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Summary: I can talk to my baby before my baby could talk!
Review: I originally had this book with my now 5-year-old. By the time he talked, he was using over 40 practical signs (those he used regularly). He was talking in sentences by age 2. I now have a 14-month-old son, who also uses many signs, and makes up his own! It is so wonderful to be able to communicate with my baby. He tells me what he sees, hears, wants, and how he feels. At 14 months old!!
Rating: 
Summary: This book is not very good
Review: Baby Signs plays on the ambitions of parents but is mostly useless. The authors way over sell the idea that babies communicate with sign language. While this is true, in my opinion, babies use far, far fewer signs than the authors say they do. Also, the authors, like all authors of baby books, point out that all babies are different and that your baby may not be signing very much. The authors babies on the other hand are using, we are supposed to believe, several hundred different baby signs. The whole book could be summed up in about one sentence. Here goes; Babies sometimes use sign language before they can talk so watch for it and use signs to communicate with your baby and it will be rewarding.
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Summary: Great info but lots of fluff too
Review: The premise of this book is great: teach your child sign langauge so he/she can communicate before he can talk. The book has many photos of simplified signs that are easy to learn. However, it has alot more writing than signs. I would prefer more sings and pictures and less writing. We've used several signs for things that we do every day such as eat and bath but our boys still don't seem to catch on. Perhaps it will mean more with they are a bit older (they are 16 month old twins) but by that time they should be able to say some words anyway. So, the book is a good idea, but I'd buy it used or borrow it from the library instead of buying it yourself. You also have to be really dedicated to use the signs because kids need constant repetition in order to remember something. It is just not natural to sign things repeatedly! It is something you have to constantly be thinking about. Perhaps others have better results than we did.
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Summary: Take a Second Look - ASL
Review: While it is true that the first edition of Baby Signs relied heavily on creating your own signs for use with your hearing (but pre-verbal) infant, this new revised edition now contains and advocates many American Sign Language (ASL) signs. In my family, we've always preferred to use "real" sign language but we still referred to the original version of Baby Signs because of the wealth of information based on years of baby signing research. It's a complete book full of the "whys" of signing with your child as well as a dictionary at the end - which now includes more ASL signs than ever before.One of the things the authors of Baby Signs have always encouraged is using what works best for you and your baby. If your child simply can't use the more formal ASL version, it's perfectly ok to create a babyfied version of it - after all, what is the purpose of signing with babies? Is it to teach the entire lexicon of American Sign Language or is to encourage communication prior to the ability for verbal speech? Like I said above, we've always used mostly ASL but I didn't have a problem with simplifying some ASL signs ... all which is encouraged in this version. I feel that this new revised edition belongs on every baby signer's bookshelf.
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Summary: Not as good as Garcia
Review: This book is heavy on inspiration and light on details. I agree with the reviewer who preferred Garcia's _Sign with your Baby_ as being more complete and practical.
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Summary: babies signing
Review: This was a gift, however, since I sign for the deaf and know the "real" signs, it bothered me. However, it seemed very good for ppl who know nothing about signing and I believe the ppl I gave it to will enjoy.
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Summary: Eases "spirited" child's frustration!
Review: My Robbie is a "spirited" baby, as Tracy Hogg ("The Baby Whisperer") aptly defines the term. He gets upset very quickly when I cannot quickly assess his needs/wants and is into everything and very creative. I bought the book when now one-year old Robbie was only 4 months old. I started using signs too early (for me at least) and then slacked off (busy with other issues). But started again at 11 months and WOW...one morning he was fussy and I couldn't figure out what was wrong...he pointed to his mouth! HUNGRY? I can fix that! It has made both of us happier and resulted in far fewer meltdowns due to an inability to communicate. I have made up signs and he even made up one to tell me he's ready to get down from his highchair. And, what's more, he tries to say the word as he's making the sign (and the sound is very close to at least the fist syllable of the word), so I know his vocabulary is growing while he's also able to help me interpret his baby jargon. He has even used signs to tell me that he's processing information. One morning right after breakfast, he picked up a banana, said "nana", and then pointed to his mouth. When I asked if wanted to eat the banana he waved it off (didn't think he could be hungry again so soon). He pointed to the banana and did the sign for food again. I believe he was telling me that he knows bananas are for eating! That's a look into his thinking process that I wouldn't have but for Baby Signs. I highly recommend this book and the use of signs. Good luck and enjoy your baby!
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Summary: Delivers what it promises
Review: My sister bought me this book for my baby shower. I started using the signs with my daughter when she was 8 months. At first she didn't seem interested. When she was 10 months, she suddenly started signing. It was a wonderful experience for me both to know I had taught her something she could find useful and because it helped me know what my baby wanted, making parenting easier. They were right about babies talking sooner and better with signing. My daughter talked in sentences by the time she was 2. She would combine signs and words by the time she was 1 year old. For instance, when being dropped off at childcare, she signaled her displeasure by signing "more" and saying "Mommy" (heartbreaking I must say).
The signs were also easy for my mother to understand and do with my daughter. I disagree with those who instead recommend ASL for babies without hearing problems. Most do not interact with hearing impaired enough to make the whole "sign with others" argument logical. ASL is more difficult and less flexible than Baby Signs.
I now work for a teen parent program and will purchase this book and video for our lending library. I anticipate that it could help us with our goal of reducing potential for child abuse.
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Summary: Must have for Parents!
Review: I cannot say enough abou this book and all that it has added to our relationship with our little ones. This is a practical easy to use system for communicating with your baby. I have used this with both of my sons-first one starting at 10 months, my youngest at 8 months. Both of my children now 2 and 4 are very verbal- and have been able to express themselves from very early one. Children are prone to frustration and temper tantrums, but not so with a baby who can communicate their needs. I love this book-much better than the other baby signing books, because this one is not dependent on your baby learning the complex American Sign Language system. This one focusses on your baby and putting you in tune with them. Often they are signing to you before you learn to recognize what to look for. Well worth the investment in this book-after all being able to meet their needs and communicate with our children is PRICELESS!
Rating:
Summary: good but could be more concise
Review: We just bought this book and are eager to give some of the suggestions a try. Only drawback is that nearly 50% of this book is dedicated to convincing you to give baby signing a try. We're already convinced, would have preferred less convincing and more meat.
Otherwise good book!
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