Baby massage & Sign Language

[Velvetee]

Has anyone tried baby massage and sign language courses? If you have, how did you find them?

[elginred]

I took my son to baby massage classes when he was a few months old. At the class he wouldn't let us massage him, he was unsettled with the strangers and noise.

However, we persevered at home, and for several months it was part of his night time routine. It helped to settle him really well, and we managed to stop swaddling. He's 11 months now, and has been sleeping all night for the past 5 months.

I also found it helped me, as he was very unwell when he was born. It helped us bond, and it gave us special time together. There are also specific massages for colic, which made me feel like I was doing something pro-active when he did have sleepless nights!

I would recommend baby massage to anyone.

Unfortunately there are no facilities for baby signing classes where I live, so I can't help you there.

[kira000]

A very good friend of mine who is a teacher (and hubby) took their eldest to baby signing classes starting when when she was about 9-10 months.

They felt it was really productive- she was able to sign simple things like bottle, cuddle etc very quickly and it helped with the horror of trying to work out why baby was crying!

The only thing they said to bear in mind, is that speech development can often be delayed a little in children taught sign language, as they dont have the same need to start to speak to be understood. However when she did start speaking it was more advanced than other kids her age as it had helped her grasp the basics of constructing langauage. Much the same as can happen when kids are raised bilingual.
Hope that helps

[MarzipanQ]

Not sure if you mean you want to practise these disciplines with your own baby or you want to learn how to do them to instruct others. Makaton is very worthwhile & you can learn it from websites - I did so to work with my Grandson who is autistic. My daughter did a Baby Massage course & was sponsored by her local Home Start & went on to repay their sponsoring by volunteering to run sessions. Makaton via the net is easy enough but it would help if you had a friend to sign with you - you'd help each other:) My daughter is an ardent supporter of baby massage - can't praise it highly enough but there's a bit more to it than just massaging a baby - it's a skill you do need to learn with a qualified teacher.

[Velvetee]

I hope to practice them after my baby is born and obviously at a suitable age.

Thanks everyone for your input, very useful.

[carliex]

i am a nursery nurse and at our nursery we do sign language for the little ones and they really enjoy it! they catch on so well some of the little ones use it alot i would really recommend it and most places give out a certificate when the child learns a new sign.