Today is our second baby sign language class.

The benefits of infant signing — including reduced frustration before babies can talk, increased interaction with caregivers and teaching a second language — really appealed to me. So when Wee Hands founder Sara Bingam offered (when I was still pregnant!) to let us take the class, I couldn’t wait.

Our instructor, Karen, has a 19-month-old who knows more than 200 signs. I’m just hoping Lucy can learn some basics, such as more, food/hungry, milk, mama, dada, grandma/pa, dog (Spencer), tired, bath, book. Karen told us that babies will start to laugh when you sign to them, then progress to doing them themselves.

Almost everyone I’ve mentioned the classes to wonders if speaking with hands will impede babies learning to talk. I worried about that, too, but think about how many hand signals infants do while growing up: waving, pointing, putting arms in the air to be picked up (Lucy will look when you point, and is already asking to be scooped up). Sign language seems to be an extension of this.

And really, anything to help reduce crying/whining/screaming/temper tantrums is a good thing.

Since last week, Lucy has started to laugh when I (remember to) sign to her. Last night during dinner I was doing baby (arms cupped across the chest and rocking back and forth) then Lucy (pointing to her) and she giggled to hard chunks of apple sprayed across my shirt.

I took that as a good sign (ohgod, I’m so sorry. I had to).

Possibly related posts:

1. The ones I’d like her to learn: Uncle Stinky and Grandpa Monkey
2. Doggies and planes by Wee Hands
3. 378 days later and she’s a wise woman
5. Thursday randomness