Baby Sign Language?

Question

I have read about the positives of baby sign language, but does it discourage the baby from learning to speak? If the baby can get what he/she wants by signing, does he/she still try to talk as quickly as non-signing babies?

Answer 1

We're trying to teach our daughter sign language, she's a little young but you need to start young (6 months) and they say they should sign back around 10 months. The book we have says, "Signing wont inhibit your baby's language develpoment any more than crawling will inhibit their ability to walk. As a matter of fact, research has shown that babies generally talk sooner and build vocabulary quicker than their non-signing peers."
Also they might come to a point where they speak the words they know and sign the ones they don't.
Trust me it's easier to say it than sign it. We're exhausted trying to keep up with the signs.
I've added a very good sign-language searching tool website down below. Good luck!! And stick to it!!!

Answer 2

There's a passage in the book "Baby Signs" about this; unfortunately, I can't find my copy to quote it exactly, but maybe your library will have one. What I remember from it is that whether babies are using sign language or not, at a certain age they're pretty well wired up to talk and the use of sign language kind of fades out. So according to the authors' research, learning to sign isn't an impediment to learning to talk.

Different babies pick up on sign language to different degrees, too. I had this grandiose idea that my son would become so fluent in sign language that we'd be able to have complete conversations about how his day was going by the time he was one. Snort! He did learn some signs, but the "conversations" were mostly his pointing up at things like fans and lightbulbs and making the signs for fan and light. "Yes," I'd reply, "that is a very nice fan." It did help pass the time waiting in line at CostCo, though.

Now that he's almost two, the signs are all but gone, replaced by his universal word for everything: "NO."

Answer 3

I'm no expert, but it seems that it would slow down his ability to acquire language. I say just let the baby learn to speak and forget sign language unless he's deaf. Babies have been developing without learning sign language since the beginning of time. Don't buy into this New Age mumbo-jumbo.

Answer 4

Research has shown that babies who use sign language go on to have very good verbal language skills and also learn other languages more easily. Take a look at http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com - there is lots of information about sign language there and some links to good resources.

Answer 5

My cousin learned sign language when she was an infant shes about 2 or 3 now. IT was cool becasue before she could even speak she could still communicate. I don't think it bothered her speaking skills at all.It helps with motor skills and other skils as well. THere are baby enstein dvs that teach sign language you can probably find them at walmart. I think its good for them. & helps but its completely up to you because I'm sure every baby is different.

Answer 6

i have a 2 year old boy that is having trouble speaking my wife thinks it is a problem and i don't. i started talking when i was 3. we are teaching him sign language also. there is videos and a TV show called signing time. weather it is for your baby or for yourself i think it is a good idea. my son is trying to talk. when he wants milk he will give the sign of more and milk. plus he will say mo mo. so sit down and learn it with them. my wife and i are. and i still see him trying to talk. we also have a 10 month old that they have their own language with each other and the 10 month old is starting to pick it up also. so Best of luck.

Answer 7

Its wonderful, You say the word like apple at the same time you sign. My grandson has been doing this since he was 6 months old, which leads to a less frustrated child. Brilliant. He's now
1 and ahalf, now he signs the word and SAYS IT TO. We have all learned how to sign. try it....buy a book...or take a corse
at school it WORKS

Answer 8

My grandchildren were taught to sign and it was great. But good question about when they talk. Based on a small sample (2) I would guess that learning to talk was delayed by a couple of months at most and that they seem to speak as well or better than other kids their ages.

Answer 9

In my experience, using baby sign language improves their vocabulary and helps them to pick up verbal language quicker. Always SAY the word when you sign the word and soon the child will be able to do both.

Answer 10

Hmm, haven't thougt about that really. My Brother's two and he's quite fluently speaking. He understands quite a lot of sign language but doesn't really sign, unless you ask him to, so, i wouldn't say that it has dicouraged him. If you want to learn some simple "Baby" sign language, then go to http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/somethingspecial/signs
It has good demonstrations of how to sign the words.

Hope this helps!

xxx