• What is your experience with baby sign language?
• Want to enroll my 4-month-old in sign class
• Would like to begin signing with my 10-month-old
• More Advice about Sign Language for Babies
• ASL vs. baby sign
• More Reviews of Sign Language Lessons kids & adults

What is your experience with baby sign language?

I have heard so many good things about teaching your baby sign language and am wondering if anyone could suggest a good book to start out with. Also, wondering about other peoples experiences with baby sign language. Thanks. rebecca

But, I think the most amazing thing was that he could tell me just how much of the world around him he was taking in. He could tell me that he heard dogs in the distance, could see the moon in the sky, and feel the wind blowing. He could tell me that my eyes looked like blueberries and that the sink sounded like a lion when it drained. Little did I know: he was a poet!

I know you asked for a book recommendation, but personally, I found it really difficult to interpret and translate the static images that books are limited to. It was like trying to learn a spoken language from a book. I'd have to say that ''Signing Time'' dvds (in particular the ''Baby Signing Time'' series) were great. They are usually available at the public library as well as online. And the ASL Browser has videos and is really useful when looking up individual signs that are relevant to your child's world.

Also, It's my option that you should use as many signs as you can remember with your child, instead of sticking to 2 or 3, as I hear people often recommending. I mean: you wouldn't limit your spoken words to your child to 2 or 3 until they learned them, would you? Wishing you signing success

Want to enroll my 4-month-old in sign class

I would like to enroll my 4 month old in a baby sign language class-any recommendations would be great. Also, any input on how old she needs to be to start the class. Miki

Upcoming classes:

Where: Congregation Netivot Shalom – Preschool classroom 1316 University Avenue, 2 blocks west of Sacramento When: Wednesdays for 8 weeks June 6th – August 1st(no class on July 4th)

10:15 – 11:00 Intermediate Play Class* 11:15 – 12:00noon Beginner Play Class

Who: Caregivers and children ages 6 months – 3 years Cost: $150 which includes The Beginner Handbook, The Treasure Chest children’s video, and an ASL Video Glossary DVD for the Beginner Class and The Intermediate Handbook, a Flashcard Set, and The Treasure Chest 2 children’s video for the intermediate class.

*The Signing Smart Intermediate Play Class Series is for families who have completed at least one session of the Beginner Series and are looking to expand and extend the benefits of Signing Smart. Kara

Consider instead taking an introduction to ASL class for yourself, starting now. Then supplement the class with some infant vocabulary (e.g. milk, carrot, bread, toilet, hungry, hurt, 'more', and the universally recognized sign for o-shaped cereal). Only a very few ASL signs need adjustment for babies (''rice'' and ''bus'' come to mind).

Baby Sign is totally worth it... this from a parent who used it. Bryce

Would like to begin signing with my 10-month-old

Does anyone have any experience using baby sign language? I have a 10 month old and would like to begin signing with her. Are there classes for this, or a good resource book someone can recommend? Jane

But around 13 months we tried again, using Garcia's signs, and our son picked a handful up within days.

Now, at 15 mo., we all use them often and they're a wonderful help. Our son has started to talk but if we don't understand what he's saying, he'll sign.

The DVD is essential if you have no experience with signs.

Garcia uses standard ASL signs, I believe, while other books use their own versions. Don't think this matters much, though. At first I was hung up on using these ''proper'' signs but as it turns out, our son adjusted some of them anyway. anon

Our daughter was able to learn a few key signs. A lot of it depends on how much you repeat the sign to them, and we weren't that diligent. The daughter of some friends knew a dozen or so signs fairly early. Also, I've seen classes, books and DVDs from other souces, too, so this isn't your only resource.

I highly recommend learning a few signs (like ''more''). Our daughter started using the ''more'' sign around 11 months when she was hungry, which really helped. It allows your child to communicate without resorting to crying or frustration for both of you.

More Advice about Sign Language for Babies

I'm looking for a baby signing class or teacher. Any suggestions? Thanks, Tina

Beginner Sign Classes
Fridays June 24th- Aug 26th
Trinity Lutheran Church- Fellowship Hall
333 Woodland Ave, San Rafael
10-10:45 am
Cost: $140 (Materials cost: $30 to be purchased on site)
Questions: 314-1363 (tiffany Smith)

Can anyone recommend a sign language instructor that they've used so that we can learn to communicate better with our 14 month old son? We've purchased some videos but find that much of what we want to say in sign language is not included in the videos. Saw two names mentioned in the archives but they seemed to be a little out of date. Looking for someone in the Albany area. Thanks!! Julie

As for the argument that ASL signs are too ''hard'' for small children, well -- that's like saying our adult pronunciation of words is too hard and we should always speak to our children in baby talk -- baba instead of bottle and wawa instead of water. Children do modify, on their own, some of the ASL signs so that they can do them, the same way children modify spoken words so that they can speak them. They are still eminently understandable and as they get older the signing becomes more correct.

AND there are many many signs that babies get right away without modifying at all, except to the extent that everyone has their own signing ''voice''

In fact, one of the wonderful things about the signing times videos is that they show many many children doing the same sign, so you can see that there is a range of how to do the sign. From an idiosyncratic baby version, to an enthusiastic version, to a lazy version, etc. to the ''proper'' version given by the instructor/moderator of the video.

anyway, that's my two cents. My family started watching the videos when my daughter was 7 or 8 months and by 9 months we were signing with each other. In fact, even though she now talks, she still signs for many things along with speaking. AND I LOVE it that I have learned a second language in the process. --never understood the point of ''baby signs''

Does anyone know of a class in the Berkeley area on using sign language to communicate with your pre-verbal baby? I read a book about it, but found it hard to learn the signs from a book, and would like to get the chance to practice them. I called Habitot--their baby signing instructor left and they won't be having any more classes. El Cerrito Community Center isn't having any, either. Anonymous

Last summer my playgroup took a sign language class through El Cerrito Community Center. It was called signing with your baby. I can't remember the instructers name but I know he also teaches a music class in the berkeley area and has a son named Miguel. Maybe someone else will know how to get in touch with him. It was a great class. He suggested a book called signing with your baby. It come as a book or a book and video. Barnes and nobles sells it. I also wanted to teach my daughter another language by doing ASL but she converted a lot of her signs to what they have in the baby sign book. So now I figure as long as her and I can communicate I don't care where the signs came from. We have also made up a few of our own signs. melinda

        1) make sure that signs are an option that you can use if you and
        your child enjoy using them, not a necessity or an obligation
        2) don't feel as if you need to teach (or use) a huge vocabulary
        of signs -- if you have the energy to work with just a few, that's
        fine.
        3) don't be surprised or worried if it takes your child a while to
        pick up the signs you have decided to try, especially if you start
        early (9 or 10 months, as opposed to 11 or 12 months, when their
        comprehension and their motor skills are more developed).  Even
        Deaf kids learning ASL tend to think their parents are nuts at
        first!  You'll have the best luck if you start with gestures that
        are already familiar to your child, such as the spider gesture
        from the eensy-weensy spider song -- it may be easier for your
        child to get the point than if you start with ASL signs.
        4) again, don't expect to make a super-baby!  Do this for fun and
        possible enhanced communication NOT for linguistic genius.