Guest post by Vivien Sabel
When you think about baby talk do you think about cooing and gurgling?
Well, I don’t!
Vivien’s granddaughter
I think about what our babies are saying with their body language, faces and mouths. I think this way because my mother is deaf. She doesn’t use sign language and is an expert at lip-reading!
In childhood, my mother and I learnt so much from one another not with words or speech, but through the world of body language and non-verbal expressions.
In looking at one another, we learnt to understand all we needed to in our wordless world. Although I was born hearing, I instinctively followed my mother’s way of understanding, and gathered all I needed non-verbally.
Much can be learnt from the world of the non-verbal, and you can learn so much about your baby and their world just through simple observation.
This is a gift – a gift you and your baby will benefit from.
I know you’re a busy parent, but if you have a baby and a few minutes, please spend a little time every day looking at your baby.
Your observation will help you develop such amazing understanding of your little one. You can learn all about your little ones hunger, thirst, tiredness, need for a nappy/diaper change, need for contact, over stimulation, constipation, and even ill healthy before your little one reaches the crying stage!
Baby Sebastian and Mommy Cat “talking”
Observation will support:
- you to know all about your baby
- you in easing frustration and distress
- you to improve communication
- you to create an environment for growth and development
- you to bond further
- brain development in your baby
- you, which will create a happy baby and a happy you!*
*Key features taken from Chapter 2 of The Blossom Method, The Revolutionary Way To Communicate With Your Baby From Birth
Author Bio:
Vivien Sabel UKCP MBACP ScPTI
Vivien is the author of The Blossom Method™ The Revolutionary Way To Communicate With Your Baby From Birth. She is a Relational Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor and researcher. You may connect with her through her website, blog or twitter.
Oh I wish I could do it all over again, my baby is now 2 and we do sign language have since she was a baby, that was something new that I never did before, and it worked wonderfully, it still does, when she cant get out what she wants, she signs it. But I wish i would have known the early learning stages, I will just have to wait for my grandchildren and I will try it with them
thanks Anne wonderful guest post by your friend.
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I never tried signing with my child.. now I wish I had though! And yeah, you might have to wait for your grand kids to try the stuff in Vivien’s book.
Such a good post… I think sometimes we don’t think about how much our babies are taking in during each moment of the day. We can learn from them and we can teach them so much… even before they audibly speak to us.
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I had no idea they could communicate as early as infants! I thought there movements were just like reflexes or something. Wish I’d known what you do 5 years ago, Paula.
Sounds amazing! It is interesting that when we close our mouths, how much we can learn from just watching and listening. Wish I had a baby to try this one. haha Guess my 19 month old will do.
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Try this ON I mean, not one. haha
You’re 19 month old will definitely do haha. Your little angel must be saying a lot of words by now, though, right?
Not to many. ABC’s, Counts a bit (not to well yet). Sings, “Winkle Winkle Lita Ar” haha
And says “More” for milk. 
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This is a great post. It’s important to really look at your baby to understand what he/she is doing, understands, etc. It works with older kids too!
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Glad you like this post, and I agree that this technique works with older kids too. I can usually tell when my child is upset or why he is just by looking at him.
A great post – and such a valuable message. I hope lots of mums get to read and implement this technique in the early stages.
Absolutely Louise! I do hope more moms get to read this book so they can improve their communication and relationship with the little ones. Thank you for your wonderful comment.
I love this book and have recommended it to my daughter in law. It is a wonderful tool for communicating with your baby! Thanks for sharing!
~Erin
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Thanks for the recommendation, Erin! I’m sure it will help your daughter in-law decrease those stressful and frustrating times moms of infants often experience. You’ve been so supportive too so thank you for that.
All of a sudden, I miss having an infant!
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Me too!! After reading this book I desperately wanted to “borrow” one haha.
easing frustration and distress such a great reason to learn “BABY”
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Absolutely! The goal of the book is to reduce distress for both mom and baby by improving communication.
Yes agree, infants (and toddlers too), do “speak” to their moms. One really just needs to be patient and observe and eventually they’ll get it.
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I had no idea infants can tell us when they want milk or a change. I just kind of guessed with my kiddo before.
Me and my baby have been doing this since day one. I love recognizing the looks of excitement, intrigue, happiness, and it’s great to be able to tell the difference between a genuine smile and if they’re just pooping.
That’s neat that you’re a CODA…did your mother use sign language? Is that your native language?
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Your comments and insights are amazing. Thank you for taking the time.
With reference to your wonderful question femmefrugality and the CODA query my mom never used sign language just the more primal language – body language. We communicated through observation of one another. She has given me such a gift. Sure, we spoke but we knew without doubt what was ‘spoken’ without words. I think my native language is body language. English is my second & British Sign Language is my 3rd.
Thanks again for all of the supportive and positive comments. Viv Sabel x
Twitter: viviensabel
So interesting! I’m studying ASL…the bimanual aspects of BSL’s modality such as the alphabet intrigues me. That is so beautiful that you were able to know each other so deeply even without a language.
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How great that you’ve been doing this since day 1 (I’m envious!!!). I’m sure it’s such a treat to “get to know” your baby through body language. Thanks for your comment and do have a good day!
This is good, sound, advice. It is amazing what you can learn just by watching your child. I know I’ve learned so much from just watching my daughter. Thanks for another great guest post Anne.
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You are most welcome, Claire!
Loved reading this. Have to read your book also.
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Yes, it would be great if you could read Vivien’s book. I highly recommend it! Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you around more.
I’ve used sign language with my toddlers before and it’s a great experience for me and my babies
Even shared on the blog 
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