TOTALLY GEEKED!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Old fashioned and dumb founded...

NAOW · Vette's SS

Well, I have several friends who do baby sign language. It does work really well.. but not that early(ETA: meaning not at 6 months, but more like 10.. so only a short while before they would be talking anyway). And its usually just a few words like more, eat, and drink. I have no doubts that it helps them communicate earlier than actual talking, but I don't think the difference is significant enough to do it. And like you, I would worry it would make them talk later since they are able to get needs met without doing it.

Coconut oil.. I am no crunchy mom, but I love the stuff :) So far the only thing on your list I have used it for is sunburn and it worked amazing. I am fair and burn easily and slathering on that stuff made me feel better a lot quicker than usual. I also used it as nipple cream after Baby A was born. I used the Lanolin too, but I found the coconut oil provided more instant relief. I also make a sugar scrub with one cup coconut oil and two cups sugar and use it in the shower, and I like it better than all the fancy scrubs I've bought in the past. Try it, it was like $10 for a jar at Sam's Club and you can use it for lots of stuff and it goes a long way, so it's a pretty cost effective solution. I also like the smell of that better than a lot of the alternative products you could buy for whatever issue you are having.

-- Edited by NAOW on Tuesday 21st of July 2015 12:40:39 AM

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I'm not saying coconut oil doesn't have it's uses. I believe it does. I just don't believe it cures EVERYTHING. Sorry, don't buy it. And I did just buy some because a recipe I want to try called for it.

As far as the sign language? Seems like a very unnecessary thing. They say you can get your six month old signing. I don't believe that. And whatever happened to just parenting? You know, like checking their diaper or something?

chef · Guru

I think they're mostly fads.

Sometimes, checking their diaper isn't necessary if your nose is working ...

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

chef wrote:
I think they're mostly fads.

Sometimes, checking their diaper isn't necessary if your nose is working ...

LOL No kidding!

Lindley · Guru

My dd taught her baby sign language . She was able to sign more, thank you and all done. She didn't teach her the others though.

DemoniaD · Senior Member

The sign language thing has been around for awhile. I remember it being pushed when my oldest was a baby, along with a lot of baby genius nonsense. That was 8 years ago.

The coconut oil, blech. I can't stand coconut, so I wouldn't know about that one.

FNW · Guru

My SIL taught DN signing. The girl is now 15, so signing has been around for awhile. I never saw the benefit of it. Let them learn to speak on their own. Now I can't get them to shut up.

I have a jar of coconut oil in the cabinet. I've never opened it. But I have read the lists of all the things it can be used for, I've just never tried it. Always wanted to try the scrub though, just too lazy to mix everything together. I have some fractionated coconut oil from Do Terra that I've mixed with their oils as a rub. I might mix it today with peppermint oil and see if it keeps the mosquitoes away like some claim.

-- Edited by FNW on Tuesday 21st of July 2015 07:27:32 AM

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

I have an entire set of signing times DVDs that I got when DD11 was a baby - so the sign language thing has been around for a while.

We use coconut oil as a hair conditioner. It works awesome. Put it in, leave it overnight preferably (with a cap), then wash out the next day. It does require the lather, rinse, REPEAT.

Domestic Engineer · Guru

Many of the new moms at church teach sign language to their babies. I can't say that the signing babies talked any earlier or later than the non-signers.

One of the problems I encountered was the child kept signing and I had no clue what he wanted. 😕

Tangerine · Guru

Bunny was able to sign by about 8 months old and we used it quite a bit until he got a solid vocabulary at about 18-24 months.
He mostly used more, all done, help, drink, cookie, please and thank you.
I found it very helpful and sometimes still use the signs to remind him to say please and thank you.

I have zero interest in trying coconut oil for any use. I detest the smell of coconut.

Ohfour · Hooker

Sweetness signs. It wasn't a fad back when my kids were little, but I taught them to sign. I'm pretty fluent and it was like teaching them another language. They both still sign.

But yes, they teach them to sign early. I don't think it's a bad thing. No different than teaching them Spanish...

