Are the 'signs' the same as the sign language used by deaf people? Where can we learn these signs. My youngest is 7mths and i would love to avoid some of the frustrations we had to go through with our 3 older children.

I highly recommend baby signs. We used it with our son from 6 months, he really got into it by 9 months. It helped alleviate some frustrations on his part around the 18 month mark, when his spoken speech wasn't understandable by other grown ups but the signs could break through. Using common sense signs, or common signs, was a great avenue for communication. His speech/grammar/intelligence etc isn't exceptional now but he did chose to communcate with others from and earlier age than other young ones around us.

I highly recommend using simple signs with babies and toddlers to help them to communicate more things before they are able to verbally express them. My 19 mth old now says about 30 words but can sign another 10 or so. Some things he signs are "more" and "finished", and can ask for "bubbles" and "music" and also can ask for help. He will also use several signs together (eg. more bubbles or more music) or will use signs and words (eg signing and saying "NO!!"). My mum even taught him the sign for "milk" so he can sign it rather than poke at my boobs - but I'm not sure that I like that one as it is like the action for milking a cow!! Knowing the signs helps him when he can't say the words and really wants something.

We have made an effort to each some basic signs to both of our children. My son, who is now four has learned it so well that he still uses some of them such as 'please ' as part of his everyday spoken language. When he really wants something badly, he adds the sign to get across the message of how important it is for him to get what he is asking for. We live in a small country town, and people often jest that he will be 18yrs old an sitting at the bar asking for a beer 'please'. My 18 month old has been signing 'please' since she was 10 months and still uses it in preference to saying 'ta'. The idea of teaching babies to sign to assist them with communication appealed to us, especially with the added incentive that the typical whining would be reduced because they have an effective way to communicate basic needs and desires. The only problem now is dealing with the response when the answer to the baby requests is NO!!

My first baby was born with a cleft lip, so speech was slower then normal after the surery he had to correct it at 6 months old. He could not babble like a normal baby, so when it came to being a toddler he found it very hard to communicate his needs to me. So i designed alot of very simple signs for him to use and it made life so much eaiser for both of us. I now since had 2 more children and have been using the same signs with them, the youngest is only 6 months old so he is still getting the hang of it, but the old 2 really benefited from them.

Is there a specific book or classes or something that you go to to learn how to teach your baby to sign? I'm 29 weeks pregnant and would really like to read up on it before my baby gets here. Or is it more of a flexible whatever works for you type thing? I have heard nothing but rave reviews about baby sign language and am so interested in teaching my baby to sign!

We used the sign for 'finished' when our first son started eating solids. By the time he started childcare at 15 mths he could do the sign quite well -good enough that the staff knew when he had had enough to eat. We are now teaching baby #2. Will definitely add more signs to our teaching this time.

My sixth month old has already learnt the art of a few words, most importantly the one for 'drink'. Instead of her just whinging during our hot summer months, I have no trouble in realising she is just in need of fluids and can supply it accordingly. I would love to know where to find more signs that I can teach her!

My daughter is 17 months and signs about 80 signs (AUSLAN sign language). I learnt it many years ago and have used it in teaching children with special needs. I refer to an Australian Signing Dicitionary often to update or check on new signs I introduce to her. It is an old publication but I know you can contact the Deaf Association and they can provide a poster of early signs to teach babies or at least give you information on where to acquire one. Signing has been great as it opens up her world of thoughts to me, but one thing I am noticing is that despite the research that says otherwise, my daughter is not speaking verbally as much as others her age. She can only say about 20 words but chooses to use signs over words - so does not use these words on a daily basis.

Hot potato, cold spaghetti and mashed banana actions are used by my Wiggle mad son who is not yet talking.

We recently attended a group 'Tiny Talk' and learnt a lot of helpy information to communicate with our son. He is almost 6 mths and is recognising the signs now for milk and up. CHeck out their web site, and 70% of the sighn are the same as Auslan (adult sign language) just simplified for kids!!!

My sister and 2 year old nephew are both deaf and it is just amazing to see the convasations we can have with a two year old boy. Because he has such a large vocabluary it is hard to remember that he is only two so sometimes he is treated older therfore sometimes there is more expected of him. I am now teaching my 7 mth old daughter to sign not only to comunicate with me but also her deaf cousin and aunty. Baby sign is a fantastic way of eary comunication.

We have just started baby signing with our 7 month old son and it is working fantastic although he cant sign back yet you can see him watching you with great interest. We attended a tiny talk class (Information on their website) we also purchased the book which has all the instructions and 150 different signs. We love it even my husband loves it.