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Parenting 101
Parenting 101: Communicating With Baby
By Tracey Summers
Jul/Aug 2009

I just had a baby, and I can’t seem to figure out what she wants or needs when she tries to communicate. How can I learn more about what she tries to tell me?

Parents and children in classAs a new mom to my daughter Elsie, I’ve experienced many challenges over the last six months. From having no clue how to swaddle a baby to installing a car seat, there has been a lot to learn! One of the most important challenges I’ve gone through, which I’m sure all parents can relate to, is trying to understand what she wants or needs. All parents have had that day when they’re holding their crying baby but don’t know how to tell what is wrong with them. We’ve all seen babies and toddlers insistently point at something but have no guess as to what it is they want or see. Our babies know what they want or need, but they just can’t put it into words to tell us. The motor skills that they need to form words can’t catch up with their developing minds. This lack of communication has caused me and my daughter a lot of frustration!

So what are frustrated parents to do? There is one easy solution – baby sign language. By using simple signs, babies can communicate effectively before they can talk. If they are hungry, they can sign “milk” or “eat,” and parents can quickly meet their needs. It’s fun and simple to teach signs to your baby and easy to incorporate into your daily routine. All parents can enable their children to communicate without having to resort to tears or tantrums! There is a cute story from Baby Hearts by Acredolo and Goodwyn that exemplifies how effective baby sign language can be. A 15-month-old boy, Zack, got a new clown doll that he loved and carried around all day. After he went to bed, his mom put it on his dresser so that he could see it first thing in the morning. That night, Zack woke up crying. When his mom came into the room, Zack was pointing at the clown and signing scared. She took the clown away, and Zack happily went back to sleep. While many of us would have mistakenly put the clown into Zack’s crib, thinking that his pointing meant he wanted the clown and therefore, making the situation worse, Zack’s mom knew exactly what he was communicating and quickly calmed her crying child. Effectively meeting our child’s needs like this is something that all parents want to do.

Baby sign language gives you a window into your child’s mind, but it also has many other benefits. Drs. Acredolo and Goodwyn have conducted over two decades of research on baby sign language, including a longitudinal study funded by the National Institutes of Health. They found that using baby sign language helps babies talk sooner, increases vocabulary and increases IQ. It also strengthens the parent-child bond because when babies can communicate effectively, they have more positive interactions with their parents and caregivers. When babies can tell you what they’re thinking, it reveals just how smart our babies are.

We’ve been signing with Elsie for the past few months, and I can’t wait for the day to come soon when she signs back. When she can share her world with me, and what she’s thinking and feeling, I know it will be one of the most rewarding experiences as a new mom. My advice to other new moms is to learn all that you can about baby sign language so that you, too, can “talk” with your baby before they can!

Pat NielsenFull Bloom is a Pregnancy and Early Parenting Center and is the fulfillment of a dream for its founder, Pat Nielsen. Both as a young mother and in her professional life, Pat has been keenly aware of the lack of a community of support surrounding pregnancy, birth, adoption and parenting. She believes that a family’s experiences during this exciting and vulnerable time can set the stage for the rest of their lives – as parents and as human beings. Her passion and commitment to supporting “newborn” families comes from her own experiences as a mother of two wonderful (now adult) children and from working with expectant and new parents for over 25 years. High quality, evidence-based education, a holistic view of pregnancy, birth and parenting and a warm, open and loving style characterize this endeavor. Pat is a registered nurse, birth and postpartum doula, lactation counselor, birth photographer and certified childbirth educator. She loves mommies, daddies and babies! Her Baby Boutique offers a variety of items including many made by local moms.

Parenting classSign, Say & Play Classes
The Sign, Say & Play curriculum is a six-week series of classes developed especially for parents and children, ages 6 months-2 years. Stimulating activities, songs, play and parent information will help children and parents learn and practice signs in a fun environment!

July 28-September 1, 2009
Classes held Tuesdays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. at Full Bloom, 515 Gaines School Road. Contact Tracey Summers, www.babysignsprogram.com/ withtraceysummers for prices and registeration.

Come by to your “best friend’s house!” Classes in Breastfeeding, Preparing for Birth, Prenatal Yoga, Mom & Baby Yoga, Little Kids Yoga, New Mom’s Group, Saturday New Parent’s Group and more. Learn more at www.fullbloomparent.com.

Tracey Summers is an independent certified instructor with Baby Signs. To learn more, please visit www.babysignsprogram.com/withtraceysummers.


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