Author Cecilia S. Grugan and their partner Maya are Deaf and use sign language to communicate with their child. In this helpful volume, Grugan teaches readers 50 American Sign Language (ASL) signs for many common aspects of a baby’s day, including people, feelings, food and mealtimes, dressing, playing, bathing, sleeping, and more. They offer helpful hints for learning each sign, suggestions on how to use it, and ideas for activities and ways to incorporate ASL signing into your life. There are tips for signing success as well as rough guidelines for what signing milestones to expect at different ages as your baby grows.
“Sign language isn’t just for the Deaf,” Grugan asserts, and explains how it can help a baby communicate, deepen the connection to parents and caregivers, and offer an opening into the world of Deaf culture.
Among the signs shown are those for “Mom” and “Dad,” but Grugan notes that “Not all caregivers or parents are called ‘Mom’ or “Dad.’ You may be a caregiver who isn’t a parent or a parent who doesn’t identify within the binary of a ‘mom’ or ‘dad.'” In this case, Grugan suggests creating a “sign name,” such as one that incorporates the sign for the first letter of the person’s name.
I love seeing the inclusion of nonbinary parents, though I would have liked a mention of queer parent couples who do identify as moms or dads but choose name pairs such as Mommy and Mama or Daddy and Papa, which a single sign for “Mom” or “Dad” can’t encompass, either. The initial-based “sign name” idea might work here, too, though I’m guessing couples may have other solutions as well. (If you do, please go leave a note in my collection of LGBTQ parental names.)
Overall, though, this small volume feels like a great starting guide for parents (and even older siblings) who want to sign with their babies, providing enough information to be helpful without overwhelming.
