Baby Signing Question

[Bornin1989]

I've been using the sign "all done" with my LO just before I start clearing up after eating and she's just started signing it herself.

However, it's obvious that she's not always finished eating when she does sign it as she'll sign then keep feeding herself.

My question is... Do I;

1. "Honor" the sign and clear food away when she signs "all done", even if it's obvious she is carrying on eating (unless she cries when I take the food off the highchair tray of course)
2. Clear food away when I'm more certain she's had enough (and she signs). Ignore all signing for "all done" up to this point.

I've been doing 2) but worry that ignoring her signing will weaken the link for her between the sign and the consequence.

I still always sign when i start clearing up.

How about asking 'are you all done?'and picking up her food to start to clear it away, then if she indicates she's not done by reaching/whinging etc then ask 'do you want more?' And signing more as well

How old is she?

It sounds like she could just be mimicking the hand movement rather than actually signing and therefore having an understanding of the meaning.
If she is obviously still hungry and continuing to eat I wouldn’t take the food away.

Does she know "more"? Is "all gone" the only one she consistently signs, so just loves communicating with you? I'd consider clearing away if you can both communicate offering "more" to clarify.

I’d just react to it the same way you would if she said she’d finished but is still eating.

I’d probably laugh and comment that she’s still going but not make a big deal / clear away.

She’s learning, it’s practice, she’ll get there with the timing/meaning - she probably hasn’t quite got it yet but she’s on the way! I think the fact she’s still eating is a stronger sign of what she wants so I’d go with that!

well it is no different to spoken language.

You ask a toddler if they are finished they say yes and then scream when you remove food 😂

I would say/ sign - more? or eating? or food? as they continue to eat and then when they have finished sign - now all gone?

If your baby is hearing, obviously do a combination of speaking and signing.

Thanks ladies!

She's just about to turn 9 months and is able to hear, yes. I've only been signing "all done" so far (whilst saying it out loud), we haven't done the sign for "more", I'll start doing that!

It sounds like what I've been doing so far is about right, I've not done any formal baby signing classes and have learned what I know from a couple of Instagram accounts who obviously don't go into detail about how the signing acquisition works.

The videos show babies giving signs in context but no indication of the age of the kids so I wasn't sure whether my LO was signing because she was genuinely full up or just enjoying communicating as a PP said... She signs "all done" in all different contexts but mostly when she's in her highchair so I guess she has a bit of an idea that it's something you do when you're sat there, but she's not aware it necessarily means that she's full/finished.

Cheers for the tips!