Will not use any new signs

Fortune1211 · #1 (**permalink**) 04-25-2005, 07:17 AM

Hi all this is my first time posting here but I lurk! My ds is 14 1/2 mos old and only has 3 words that he uses regulary dada,mama,and kee kee(kitty) He uses the sign for milk and made up his own sign for sleep at 10 months that we use and that's it. He caught onto milk real fast after we starting using it when he started whole milk at a year. But he will not use any other signs. We use eat and more regularly and maybe a half dozen times he's done more but that's it. How can I get him to start doing more signs. He obviously has no interest in talking more right now so I would like him to use the signs. We have the signing times videos the first three and watch them but sometimes he just goes about playing instead of watching them. Any suggestions would be great

Thanks!!

ellie_may12 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-26-2005, 06:36 PM

14 months is not very old...be patient and consistant! Just like speaking, babies develop at their own rate. Some earlier some later.

Also babies prefer ASL to made up signs, so be sure to use REAL ASL! http://www.washington.edu/newsroom/n...e/k060402.html has more info on this research.

Is everyone who cares for your son signing regularly?

whittyanne · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2005, 09:43 AM

Hey Shannon, welcome to this board! I wouldn't sweat it yet - it took Nate several months to get it. And I want to say it was just about two months ago (at 15 months) that he really started using signs regularly.

We have the Signing Times DVDs too and it wasn't really those that taught him (although they help reinforce and taught ME) but really it was us showing them to him. Do you and DH use the signs yourselves consistently? That's when Nate started to really pick it up...

HTH!

Fortune1211 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 10:03 AM

Hey Whitney!! Nate is getting so big and he's sooo handsome!! We all use the signs consistently but he just will not do any others than his sleep sign and milk. We also have the signing times videos and he likes them but will not watch them like he watches elmo

I will just keep at it, like I said he's not really talking so I want to be able to communicate with him. Thanks again ladies!!

ellie_may12 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-08-2005, 03:30 PM

Hey Shannon,

Just wanted to encourage you! Consistancy is key!!! I see this all the time in the Sign2Me presenter's forum. Many of our presenters babies don't sign as soon as they feel that they should and the mom's get frustrated. Every baby is different! They all talk and walk at different times too. Some mom's get competitive and brag about how early they reach these milestones. Good luck! He'll do it!

IndyTarHeel · #6 (**permalink**) 05-09-2005, 05:49 PM

I would keep at it. Chances are he understands more of them than he lets on. If he understands them, at least one channel of communication is open and working. Hang in there!