Is everyone really doing baby sign language and sensory trays

I did sign language with my kids, but never DIY sensory tables. And no, you don’t have to do these things to be a good mom AT ALL. I’m sure you’re seeing these things on social media. Comparison is the thief of joy. Keep doing what you’re doing, I’m sure it’s just fine ☺️

We do a lot of signs just because it makes life easy lol I do like to do sensory stuff mostly with my 2 year old though so she’s distracted when I need to get work done. Fuck elf on the shelf though I’m never doing that

I do sign language solely because to me, it seems like a middle area for me to understand my son before he is able to communicate fully with me. I’m hoping it eliminates frustration on both of us! He doesn’t sign to me, but he understands the basics like milk, more, all done, book. You don’t have to, but if you are interested I googled “baby sign language” and there are like 6-9 basic ones you can integrate into everyday tasks if you’re stressed about it!

We did some signs on our own. Speech therapy taught us so many signs

I attempted sign but I got lazy with it and kind of forgot i was trying to teach her it. I don't do sensory bins or anything else like that. She plays in the mud with sticks or with the chickens to get her sensory in

I teach a bit of sign language and we do a lot of sensory play- of course you don’t HAVE to, as long as they’re getting a lot of stimulation and you’re encouraging development :)

Baby sign language we actually did do! And we did somewhat sensory play! We mainly played with ice cubes and water & toys when it was hot outside

You can basically call anything baby sensory 😂

Sign language helped us understand each other before he could really talk sooo much. I highly recommend

I did asl with my kids because my doctor recommended this. She said “some kids are late talkers and asl helps bridge that communication”…..guess what, my son didn’t talk until 2 (speech delayed and autism). So I’m very glad I implemented asl for myself and my son. He can now speak (he’s still delayed) pretty well for his age and no longer uses asl to communicate with me. I used it with my toddler when he was a baby too. But he was an early talker so…he preferred speech over asl but still occasionally he will sign while talking and it’s funny🤪😂😂 I’m still learning asl as my second language on my free time. It’s really fun and I will continue using asl with future babies have. I think all parents should learn and teach their children regardless of verbal language acquisition.

I do sign, but I know a lot of ASL so I'm actually signing most of what I say--as a second language, not a baby sign system. I see a lot of value in it as a pre language tho. We do some sensory stuff, but not the bins so much. As someone said-no at things can be sensory. Most of the stuff you can get pretty cheaply or make and you can use it more than once if you plan right. The kid will grow and play with it for years. Your kid doesn't need to be glued to you all the time. If they are always running and climbing when awake, you need to create a safe space for them, perhaps their room. Then gate it and let them play independently or let them help you with housework. I don't know how old your kid(s) are, but you could probably rethink how you are doing some things-get the kids some independent time, and some free time for yourself. If they are in daycare-the daycare is doing this.

My sensory for my first included a water bottle with beads and glitter. I didn’t do sign language. This was 9 years ago. A lot has changed in the mom world. I’m a simple person to begin with.

I only taught essentials for signs: milk, eat, more, help. She hasn’t used them since she started talking well and I don’t plant to use them with her anymore. Sensory play has become a lifesaver lately! Just set up a few bins and rotate them out. I have five bins and change them out every few days. They’ve been entertaining my toddler while I put the baby down. They don’t need to be fancy

My daughter's daycare taught her the sign language and didn't teach me 😆 that was pretty frustrating. I had to learn a little from Google because she was getting upset with me.

I didn't but after going to speech therapy my son knows sign language and he's doing more sensory

I do but thats simply because im a daycare teacher and do it for work anyway so i just do it at home too. Definitely not needed to be a great mom.

We are teaching sign language but we haven’t really done many sensory table stuff yet, I’m hoping I’ll get better at it at some point😅

We did sign until my son started going around doing more for everything lol and we couldn’t figure out what he meant lol he’d be in his crib sittin up doing more (we assumed cuddles). He does the milk sign for being picked up so ya know it doesn’t always work out 😂😂 I’ve done no sensory things except with water mat but he HATED it. And it always made me nervous when he was face plant it and not turn his head

I did sign language and my daughter had zero interest until about 2, she could already talk by then so it wasn’t even really needed. She’s 3.5 and uses some signs, but will also say what she wants.

