Monica Beyer - Baby Talk: A Guide to Using Basic Sign Language to Communicate with Your Baby

Monica Beyer

foreword by Dr. Alan Greene

a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

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ISBN 1-58542-517-6

Creative Director: PETER BRIDGEWATER

Publisher: JASON HOOK

Editorial Director: CAROLINE EARLE

Art Director: SARAH HOWERD

Senior Project Editor: HAZEL SONGHURST

Designer: JANE LANAWAY

Illustrator: MARK JAMIESON

Publishers Note

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

Authors Note

In this book, I alternate between baby boys and baby girls and speak of mothers and fathers as primary caregivers. However, feel free to mentally adjust for your personal family situation. Also keep in mind that babies vary in their speed and ability to learn as much as they do physically, and if you ever have any developmental questions or concerns, please consult your childs physician.

By Alan Greene, M.D., FAAP

I ve been a fan of signing with babies for years. As a pediatrician, when I settled in to read Babytalk I had questions in mind. Are the books ideas about teaching basic sign language to babies developmentally and age appropriate? Are the instructions easy to follow? Would I recommend this book to parents and caregivers in my own practice? The answer is yes!

Whats more, I found myself thinking This looks fun. As parents, you want to do all the right things. We become so busy, however, that sometimes having fun gets lost in our long lists of must-dos. The beauty of Babytalk is that it rolls cognitively and physically stimulating play, communication, and bonding into the same activity. Importantly, its an activity that you and your child can take at your own pace. As author Monica Beyer makes clear, teaching your baby sign language is not about power-parenting, its another loving way to interact.

Your baby uses body language to communicate with you from day one. One of the most fulfilling firsts is that ah-ha moment you recognize what your baby is trying to tell you. Yes! you think with love and relief. Were communicating.

Teaching your baby sign language is a way to extend and refine his or her own nonverbal talk. Your baby will discover many things he or she wants to express before being able to verbalize them fully. With consistency and patience, through sign language you can help your baby bridge the communication gap that occurs while speech develops. On your communication journey, theres no way to avoid misunderstandings and upsets altogether. However, if by learning this beautiful, fluid language you achieve a higher level of communication and allay even a small amount of parent-child frustrationand you have fun togetherwhat a great idea!

In Babytalk Monica Beyer takes this great idea and makes it easy to understand. She explains the process in a clear, warm way, with just enough repetition of the key points to reassure parents: Yes, my baby and I are doing this right. She takes you from first steps that focus on early Need-Based Signs (milk, eat, more) and High-Impact Signs (mother, father, dog) to more advanced signing for toddlers onward. She quotes enough experts to show that the book is based on a solid foundation without letting technical talk distract from the process or the fun.

Throughout the book youll find helpful stories from signing parents including the author and her daughter, Lauren. These real-life stories will amaze and inspire you, and collectively they offer a balanced benchmark for realistic expectations.

Learning sign language is a journey your whole family can make. You and your baby learn your first handful of signs. The family is curious. You explain. Soon, siblings, grandpa, and other important caregivers join in: Lets eat, Cookies, Dad, Grandma, I love you. No one is ever too old for a little Babytalk.

So, settle in and enjoy the processits good for you.

ALAN GREENE, M.D., FAAP

Author From First Kicks to First Steps and DrGreene.com.

Division of General Pediatrics, Lucile Packard

Childrens Hospital at Stanford University.

S igning with babiesis it the new fad? Something only power moms who want superbabies do? A surefire way to form a speech delay? You may already know that the answer to all of the above questions is a resounding NO!

People have been signing with their babies for years. The most common reason for doing so is an intense desire on the part of a parent or caregiver to find out exactly what is going on in a babys mindwhat does she need? What does she want? What does she observe? What does she think about and remember?

Infants develop the fine muscles in their hands before they develop those required for speech, so theyre equipped to communicate with you before they can speak. Most babies will invent their own signs to get their meaning across. A baby may learn to wave bye-bye, for example, or point to her nose when it needs a wipe. These symbolic gestures are one form of communication used by preverbal infants. In addition to pointing and grunting, a baby has the potential use of her hands and body to help her communicate.