Jackie Durnin’s profile

Hi Nicky Thank you for your post. As you mentioned each child is different but if you refer to my article entitled "Your baby and the stages of development", I highlight the various physical, men...

Hi there Thank you for your post. It sounds like you are going through a frustrating and stressful time. It is definitely not too late to introduce baby sign language to your grandson. Start wit...

Hi Natalie Thank you for your post. Gestures is something that children do naturally such as spreading their arms out when they want to be lifted. With regard to producing a specific sign, thi...

Hi Leanne Thank you for your email. Australian Baby Hands is based on 100% Auslan signs and they are not Makaton signs. Makaton signs however are very similar but there will be some differences....

Hi Rachael Thank you for your enquiry. It can be confusing to work out what sign your baby is making and what they are trying to communicate to you. In the instance of the signs for "Dad" and ...

Hi Chellanne Thank you for your post. The reason I suggest to start with five signs is that it makes the experience of signing as stress free for all involved. Learning a new language can be diff...

Posted by: Mampha What about SALA. Is the signing in Souh Africa different, or is the basic baby stuff similar? The sign language in South Africa would be different also. If you are based in Sou...

Baby sign language is a great tool to help reduce frustration in babies. You can introduce sign language to babies from the age of six months but it is not too late when they are one or two years ...

Hi there It is ok to use the one handed version of the sign, as it is infrequent that a mum would have both hands free at any time. I think the most important thing is to use the Auslan signs and ...

Hi K, Yes it can be confusing trying to pick between the signs for the different states so that is why in Australian Baby Hands we use either the most common sign or the easiest sign for a baby t...

Hi there In all the research there has been no indication that boys take longer than girls to sign back. Also since launching Australian Baby Hands, I have received no feedback from pa...

Yes it can be quite common for babies to sign what they are interested in such as people, their needs/wants or what fascinates them in their surroundings. There are a couple of ways to intr...

Hi there A couple of things could help you with your babys signing progress. It is important when you introduce a number of signs to your baby that you have a balance of practical and motivationa...

Hi Nat I understand that this must be a very worrying time for you. Unfortunately I cannot advise if your baby has a hearing problem or not, but I recommend you review the website listed below. h...

Hi there This must be a very hard time for you and your family but it sounds like you are taking all the right steps. I would not like to speculate on the reasons or causes for your baby's sudden...

Hi there Yes there are a number of people and organisations who are conducted classes in baby sign language around the country. One of the best places to find a class is to go to the following...

Hi there Yes there are a variety of signing systems out there. Some are based on British Sign Language, some are based on made-up signs, some are based on American Sign Language, some are based ...

Hi Tanya I have no doubt that you are doing the best for your son. Makaton is a signing system used by a lot of special needs carers and facilites. What you will find is there are alot of simila...

Hi there There are a number of ways that your Mothers Group can learn. Depending on where you are based, I am currently going out and visiting some Mothers Groups in the area. If you would like t...

Dear Krystal The recommended age to start introducing signs to your baby is at six months of age or when you baby is physically able to hold a rattle by themselves. Some parents have asked me ...