Have you ever tried to soothe your crying baby and felt frustrated that you couldn’t understand what she really wanted? Well you’re not alone. In fact, many parents feel the same way. It’s difficult at times to know what your baby really wants, and it’s not only frustrating to you, but it’s frustrating for your baby as well when she can’t communicate what she wants or needs.
Baby sign language is fast catching on as a way for parents and their babies to communicate. Sign language allows babies to tell you if they’re hungry, thirsty or have a wet diaper, but you may well be asking – Can your baby really talk to you?
Recent studies have shown that baby sign language works extremely well. It was created by Joseph Garcia through observing how a baby communicated with his deaf parents. The 10-month old was able to communicate fairly well, even at that young age, with his parents. After observing how this worked, Garcia began to promote baby sign language for parents who had normal hearing.
Most babies are able to “read” sign language fairly quickly. As a matter of fact they find it easier to sign than to talk. This may be due to the fact that they are able to co-ordinate their hand movements at an earlier age than those of their mouth and tongue. You can actually start teaching babies sign language when they are about six months old, although some are starting even younger. Parents are constantly amazed how quickly their babies can learn this skill.
Teaching baby sign language takes away a lot of the frustration for babies. Instead of a lengthy crying session, it gives them the freedom to communicate what they need which is a huge help to both parties.
A few parents have voiced concerns that teaching baby sign language may slow down their baby’s ability to talk. This has been completely disproved by research. On the contrary, those babies who learned to sign started talking at an earlier age. Some are now even showing a higher IQ when compared to non signing children.
It’s easy to teach sign language to your baby. There are many classes springing up which will help you teach your baby to sign, or you can learn to do this yourself. There are many resources available to parents who want to teach themselves and their baby at home. All you need are some basic tools – a sign language chart and an instruction manual. Flash cards with pictures can make the job easier.
If you are tired and frustrated at the lack of communication between you and your baby, then baby sign language may be a great choice for you both.
Are you looking for some down to earth information on pregnancy and baby care that’s refreshed every day? Have a look at Bottle Feeding Baby We have got heaps of articles to assist you to take care of your precious infant. Wendy Owen (HH Dip) is a holistic health therapist and sleep researcher with an extensive expertise on organic and homeopathic therapies.
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