when did they start signing?

I've been signing to my boys since they were five months or so, and I'm still not seeing any signs of response. When did you first get a sign? I think they understand a few signs, or maybe I'm just imagining it. Do I need to be more consistent? I do the 'All Gone' one a lot, as well as 'bath' and a few others.

 

I started signing with my boys at just over 1 year old; probably at the same age your boys are now. I would say that they started repeating the signs within a month or so of starting. It really corresponded with gaining verbal words; my guys didn't do signs *before* they could say words.

Do your boys have any words yet? If they do and they consistently understand the signs when you do them, then I would guess that they'll sign any time now. It helps to be really consistent about using the signs every time you say something. The great thing about signing in my opinion is that it's very hard to distinguish "real" words from babbling. When they make a sound, even if it's not distinct, then the sign along with it, you know they're really "talking" to you!

BTW, the first sign for both of my boys was "car". Then "dog". Go figure, they're boys! :lol:

 

it took us a long time too! we did some of the dvds before a year and I did words like: eat, milk, water, all done, fish, dog, cat etc. we never have gotten them to tell us all done... and still they don't really tell us out of the blue eat, water or milk... though it would be much easier if they did!! they mainly repeat signs, and now are starting to talk, but still do some signs.

keep at it, do you think they understand the signs? maybe help their little hands make the signs?

 

I sign with mine but we watch the baby signs dvd together so we learn together. Mine started around 15 months. Their first words were "more" and "thank you" and "baby". GL!

 

My boys started signing right around a year and we strated at around 10 months. I recommend being consistent with 1-3 signs (all done, eat, more, bye-bye, milk are all good ones). Once they begin to understand that they can tell you something with a hand sign - they will really start picking up the pace. My boys are 16 mo and know 10 or more signs (book, yes, no, eat, milk, nurse, all done, more, cat, fish, dog, etc.). Their first signs were cat and dog, then all done. They are also using some words now - to the trained ear.

Who wanted the baby signs DVD? I forgot your name and can no longer find the email you set me. Sorry!
Happy signing!
Sheri

 

i started playing the signing times video for them early, around 6 - 7 months. we would watch it together. it was like baby crack there for a while for us. it calmed them down to see Rachel and they gave big giggles and grins. i made a very big deal out of watching it. they signed early - milk and dog were first at around 10 months. definately associate the sign with the real thing, not just on the video. i think that helps of course. not long after they did 'more' and they have just not really gotten it down better and know what it gets them when they sign it. DS had done car before, but really doesn't know what it means. they do a few other signs now too. i do notice though that when we stop watching the video they lose it somewhat. for me it i have to be really thinking about it to reinforce and do the signs when i am talking to them so that it keeps it in current.... GL to you and keep working at it!