Written by Sandra Rocco (blog entry on May 3rd, 2007), Edited by Jamie
Owner of  Miabambina
Baby & mom e-store based in Malaysia
www.miabambina.com
www.miabambina.blogspot.com

I heard about baby signing many years ago. My nephew Bjorn, then 15 months old came to Jakarta from San Francisco to attend my wedding, with his mom, my sis. I remember watching him eat and he started making gestures and amazingly my sis could understand what he wanted! He asked for MILK, and MORE CEREAL! I turned to my sis, puzzled and asked her: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE WANTS? CAN YOU READ HIS MIND? Of course my sis told me in a "superior" tone, "He uses sign language. Bjorn can communicate even before he  talks!" And I thought: ooh cool....so i don't need to guess what babies want anymore! Ever since then, I planned to sign with my own baby! I did some research on the internet.

When Indy was young, we lived in Shanghai, China. And I did not get any support or further information about baby signing. I knew some signs at that time, but only a few. I used these signs with her. She managed to use MORE, PAIN, EAT and DRINK and a few others. Indy started speakng early. She didn't really use signs after that. Or maybe it was because of me...........lack of support and information and there were no books available at that time.

During my second pregnancy I went to bookshops in Hong Kong and bought one small book on baby signing. There were many signs to use, but for a first timer like me, I thought that DVDs would be much easier to understand. But I couldn't find any DVDs.

So when I heard about a baby signing program in Malaysia, I was so excited! After a few emails with Jamie from babysignsmalaysia.com, I decided to purchase the Parent Kit. And I love it! I can't wait to start signing with Maya soon. The Parent Kit comes in a big book with 2 DVD samples. And bookmarks with all the "main" signs related to a baby's world, and it has a "Cheater flip card" which I love the most because I can attach it to my fridge! Oh and the book has many nursery rhymes that can be used to teach your baby to sign. So for 'incy weency spider', we can use the signs SPIDER, RAIN and SUN while saying it! And its easy to get Maya's attention with rhymes and songs!

I want to order some more DVDs and books too. Too bad I can't join Jamie's Workshop in Puchong. Would love to join in, Jamie!:D And now that Indy has started to watch the DVD, she can tell me that this means MILK and this means COW. I want to teach Maya sign language! :D I want to purchase the MEALtime DVD after this, because meal time is Maya's favorite time!

And yup you guessed it...there are also signs to say DIAPER, DIRTY! LOL. Wouldn't it be nice to have our baby telling us that? So I don't need to sniff her bum or guess if she is poo2 or not!:D

Well some parents say, "Why do you treat your baby like they can't speak? Would signing slow down your baby's speech development? Will baby become too lazy to talk when they use signs to communicate?" Well the answer is NO. Actually signs help babies talk sooner. For more info please browse Jamie's website (http://www.babysignsmalaysia.com/). Oh btw Jamie is the certified baby signs instructor for Malaysia.

And one last thing, I didn't get paid to write this blog.:D I'm just so excited about this, and just need to share it!

Take care! And let the little fingers do the talking! Wait until I post a new blog with Maya signing! :D

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For more information on the Baby Signs^® Program, please visit www.babysignsmalaysia.com.

What we offer: -

Parent Workshop - a one-time, 2-hour instructional event designed to introduce parents (and parents to be) who would like to communicate with the baby in their life before they can talk, to the Baby Signs^® Program of infant communication. For more information on this Workshop, click here.

Products - products that will assist you in your baby signing exprience. For more information on our range of products, click here.