How much do you Play with your 9/10 month old?

[squigglehead]

DS is quite good at entertaining himself, will happily crawl around playing and cruising the furniture, occasionally coming up to babble and smile at me and have a quick 'chat' or a 'boob snack' ()before heading off again. We go to 2 groups a week and average one 'playdate' a week with two of my mum friends with similar age babies, and he sees a lot of family at the weekend. But when its just me and him at home together... I just have no idea if I'm doing ok! I will sing some songs with him for a bit but that really fills 15 mins maximum, I can stack some blocks so ge knocks them over etc... But realistically he mostly plays by himself quite happily while I'm mostly watching rubbish or mumsnetting

I feel like I should do more with him, but still want to foster independent play... In my defense he's a terrible sleeper so I spend most of my time in an exhausted stupor!

What should I do with him?? We don't have a garden (upstairs maisonette) which doesn't help :( I try things like baths for splashy fun but though he seems entertained just by me being in the bath with him I run out of ideas after about 5 minutes

Any ideas? He seems perfectly happy, is moving towards walking and babbles away delightedly and apart from the terrible sleep seems a very happy and calm child, I just worry that I'm depriving him somehow :(

[misscph1973]

I know what you mean, I felt similarily when my DS were little. I just didn't know what to do with them at that age, and I was so sleep deprived it was hard to think of something to do. I did take them outside a lot, it was easier to be in a playground or just in a park. I think at that age they are just exploring the very near world.

Don't worry too much about it. You are not depriving him. My kids are 8 and 10 now, and they are fine, they are intelligent and have no social issues.

[luckiestgirlintheworld]

If he's happy, let him get on with it. Seriously. He'll let you know when he's bored and needs more stimulation.

[Buglife]

I feel if I'm on the room with DS he knows he can have my attention when he wants it, so if he's happy to play by himself then I let him! I have to help him stand etc as he doesn't pul himself up, and he likes to be walked around the room, aside from that it's studying touchy feely books, trying to put things in and on top of things, banging stuff together etc. I like watching him work things out for himself which is the benefit of playing alone. I do washing bowl of water and toys in this nice weather, maybe you could do it indoors on a towel in the kitchen? I do talk to him as much as possible though, as I think it's important for speech and languages skills. And sing.

[cabbageleaf]

My DS is 7 months and plays by himself most of the time. I "read" baby books with him and do physical things like holding him and swirling him about, which he loves, but I don't play much with him. I also take him out every day for a walk in the park as we don't have a garden either. I live abroad and here (Germany) the books by a certain Emmi Pikler are very popular, a paediatrician who advocated undisturbed playing for babies: she believed adults should not try and join babies in their play because it always results in the adult dominating, showing them what to do, pushing them in a certain direction, showing them how toys work and thus depriving them of an indipendent discovery etc. But I do admit I didn't actively follow her theory, it's just that I don't know how to play with such a small baby. Interesting though that some people actually believe it is better that way!

[NickyEds]

luckiest is right. When they get bored they let you know about it! Ds (18 months)comes and hits me about the head with books. That means "mummy I'd quite like you to read to me please". Equally emptying his box of Stackadoos all over the floor whilst squealing means "please will you build me something". They aren't subtle! Enjoy this time letting him explore and potter.

[squizita]

I do 2 groups weekly and play/read formally (as in games and songs) once a day.
Mostly I just chat away with dd on my hip. She's quite clingy. Or she sits on her mat playing with toys while I do something.

So pretty similar.