I THINK we've started.

rgh3angel · #1 (**permalink**) 07-08-2005, 10:29 AM

She's 2 months old and so far I'm showing her Milk, Mommy, and I love you.
Is 3-5 signs too many to start with? Should I be doing like one a week?
How often do you do them and is it possible for an 11 week old baby to mimic you when you make the sign for milk!!?? I swear she starts pumping her fist when I pump mine but it could be a coinkydink.

ellie_may12 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-11-2005, 11:11 AM

I have heard of a 4 month old signing....so maybe....keep it up!!!

snflwradria · #3 (**permalink**) 07-18-2005, 10:13 AM

I started signing to leah early too...I did "mommy loves you" every time I left for work. I also did milk. She signs milk to me now. Good luck!! I know some girls on my private board say that thier babies get super excited to see the milk sign because they know what it means...good luck!

ASL Signing Mom · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 10:15 PM

3-5 signs is fine to start with. Just remember to use them consistently - that is the key. As long as you keep showing the signs in the correct context, you will see the results. As for being able to sign at 11 weeks, who knows? Scientists are finding out more and more that babies are much more capable than we give them credit for. Our babies are proof of that - babies telling us at 6 months that they'd like to nurse (my daughter started at 6, my son at 10 - we started at 8 months with him and at birth with her), using ASL, is not something people are used to seeing or hearing about in hearing children!! Just keep signing consistently those signs you have chosen!! Good luck!!

ASL Signing Mom · #5 (**permalink**) 08-09-2005, 10:25 PM

Oh, I wanted to mention, too, that some signs are easier than others to start with (often people start with MILK, MORE, EAT). If you're doing MILK, you want to sign MILK every time you nurse (or use a bottle). If you're finding it's hard to remember to sign all the signs you are using. Just do one until you are doing it consistently. Then add another until you are doing it consistently. If you nurse the baby 8 times a day, but only sign MILK at 3 of the feedings, it won't be easy for her to understand that the sign and word you are using are directly linked to getting yummy milk. If you sign MILK at all 8 of those feedings, she will get the idea much more quickly. Babies do develop receptive skills long before they can actually sign back. As mentioned above, many babies will give a huge smile, or stop fussing, or get very excited, when you sign MILK to them because they understand what it means even though they do not yet have the coordination to sign back.