Do some babies just "not care" about signing?

[AFWife]

We did signs for a couple of months with DS (he's a year now) The one we did the most was "water" at meals. Each time I said and signed he would look at his water cup. I started to get excited. So, one night I did the sign and didn't say anything...and got a WTF stare in response. When I said the word (without signing) he gestured toward his water cup.

It's been a few months and he shows ZERO interest in signing. Are there some babies/toddlers that just don't care?

[staceychev]

My daughter was never interested in signing either.

[CherryBombMama]

my ds will do "all done" and thats it! but, to give him credit, he uses it sooo many times all day long.

when he is tired of the car seat? "ALL DONE!"
when he wants to get up from nap? "ALL DONE!"
when he wants to go outside and i wont let go of his hand? "ALL DONE!!!" (with me, lol)

oh, ETA: he could care less about any other sign

[JessieBird]

I signed and signed and signed till my little hands were exhausted from about 4 mos to 13 mos. Nothing. So I gradually stopped and we communicated just fine in other ways. Now at 17 mos, DS has just decided to sign for milk (meaning he wants to nurse). Go figure!

[Nicole730]

I only tried a few with DS, but then he said ball at 10 months, so I stopped signing thinking he would talk early insteaad. But he didn't and the signs never caught on.

Originally Posted by CherryBombMama

my ds will do "all done" and thats it! but, to give him credit, he uses it sooo many times all day long.

when he is tired of the car seat? "ALL DONE!"
when he wants to get up from nap? "ALL DONE!"
when he wants to go outside and i wont let go of his hand? "ALL DONE!!!" (with me, lol)

oh, ETA: he could care less about any other sign

DS does the same thing, with words though. I put him in his crib for a nap and he immediately says, All done. I don't think so buddy.

[sapphire_chan]

That's how it was for us until Lina saw some Signing Time. Apparently, anything is awesome if other kids do it to music.

[Abraisme]

I started signing with my DS at 7mo, but he didn't start signing until 14mo. After that he learned nearly 200 signs and it really helped ease language related frustrations. Each kid is different, my feel is that if you keep trying he'll eventually get it.

[LadyCatherine185]

I only did a few signs with DS, starting a little before a year old. I taught him "please" "finished" and "more." He was very verbal though early on, and stopped using the signs after just a couple months because he could say the words.

[mouso]

The only sign DD would do was "more."

All the others she finally used on the day she learned to say that particular word ALOUD. Yep, she waited until she could say them, and then signed while saying it.