to wonder if baby signing is a waste of time?

[autumnlights12]

I'm signed up to a class which begins tomorrow; seemed like a good idea at the time. Now, I'm sat here idly wondering why I signed up. Slightly empty diary at end of week, so wanted to start filling it up, probably.
So baby signing Mnetters, is it worth it? Does it help? Is it fun? Does it help them to communicate? This is my third baby and a friend made a comment today that she thought baby signing was: 'for keen first time parents who are in a rush for the next stage'. And frankly, if I'm to walk into a room full of people I've never laid eyes on before, god help me it had better be worth it!

I tried very hard to sign with DC1-3 but none of them picked up hardly anything, they only started to use signs about the time they started to say words too (so 18 months). Couldn't see any reason to try with DC4.

so worth doing especially if you start young. we recently found out that our 18 month old is likely to have very little or no hearing by a teenager, very glad have always done baby sign and we are hoping it won't be too hard learning to sign 'properly'

We didn't do Baby Signing but did use BSL signs to support speech when DD was a baby.

It meant that she was able to communicate her wants to us before she was verbal by just using a single sign.

I think baby signing specifically is a bit faddy.

We felt it was important to teach DD BSL as she has a cousin a few weeks younger than her who is profoundly Deaf. However, we didn't continue it once the other child's parents made it clear they wouldn't be using BSL with her.

hlipop that is a really good point, I am sure it will make it easier as you have always signed.

folk what did they use out of interest?

valium speech really. She was bilaterally implanted by 3 and they were worried that signing would negatively impact on her learning to speak. She's 6 now.

Folk, why would the parents not want to use BSL? I agree with valium, I use BSL and had a look at Baby Sign and some of the signs are different or not done correctly which annoys me.

I did baby signing with DS and it was useful for about a month before he started talking.

Sorry Folk, x post

We were (selfishly) gutted really, both DH and I sign but it really is a use it or lose it skill!

I have to really think about it if I want to use it now.

valium I understand that point of view although I don't share it - the class we did uses proper BSL and I have had support from a proper BSL teacher, so this is a non-issue for us.

I am losing my hearing so the DCs may end up relying on BSL to communicate with me in certain circumstances (eg noisy places). Perhaps our focus is consequently different.

For what it's worth, there are plenty of MFL baby classes at a similar level to Valium's view of baby signing. I avoid those like the plague.

It helps them create connections between the 2 languages if both parents sign and speak consistently while doing OPOL. It also means that if you add a language in another setting where a parent can't translate and the staff know a few key signs you can facilitate communication earlier than relying on the child picking up the language. Some quite interesting research on supporting communication going on at the moment.

Babies may not need signs but it can be very empowering

Sorry that last was to loony. It's more at the acquisition stage than later.

We signed at home (no classes 16 years ago) with both our boys. It was a drag to start with because it takes a while before they use them. It was wonderful once they started signing. I loved it. I got such an insight into what a one year old thought. I didn't realise that they thought so much stuff.

DS#1 thought that a young man on the bus with a mohawk was wearing a hat. He was very surprised when I told him it was hair and it took some convincing. When he was 12.5 months old I was very sick in hospital and my mum was looking after me. She called to ask me what he wanted. He was frantically poking his finger into the palm of his hand. I told her that he was hungry and wanted a 'goodie' (olive, kale, crisps etc). She also wanted to know what he was asking for when they went out and I told them he was telling her he didn't have his hat.

Ds#2 told me at about 11 months that my friend had boobs but they had no milk in them. He also told me one time that he had seen a cat and he wanted the cat (presumedly to stroke it).

It was really helpful when they woke up in the night and could tell me that they were cold, hungry, sick, sad or that they wanted a cuddle. Man, that made it a lot easier.

I did it with my son... and I'm back with DD. A lot depends on the teacher in terms of how much they enjoy it. I also started the course today (not in Surrey are you?!) and didn't gel amazingly with the teacher; her pitch wasn't the best and she was very loud; shouty almost.

However the signing itself doesn't seem to have been pointless; DS started signing loads around 1yr old and now at 2.8 his speech is pretty good (an example the other day he said 'Mummy, what kind of flower is this?'). I say this to silence those that say it hinders speech. Maybe because you are responding to them when they sign, they get a taste for it and want to speed their communication skills?! Or it could just be coincidence. It shouldn't hurt, anyway.

I have 3 kids and signed with all if them using Signalong (similar to makaton.) I didn't use classes though.

(I worked in a SN school then, signing was second nature.)

DD was talking well by a year, and had loads if signs too. She remembers most still, i have friends with learning difficulties and DD is able to do some basic communication.
DS1 has ASD. He used one sign and was also significantly speech delayed/ disordered. Basic lack of understanding about the need to communicate I think.
DS2 signed and spoke at about the same time, and dropped the signs very quickly.

Anything that improves communication is useful, IMO.

At 2.5 ds was asking questions like that anyway Eugene some kids are just desperate to talk.

'What's the difference between a crowd and an audience?' particularly made me chuckle

i have friends with learning difficulties and DD is able to do some basic communication That can only be a good thing, right? :)

I just can't see that babies need to sign to eat their frustration and reduce tantrums unless there are SN involved Kids make it pretty clear what they want.

ease not eat!

my son has been able to speak since he was 18 months and so have my other mindees. one girl i had who did signing still does not talk much now and she is nearly 3. it may be that she is an exception but that put me off signing.

Afaik all the research shows that signing does not delay speech.
I work in child development with children with all kinds of delays and disabilities. I used to work in the Deaf community.
Based on those experience (and it is just my experience and my opinion)
I think signing is a good thing
It doesn't delay speech
I think BSL or Makaton (if necessary) should be used.
I have never met a Deaf adult who wished they had not learned to sign but I have met a lot who resent being prevented from doing so.

And I think BSL should be an available at GCSE.

:)

Didn't do classes but did signing with both DSs. Definitely worthwhile and no terrible twos here either

Just seen the OP's message from Friday - very glad you enjoyed it, autumnlights!

And yes, that's exactly how I feel too (much more fun than just going to a group where you sort of sit around with other mums). At the end of the class I did there was always a 15 minute or so bit where they put out toys and we had a cup of tea and chatted - but it was easy and very sociable because we'd all 'warmed up' and had the instant 'something in common' factor because we'd just done a class.

fooling interesting. The first day I looked after the child that signed she was SO quiet in was unnerving, she just didn't make normal excited, squealy, happy sounds.

I have never met a Deaf adult who wished they had not learned to sign but I have met a lot who resent being prevented from doing so I completely agree but that's not what I am talking about. Deaf people used to be put into institutions and SN school, so sad.

ps with regard to "terrible twos" my son doesn't have a lot of frustration or tantrums either (despite never signing apart from naturally doing the sign like he was milking a cow when he wanted BF!) but maybe that is because I've always been able to understand what he wants and am realistic about situations he can cope with and only place him in those most of the time. tantrums usually come when we have to do something and he is too tired or ill.

MrsDeVere I agree with you completely on all points.

My impression of signing is that it is something which is useful for some babies who may have additional needs. But the faddy middle class 'lets invent a new class as a way of persuading anxious middle class mums to part with cash' is pretty pointless IMO.