Baby Signs for Bedtime

by Linda Acredolo, Susan Goodwyn, Penny Gentieu (Illustrator)

Babies have a lot to say, even before they can actually speak familiar bedtime words like "sleepy" and "quiet." Baby Signs are simple gestures that allow babies and toddlers to communicate what they see, what they need, and even how they feel. Research has shown that Baby Signs decrease frustration and tantrums and help your baby talk sooner. When to When your child starts to wave bye-bye. How to do Show your baby the sign and point to the picture. Always say the word as you make the sign. Make up your own signs -- your baby probably will too!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction

24 pages, Board Book

First published February 1, 2003

Reviews

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having used these signs with my daughter I then learned some of the real adult signs. I know they made the baby signs easier for babies, but Nakyla was always so verbal she learned to say the word before she learned the sign and now I wish we had only done the grown up signs because I think the would be more useful in the long run.

[Julia Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good for when babies first start to delight in staring at faces, and great as they get older and start to communicate with noises and gestures. (The back of the book recommends starting with sign language once your kiddo starts to wave bye-bye.) Bonus: it's full of toddlers who are visibly diverse. The only thing that's a tiny bit odd is that some of the animals are only depicted as stuffed/toy animals instead of their real-life shapes. But maybe that's because many kids are just exposed to the toy versions until they're older.

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the left side is a picture of a stuffed animal (and in half there is also a picture of the real animal); on the right side there is a picture of a baby making the sign. The idea is to point to the picture, say the word, and make the sign. I think it is interesting that using photos of stuffed animals implies that the babies are more familiar with the stuffed versions than the real animals. I imagine that historically people lived in rural settings more so children were exposed to the real animals at a younger age. You can find more about the Baby Signs program here.

[Marmee Zen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Making up signs is like using baby talk "goo goo gaga" and such. It may have an occasional use but I don't want to waste our time on "learning it" or reading a whole book of it. Adapting ASL signs for baby fingers is common and acceptable language development and would have been a great complement to the cute pictures.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blakely LOVES these books! I checked them out from the library along with some other books and whenever I ask her to pick out a book to read she grabs one of the baby sign books. So now I am going to buy all four for her

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blakely LOVES these books! I checked them out from the library along with some other books and whenever I ask her to pick out a book to read she grabs one of the baby sign books. So now I am going to buy all four for her.

The Frog sign is my favorite to watch Blakely do!

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried to point out the happy babies at sleep time to E. She isn't buying it. But, during the day she likes to look at these happy faces, even if she isn't doing any of the signs. From reading reviews I see these aren't the real ASL signs anyway.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

It does not use ASL signs. Ugh.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book because it's not true ASL that Deaf adults sign with. I know that babies and toddlers use variants, but I don't believe it's ok to sign the wrong sign to them.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book because it's not true ASL that Deaf adults sign with. I know that babies and toddlers use variants, but I don't believe it's ok to sign the wrong sign to them.

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, appropriate signs and pictures to demonstrate them. Wish there were a few more signs included.

[Ubalstecha]

Nice clear pictures of young children doing the signs. Problem is that most of the signs in here are concepts, not concrete objects. So not really practicle for babies.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learn the baby signs for butterfly, frog, and many more animals.