Warning: This is a breastfeeding video. Therefore you might see something that you don’t necessarily want to see. So if you are uncomfortable talking about breastfeeding or watching women breastfeed, you should probably stop reading right about now…
One of the perks about having a bi-lingual home is that our little guy has been exposed to ASL since day one. Even though my bigger kids and I do not sign all the time, we are trying to always sign in front of the baby. That is why it is exciting that he is already showing both expressive and receptive language in ASL.
When he was about 5 months old, he clearly displayed excitment over the sign for “MILK.” When the sign is produced near him, he may smile or cry (depending on his hunger level), arch his back or try to get into a nursing position. He will also would kick his legs in an excited manner. He clearly knows there is a relationship between the sign and what is going to happen.
MILK has been a consistent sign but unfortunately he only produces it when he is breastfeeding. He just signs it, over and over while he is eating. I caught this cute little video of him. It’s only about 26 seconds and it does show a part of my breast, so no one panic.
You can see in the video that he is clearly talking to me. He is making eye-contact and has stopped nursing to communicate. It is very intentional and in my biased Mommy opinion, outrageously adorable.
So here is our first sign…
“Outrageously adorable!” Perfect way to put it! Yes, I can see his intention in making the “milk” sign! Remembering nursing my babies, they would often make this sign but I never thought it was intentional and it perhaps was! We signed to our two hearing girls and Deaf boy, and only believed when they made babbling-type signs a little older than this, e.g. “bottle” at about age 7 months.
I can imagine your pride! I remember when my daughter signed MILK for the first time, I was so elated! What an amazing connection. Kudos to you for your hard work and here’s to many many more milky signs. 🙂
Bianca @ The Pierogie Mama recently posted…Natural Handmade Soaps from Stargazer Soaps
oh my word this is adorable!
We sign with our babies too.
Not because we have to but it does make it so nice that they can communicate things to us long before they can form verbal words.
It’s amazing what they can learn and understand at such young ages.
I think people simply don’t get babies enough credit.
Keep going momma! I know you’ll have a long road ahead of you at times but I firmly believe God placed your son in your home because your family is best suited to meet his learning needs.
Jessica A recently posted…31 Days to a Cleaner Home-Day 18: Cleaning Binge
ps. I love the new colors and design. 🙂
Jessica A recently posted…31 Days to a Cleaner Home-Day 18: Cleaning Binge
Oh my gosh, I’m so glad you decided to share that! It was absolutely amazing (he looks so proud – “look at me! I’m communicating with you!”) and it also made me miss breastfeeding 🙂
Carolyn recently posted…Norwex Fluff And Tumble Dryer Balls Review And Experiment
BEST video I have seen all week! What a sweet sweet boy. and OMG I saw a breast! Can’t imagine what those look like…..I mean I only see a pair every morning in the mirror! 🙂
I love you video. Reminds me of my days of breastfeeding. (Will I ever stop missing it?)
SMOOCH that baby!!
Heidi Kinnamon recently posted…Is dreezing Pesto Basil worth it?
That is so freaking cute! Oh my gosh. I think I need to start teaching my little guy to sign. Not that he doesn’t make his needs well known as is… lol Our little guys are the same age. 🙂
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Can I just say that this is AMAZING?! I honestly used to mock parents who used baby sign language (for hearing babies): I thought, well gee, why not just teach the kid to TALK… and so with my son I totally didn’t get into baby signing at all and totally thought it was silly. Now that he is 16 months old and in our bilingual home (French/English) I can see that it is going to take him longer to speak, and he is often clearly frustrated with NOT being able to quite communicate what he ways… let me tell you that I am jumping on the signing train late, and trying to at least teach him the sign for milk because I want him to be able to sign it rather than pull at my shirt frantically! He does a LOT of pointing, and we do a ton of guessing about what he wants. This has been a huge “aha” moment for me! I fully and completely appreciate the utility of baby signing for hearing babies now, and you can bet I’ll be starting it with my next squish. Thank you for sharing this!
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Aww, this is so sweet. It is amazing how young they can learn sign language! Pinned it.
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