Is 9 months too late to start baby signing?

[ILikeYourSleeves]

I was just reading a thread there on AIBU re baby signing and I am wondering if I should start this up again with 9 month old DS. We went to classes when he was about 3-5 months old but TBH they were more for my benefit to get out and about and we didn't really do the signs other than in the class. I think I didn't pursue it as he was so young at the time. He is obviously now far more interactive and curious so do you think I should start it again?

Any experiences of baby signing would be welcome (good and bad!). Thanks!

[misspollysdolly]

I did a little bit of signing off my own bat with DS at around 9-12 months, but didn't start going to sing and sign until he was about 14months old and he really only started to actively communicate through signing after this point.

I started with the sign for please, and made it clear that he was to do it befoire getting what he wanted/was demanding. Also quickly added in 'sorry', 'thankyou', 'more' and 'finished' which he picked up very quickly. Once we were doing S&S (We did two terms of weekly sessions- so from about 14 months til 21 months) he picked up loads of signs and sometimes I was blown away with what he was signing to me! I loved signing with him.

My mum was convinced it had delayed his speech as by the time we finished S&S he still hardly spoke (although had a repertoire of sounds that we recognised as being meaningful!) but between 22 and 24 months old he suddenly started speaking extremely quickly - in full sentences and using quite complicated language. His language skills seemed to grow and change literally every day and I firmly believe that the signing just laid all the foundations of understanding and communication and also helped him over any frustration with this - they can hit a very tricky time when they have lots to say but not the language skills to do so. I think signing definitely made a difference to him and to us as a family.

DS1 is now just 3 and has really good language skills (IMO). DS2 is 6 months and I already sign to him and hope to start some lessons soon - but probably not until he's around a year as this the optimal time for us last time.

Go for it - it's certainly not too late - and have lots of fun too! I recommend Sing and Sign to get you started - even just one term!

[ILikeYourSleeves]

Thanks MissPolly, it does sound good and I regret not having kept it up beforehand. There's a local sing and sign class so I'm looking into getting a place. I tried to do the 'eat' sign this morning at brekkie but he was too interested in his toast to even look at me!

[nobodysfool]

We did sing and sign classes with our ds now 3.
We started them when he was about 1 and he picked up quite a few of the signs-the most helpfull ones were,eat,drink,more,and home.
We bought the dvds and played them at home everyday-i'm not sure who loved them the most tbh
This is one of them....
www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/3336039/Sing-and-Sign/Product.html?cm_mmc=Froogle--Films--Kids-_-Sing+and+ Sign&source=5061&engine=froogle_film&keyword=Sing+and+Sign+DVD

He is very forward with his speech (even though he got off to a slow start) and can even read (We have lots and lots of books but he loves all the Usbourne ones the best)
I would say to anybody that it is a great idea and it really helps that time when they are wanting to say stuff but just cant find the words.
Go for it,it's great.

[Elkat]

No, I'd say that's a good age to start. Both my DDs didn't start signing until about 11 months, although I started at 5/6 months with my first and not until 8/9 months with my second. Although, I'm nowhere near as consistent with it with my second. HTH

[biglips]

its a perfect age as i started it with my DD at 10 months. And she had learnt alot.

[Octothechildherder]

My nephew has just been diagnosed at nearly 3 as permanently deaf - so am off to sign myself up and ds3.

[biglips]

this is who i used to go with

[moondog]

No.I'm a salt and have a baby signing business. You are dead right about signing helping to lay foundations of communication. Tonnes of research to indicate it aids not impedes communication so your mother is talking rot.

[fairy15]

All I can say is go for it! It's worth it. I have 2 boys 9 months & 2 years. Ds1 I started when he was 4 months & he did his first sign at 6 months, ds2 started at 5 months & signed after a couple of weeks. We do sing & sign which I find great. Ds1 was going till he was 20 months & was doing every sign there was.
I think 10 months is a great age as some people start even later. It's great for them to be able to tell you what they want. Ds2 tells me when he wants milk, eat, more etc.. Ds1 talks now so has dropped signing but will sign to his brother which is great!

[notcitrus]

Signing is always useful - even if your son never really uses it he'll have learnt that there are ways other than speech that some people use to communicate.

I'm currently trying to get my in-laws to learn a few signs, if only to reduce the number of times a day my FIL bellows "I SAID, did you want a cup of TEA!!" at MIL...

[labebete]

I think it's a good age - they actually join in and do the signs at that age. dd is 14 months and she is really enjoying signing a little bit. Even my 3 yo likes it!

[ILikeYourSleeves]

Yippeeee I have just booked DS in for a 12 week sing and sign class starting in Sept! I am going to try to do some signs in the meantime, can't remember what the sign is more 'more' and 'all finished' though, can anyone enlighten me?

Any other good signs to start with too?

Also, does anyone know of a good website that has BSL signs? Ta!

[callmeovercautious]

I started DD off at the same age and she still uses lots at 23m even though she can say all the words now.

Ilikeyoursleeves - More is tapping curled fingers of both hands together in front of you. Finished (depending on the type of signing) is upturned hands to either side, I think it is the same as "all gone", we used the one sign for both anyway.

Notcitrus - my parents and IL both sign things now. Obviously to DD but also when at home etc. Useful for my FIL as he is partially deaf. MIL thinks it helps if she can sign "home" accross a room when she wants to leave