Before Bub and Fin were born, I bought lots of books. What to expect books, twin books, week-by-week books, sleep books, baby food books, even a book dedicated to nothing but vaccines. I can't say I read them all, but I did flip through most of them.
One of the books I did read all the way through was called Baby Signs: How to Talk with Your Baby Before Your Baby Can Talk. Sure, who wouldn't want to know what their child is thinking, what they want, what hurts, before they have the words to tell you. Most of the time, I'm perfectly happy watching and letting them explore, create, and develop on their own terms. But there are certain situations when it would make things a lot easier.
It's not that I want them to get older quicker, or to do things that aren't age appropriate. I also have no illusions about the days to come (think teenagers) when I'd prefer not to know what they're thinking or what they want. Even so, I was curious. Could this really work?
It's not that I want them to get older quicker, or to do things that aren't age appropriate. I also have no illusions about the days to come (think teenagers) when I'd prefer not to know what they're thinking or what they want. Even so, I was curious. Could this really work?
The book says you can start signing as earlier as 6 months. I have some very fond memories of when Bub and Fin were 6 months old, but I also remember being sleep deprived and feeling like I might never escape the interior walls of our house. I was also working through the many ways in which my life had changed and feeling like the "old me" was lost forever. Needless to say, I wasn't ready to tackle signing quite yet.
It took some time but I did eventually get myself and my mind sorted out. When they were about 7 1/2 months, we started with the signs for "milk", "more", "all done", and "potty". At first we weren't consistent enough, but we got better.
It took some time but I did eventually get myself and my mind sorted out. When they were about 7 1/2 months, we started with the signs for "milk", "more", "all done", and "potty". At first we weren't consistent enough, but we got better.
Fast forward 5 months, still too young for actual words, but they weren't signing anything either. I wasn't concerned because they were meeting all of their other developmental milestones, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed. I started to doubt myself and whether I was doing the signs right, doing them at the right times, doing them enough.
We tried our best not to get discouraged and we kept on signing. And then, another 2 months or so later, Nana Debbie added a new sign. She had a glass of water and they both wanted a sip. She got down on the floor (being at their level is so key!) and alternated back and forth letting each of them take a drink. And then she taught them the sign for "my turn." What she did was really quite simple, but it was the way she did it. She presented them with something they wanted, and then reinforced it with a sign. Why didn't I think of that? She's a smart cookie that Nana!
We tried our best not to get discouraged and we kept on signing. And then, another 2 months or so later, Nana Debbie added a new sign. She had a glass of water and they both wanted a sip. She got down on the floor (being at their level is so key!) and alternated back and forth letting each of them take a drink. And then she taught them the sign for "my turn." What she did was really quite simple, but it was the way she did it. She presented them with something they wanted, and then reinforced it with a sign. Why didn't I think of that? She's a smart cookie that Nana!
Two weeks later, we couldn't get them to stop signing. Now it's nothing but "more" this and "more" that, "milk" please, I'm "all done", "my turn", and reaching for their diapers (front and back) when they need to be changed. Granted that's not really the sign for potty, but it'll do.
Next up: the signs for "airplane" (Bub's newest obsession), "help", and "thank you."
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