We do ASL and I’ll do discovery buckets occasionally. She doesn’t sign back much but does understand when I sign to her and she’ll respond appropriately

I make time for things I think are important. I don’t do sign language and sensory trays, not because of lack of time, but because I don’t think there’s long term benefit and it’s not enjoyable for me, so I’d rather put my energy toward things that I think are important and things I enjoy. Sign language and sensory trays can be great, so if it works for you, do it! But there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty if you don’t do them, your child will still develop wonderfully

I do sensory trays but not sign language

I dont do sensory trays, I want to do basic signs once she's a little older (turning 4 months next week).. but her daycare does a lot of sensory things so that's why I'm not too worried about it

I did some sign language and it’s amazing! Sensory bins are unnecessary because you can just play outside or even inside with toys. My son loves smelling all of our spices - easy sensory play for free.

I'm only teaching my daughter ASL because 1. I'm deaf in my left ear so she'd still be able to "talk' to me. And 2. Their brains are like sponges now they absorb what you teach them. Idk wtf a sensory tray is though

Sensory tables just look like a mess. My son really loved them at an event we went to, but they were outside so clean up was not necessary 😒

You do you hun! Don’t compare yourself to other mums or you’ll find yourself losing your mind and constantly guilty.. 😅 I bet everything you’re doing now is already enough and you’re trying your hardest to juggle everything 🫶🏻 that’s all your baby needs. Yes its fantastic teaching your baby sign and having sensory sessions but not everyone is equipped to do so. As long as you make time for your child, play with your child and love your child they are already learning so much. There’s also other simpler ways to incorporate sensory play or toys don’t stress you’re doing amazing! X

Simple sign language, yes. as far as sensory, all day everyday activities is our sensory experience and I talk constantly about everything I am doing. I try to include him in what I am doing (which is so counterproductive to the task at hand!😅😭), introduce new bath toys often, let him play with his food and touch/smell almost everything. I have tried a few ideas from Pinterest and it has always ended before it really begins because it’s went into his mouth, spilled, ripped, smashed or a frustrated tantrum has immediately begun 👍🏻

@Lisa Baby and I have been watching a lot of sensory Netflix

I taught my baby signs, but only the necessary ones, and it helped SO much before she was verbal. I planned to do so many sensory activities on my maternity leave but never did 😩

@Rebecca I'm with rebecca on this! My little girl started talking very young so sign language was not needed for us (I understand it has other benefits) you do you! For me it was more important to be getting outside which is also a sensory experience......plus my little girl started nursery at 11 months old, I let them do all the messy play 🤣

@Sharon what shows?

Wtf is a sensory tray? I do sign but just basic like milk, more, eat, done, mom, dad, sister.

I don't do either of those things.

I did some fun sensory stuff every Monday when my girl was little, but it wasn't expensive stuff. We made cloud dough (baby lotion and cornflour I think?), play mud (i can't remember i think cocoa powder cornflour and water maybe) and a bowl of warm water to wash her farm toys, blended up cheerios for sand, rice grains, kid paint, something with food colouring and bubbles, lots of water play. Tbh it's harder to clean up than it is to do lol. I didn't really do makaton but learnt some in baby sensory which we did once a week (they had a free class near us also). My daughter didn't sleep independently until she was around 2 years old. Also, I didn't go back to work until she was 2.5 hence why had a whole day to be messy. Don't feel bad that you've not done it, even a bath is sensory play. I also think elf on the shelf is not worth doing until they are in school and understand it better. Don't create extra tasks for yourself!

We just do a few signs. For sensory play, eating and bath count of course. I also let them play with rice and scoops in a tray (put a bed sheet on the floor to catch spilled rice) and we have a little sand table outside. I also just give them different materials for sensory experiences: pipe cleaners, metal utensils, index cards, dried leaves and sticks, etc. They take an interest in non-plastic items since they’re constantly playing with plastic.

