The rule against advertising on this list has not been changed.  It is still
inappropriate to post in order to promote a service or product you have a
financial interest in, such as the post on sign language teaching for
babies.

That said, I urge all of you to visit certified Baby Signs instructor Nicole
Hoff's personal website http://hoff.smugmug.com/gallery/91787  which she put
forth as an argument for teaching babies to express their needs by signing,
thereby enhancing bonding.  I have to say I was dismayed that not one of the
photos presenting the videos showed a baby that looked happy.  I'm used to
seeing blissful smiles in 3 month olds, not a look of concern that they
might not be performing as required.  These kids look downright worried, and
it doesn't exactly help convert me to the Baby Signs cause.

Personally, I would be concerned that a mother was waiting until a 3 month
old used sign language before feeding him, since all the healthy 3 month old
babies I've known have been very able to signal their need for food with the
innate language known to all mammalian species.  As a midwife and IBCLC I am
more concerned about teaching parents very early on what those signs are, so
they don't misinterpret their babies' needs and neglect to feed them as
often as they should.  There may be a role for sign language with babies
with special needs, but it would be a huge red flag for me if a mother told
me she had been waiting to feed her infant until he 'wanted it bad enough to
sign for it', which is how I understood Nicole's post.

So, in the end, hers was a useful post, though hardly for the reasons she
intended.  I don't know how widespread this program is; I also don't know
how representative these children are for the results of the program.  The
Baby Signs website doesn't say much about how they certify people or who
they are.

Non-plussed in Kristiansand, 
Rachel Myr
For the Lactnet listmothers

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