Teaching some sign language to babies or toddlers has become much more common in the last few years. When we signed with Ellie in 2003, people often asked us what we were doing or if she could hear. When we sign with Kate now in 2007, people we meet generally already know what we’re doing, and many use some signs with their babies. Babies are able to coordinate their fingers to make signs many months before they are usually able to coordinate their mouths to make spoken words. Using some simple signs such as “eat,” “more,” “finished,” and “hurt,” can go a long way to reducing your baby’s frustration when trying to communicate, and the signs are easy to learn.

When I discuss sign language with new parents I meet, often they reply as though shouldering a heavy burden, “Oh, yes, my husband and I need to take a sign language class.” There is a much easier way, if all you want to do is communicate with your child before they learn to speak. “Signing Time” provides a series of DVDs or videos which teach signs for hearing babies and children, and they’re entertaining to boot. Frankly, when I needed fifteen minutes to eat a sandwich, I would sit Ellie in her high chair beside me facing the tv, and let her be utterly entranced by “Signing Time: Volume 1.” I couldn’t help but become equally proficient in the useful signs covered by the video.

You can find these DVDs or videos at www.signingtime.com.

Nutrition and Feeding For Babies and Toddlers

The National Institutes of Health and the U.S. National Library of Medicine offer Medline Plus, an online resource for health information. The specific page on infant and toddler nutrition is located at www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infantandtoddlernutrition.html. They also have a great article on healthy snacking for children of all ages at
www.mayoclinic.com/print/childrens-health/HQ00419/METHOD=print. The first rule of snacking they suggest? “Give your kids a say.” We couldn’t agree more. You supply the options, they make their choice.

The International Food Information Council has a clear, succinct, and practical article available at www.ific.org/publications/brochures/solidsbroch.cfm?renderforprint=1. It has specific guidelines based upon the age in months of a baby or toddler making the transition to solid foods, and is endorsed by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners.

There’s a great discussion board of parents sharing experience with other parents at http://parents.berkeley.edu/advice/eating. The posts regarding possible toddler foods during the transition to solids is an excellent source for ideas if you think your baby is bored with the same old peas, noodles, and cheese.