, so stick with it - you'll soon see results.
With my daugher I found that she would pick up words more quickly of things she was interested in such as cat and horse.
My sons now 14 months, and I went to school for edu of persons with hearing loss and interp. So I'd been doing sign while I talk since birth (or at least since i figured out how to handel a baby with one hand). He didn't start showing it back till he was about 10 months. Even then it was just a few here and there like no more(which his sign is a bit different), drink, and cerial. Now he's doing more a lot more but not all that were showing....they'll get it. My girlfriend has a daughter the same age and she's been using fluent sign since probably 9 months....as everyone says they all develope at their own pace....just keep doing it and you'll see it will happen. Good luck