No to sign other than in baby sensory class and yes to sensory play trays (sometimes) I have invested in a new tray recently which im going to give as a Christmas present as I have a 2 year old and a 4 month old so hoping it’s a way for them to play together when the 4 month old is sitting. I dont do anything particularly fancy (like Instagram worthy) and use the morning or lunch time whilst my eldest is at nursery or eating to set it up. Neither are necessary though x

I don’t do sign with my daughter, I really wanted too, but honestly I don’t have the time or energy. She sleeps like shit still at 14mo, so my day is basically spent peeling my eyes open. We do “sensory trays”, literally just some pasta or rice in a big metal tray and some plastic cups 😂 keeps her occupied for ages. We don’t do messy sensory, because my house is mostly cream carpeted 🙃 no thanksss! Don’t feel bad though, we’re all doing what we can 🤷🏼‍♀️ I sometimes feel bad I’m not cooking my daughter some of these extravagant foods I see on here, but you’re only seeing a tiny snippet of someone’s life, so chances are, they’re struggling with something just as much as you! X

We do makaton only because it’s a great way to communicate before baby can actually speak! Mostly for meal times, like “all done” and “more” and for sleep, “tired” is a good one, and poop aswell 🤣 for potty training. We’ve been doing Christmas crafts together which has taken pretty much all day to set up but that’s me done for the week 🤣. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself, babies don’t actually need all these things to thrive. My mum said in the 90s being a good parent was about keeping your baby alive and I think we turned out okay 🤣👍

You don't need to do this to be a good mum at all! Don't feel pressured to do things you don't have time for, your kids will love any activities you do with them, it doesn't need to be elaborate or complicated. The only tuff tray type thing I did was dyed rice as that is super easy. Rice and food colouring in a zip lock bag mix it up then spread it out and leave to try. Last for ages too, just keep it in a zip lock bag when finished with.

I took ASL in university so had a huge advantage in teaching my son, we didn’t start until he was 18 months. It was insanely useful for curbing tantrums simply because he could communicate. It’s not necessary but I do think it’s helpful! I have never done a sensory bin or elf on the shelf, neither are necessary and I don’t have the patience.

I've been doing sign language with my daughter she's 15 months and it's helped me communicate better with her and understand what she needs

I tried with sign and my boy didn’t take to it until now (17m). He picked it up from nursery! And tuff trays etc, I want to get one cos they seem easier than putting a sheet down but again nursery do all that. Your baby isn’t missing out and you’re a great mum whether you do or don’t do these things!!

sign yes, messy play trays absolutely not. the kid is happiest outside rain shine or in todays case snow. the sign has been a god send for us since his speech is behind. he can communicate with us still because of it

I do basic signing with my baby as it really helped with my oldest.

I try to focus on simple ASL we’d likely use regularly but feel burdened by having to make sensory trays…maybe someday.

@Kimi We’ve watched all of The Sensory Resident and we’ve very much enjoyed all of The Sensory Glow Up and we’ve watched Sensory Superstore several times. We’ve basically completed Sensory Netflix though so we’re moving on to Sensory AppleTV. Sensory Disclaimer was good but quite dark. Sensory Presumed Innocent was very good. It had a lot of Sensory shots of Jake Gyllenhall’s ass.

I do sign language but not all the other stuff! It’s definitely helped him be advanced with verbal development but no you don’t have to in order to be a good parent.

I’m a speech and language therapist and a mum of a 2 year old. Honestly please don’t stress about stuff like this. The BBC tiny happy people have some really nice and realistic ideas of promoting language development Reading books Singing rhymes Commenting on day to day activities like getting dressed, what you see when you’re out for a walk. If you did want to pick up some basic signs then Mr Tumble is quite handy for this. I find less is more maybe pick just 1-2 simple activities if you really felt you wanted to try something (sensory play wise). Kids really don’t mind repeating the same activities.

Accidentally clicked I pretend to while reading your post 😭 I just wanted to see the results, though I have done these things but not all the time. I’ve also started to do some sign but only in the last month and my baby turned 1 yesterday