Lady Gaga Snerd · Guru

Nothing wrong with teaching your kids sign. But I don't know how and didn't when my kids were little so that ship has sailed. DD has learned it at school.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Teaching babies to sign is supposed to cut down on frustration and tantrums b/c they learn to communicate their wants and needs even before they can speak.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

When I had DD17 I taught her to sign a few things (so it's been around awhile as others have said) She was a very physical child and so signing was easier for her than talking. She was walking at 7 1/2 months so it she could do things like sign but not talk. She was already a late talker, late babbler, etc so we did it as a way to communicate without her getting frustrated. She was very very shy as a toddler and wouldn't speak around other adults so it came in handy then. As she grew up and grew out of her shyness she quit doing it - by the time she went to preschool she didn't sign anymore.

She only signed a few words/phrases. More, please, thank you, food, goodbye, help me, no . And now as a high schooler she is interested in sign language again and is taking classes to learn.

I also hate the smell of coconut so I won't be using it. Oil pulling is a big thing but I can't get that stuff close enough to my mouth to even try.

chef · Guru

What's oil pulling?

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Hahahaha I wondered the same thing.

OMG chef we're turning into twins!

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

My great niece signs. I thought it was adorable. My SIL was feeding her cheesecake for the first time & she kept signing more over & over. In her case I do think it kept her from being verbal. She just turned 2 & barely talks.

chef · Guru

I looked and wish I hadn't.

It involves swishing oil around your mouth to remove bacteria. No thanks!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

I'm sure that kids can learn it. I don't deny that. I just think those people make it sound like it's the cure all for everything. I just can't get on board with that. I don't think a ten month old who doesn't feel good in the middle of the night can sign all their symptoms.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

A baby's brain can absorb all kinds of information. I taught mine a rudimentary form of sign. I also use what I knew of Spanish, French and German when talking to them.

The sign language helps develop motor skills too.

There have been studies done that conclude a person has every vocal sound needed to speak any language in the world. And that they lose that ability between 3-6 months.

And coconut oil has replaced vasolin and castor oil.

chef · Guru

DS has his own signs. He points in his mouth while handing you his snack cup when he's hungry. He indicates a dirty diaper by either slapping the front of it then slapping our bedroom door (where diaper changes take place) or just taking it off and streaking. He's really getting into sitting on his potty so we remove his diaper when we're using the bathroom in hopes he might actually go while sitting on it. He also has a distinct "I'm tired" whine. He hands you his plate when he's done but will drop it on the floor if you don't take it quick enough. If he wants more, he will point to his plate with both index fingers. He also does that same point when food is being served as if to say 'my plate goes here'.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

chef wrote:
I looked and wish I hadn't.

It involves swishing oil around your mouth to remove bacteria. No thanks!

Exactly. It's gross. People do it instead of brushing their teeth. Blech. It's the big thing now. No thanks.

FNW · Guru

I've heard of oil pulling but never tried it. Doesn't sound good to me.

I would think putting oil in your hair before bed would really create a mess on your pillows, sheets, etc. No?

I know what to do_sometimes · Frozen Sucks!

FNW wrote:
I've heard of oil pulling but never tried it. Doesn't sound good to me.

I would think putting oil in your hair before bed would really create a mess on your pillows, sheets, etc. No?

You wrap your hair in a turban or shower cap.

Ilumine · Regular

There is on going research (scientific research) at the NIH that is pointing to positive results from baby sign language, both on emotional and COGNITIVE development.

www.babysignlanguage.com/basics/research/

Ilumine · Regular

At the same time, brain and neuropathway development comes to an almost complete stop at the 4-6 year mark. Anytime your teach your baby (repetitive instruction and use) a skill, and create a neuropathway you are doing your child a service.

So giving a baby a handful of signs is nothing special, per se. It helps the child with his/her frustration levels. But if you teach your child ASL or another language and use it, you are helping him/her for life.

www.idra.org/IDRA_Newsletter/April_2001_Self_Renewing_Schools_Early_Childhood/Brain_Development_and_Mastery_of_Language_in_the_Early_Childhood_Years/

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I stuck to basics with the sign language. I love you, thank you, pretty, eat. That kind of thing.

Teaching the alphabet was easy.

Their school offered taught it in kindergarten.

They have expanded and still use it.

To me, it's no different from any dual language home.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

I have to mention - I didn't know sign language. We made up signs for things we wanted to say, DD made them up as well, and used them consistently. When she got to kindergarten, they learned ASL signs for all the songs they sang in music class. Then she took ASL classes in high school. But at home, it was strictly made up signs.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

I used regular signs.

I went through high school with a deaf friend. That's how I learned what I know.