Recently we’ve been using Twitter to network with other Mums, many of whom are Mumpreneurs (or Work from Home Mums) like myself. It was on Twitter that I met Sarah from Mothers of Innovation.  She used baby signing with her daughter, this is what she had to say:

‘Book, duck, please, thank you and sorry – yes, my daughter learnt all the important words (and many more) through sign language. Even now at 2 1/2 when she is chatterbox with an alarmingly good vocabulary, sign language comes in handy.

While initially sign language helped during those frustrating months when she could not annunciate her needs, then worked wonders in developing her speech through her understanding the basics of communication, now it helps when words are just too difficult.

Sorry, for a toddler is so difficult, but the sign can help diffuse another potential tantrum or a firm ‘No’ sign from me across the playground can halt her gravity defying logic before it is too late.

Initially we went to Sing and Sign classes that were fab, and their DVD has been worn out through use – then we found TinyTalk classes closer to home, their Signing Pack was great for quick reference.

I would wholeheartedly recommend baby signing to anyone, I love way that it has paved the way for great communications – she has so much of interest to say I want to be able to chat with her about it!’

Talking Tots have published the Tots100 Index of Top 100 British Parent Blogs and Bloggers for May. Chelltune has been listed as a new entry at number 78.

The Talking Tots blog (Totsy’s Place) is well worth a read. Tracey Park and Lisa Houghton were paediatric speech and language therapists before launching Talking Tots in 2005. They have more than 30 years’ combined experience working with young children experiencing communication difficulties, and are respected experts in the field of early language development. This month they are running an online Communication Q&A where they’ll try and answer all your questions about early language and communication.

Last week the Health Visitor gave my youngest daughter a Bookstart pack. Bookstart is a national programme that encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with their children from as early an age as possible. Bookstart aims to provide a free pack of books to every baby in the UK, to inspire, stimulate and create a love of reading that will give children a flying start in life. My children have received several Bookstart packs, they’ve been over the moon with the contents of each one.

Bookstart recognises the importance of encouraging all parents and carers to enjoy books with children from as early an age as possible. They’ve produced a new pack called Bookshine which offers free books and information specifically designed to suit deaf children’s needs.

The pack is aimed at parents of deaf children aged 0-5 years. It includes a touch and feel book and a book featuring simple British Sign Language (BSL) signs and an image of a child with a hearing aid as it is important that deaf children see themselves in books.

The Bookshine books and accompanying materials have been chosen in partnership with the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) and parents of deaf children.

Alex Strick, Bookstart Consultant explains:

“Bookstart is for every child. We are very proud to be expanding its existing Bookstart range by offering parents of deaf children a selection of specially chosen books and advice. Thanks to our partnerships with specialists such as the National Deaf Children’s Society, we are confident that the new Bookshine pack will provide many more families with the impetus and advice they need to help their children enjoy books from an early age.”

Lorna Simpson, NDCS Development Manager, from NDCS explains:

“All babies and children should be given the opportunity to learn about the joys of reading. Bookshine, the Bookstart range specifically selected with the needs of deaf babies and children in mind is a wonderful collection. The books all have colourful illustrations and some have different textures to touch and feel. Deaf children often learn in a very visual way, so encouraging an interest in reading at an early age can be crucial in development.”

Bookshine (for deaf children)

Teddy Bear Teddy Bear – Child’s Play from their Sign and Sing Along series
Dorling Kindersley’s Touch and Feel Playtime
Bookshine Guide to Sharing Books with your deaf child
Bookshine Book Guide
A nursery rhyme place mat
By summer 2008, an older picture book will also be available as an alternative to one of the board books.

There is also the Booktouch pack for blind and partially sighted children.

Last week my daughter had a rather late seven-month development check with the Health Visitor (she was just under nine months old!). Her weight gain is improving although she is still below the bottom line of the growth charts for weight.

When I got home I looked in her personal child health record and saw that the health visitor had written, ‘slight immaturities with gross motor development – not sitting unsupported for more than a few seconds’. She’d not mentioned during the meeting that she was unduly concerned with M not sitting, she said it can sometimes take babies till they are ten months old to sit unaided. She watched M lie on the floor, roll over, play with toys, etc.

I had wondered myself if M was a little behind other babies as my eldest two children did things much sooner. I have to say that it is a relief that she isn’t crawling yet. I’m always finding Play Mobil and Lego lying around, it will be hard work keeping her safe when she is on the move.

A week or so ago I met with a friend who has twins the same age as M, I was reassured to see that one of them seemed to be developing at a similar rate to M. I hate to think I am comparing babies, it is a pet hate of mine but it did stop me worrying.

I’ll get back to the topic of baby signing after my ramblings! She isn’t signing nor is she showing any signs of being ready to sign back to us. She isn’t waving or putting her arms up when we ask her to come to us.

She is trying very hard to communicate. At the dinner table she will look at her drink and blow a raspberry in the direction of the cup to tell us that she wants it. Some might say she is communicating her needs so why do we need to teach her sign? Yes, she can tell us she wants a drink if the cup is sat in front of her, if the cup is out if sight then she can’t tell us that she is thirsty. This is where the use of sign language will come in handy.

I am still signing at every opportunity. The most frequently used signs are eat/food, milk, drink and more. I hope to be able to report back soon to say that she has started to sign.