To read my book whilst baby plays?

[BoraBora]

I'll start this by saying I didn't do this, because I felt too guilty, and I'm not sure how unreasonable it is!

I have a 6m old, and the other day, I was shattered as she'd basically been feeding all night. Would it have been UR to lie on the bed with her, her with some toys and me reading a book? I know you can't interact with them all the time, and I leave her with toys when I have to tidy up or have a shower (always in the same room as me). Is it wrong to leave her to play "independently" when the thing I'm doing isn't essential?

I totally agree you definitely need some down time and at 6 months babies love the chance to have a play with their toys. However I would be a little worried about lying on the bed reading with a 6 month old as having been up all night feeding I might just nod off and at 6 months Ds could roll off the bed. I always put Ds on his mat on the floor and then got comfy on the sofa with my book (and didn't ever feel guilty!). Obviously you know your DD best and it might be that she is not at the stage of wriggling about too much yet. Enjoy your book. I love reading but have gone from a book a week post Ds to having read about 6 books in the last year!

I got tired just reading about your friend LaQueen

"They'll have a helluva shock, when they get to nursery/school and suddenly realise they are just one of many, and need to wait their turn."

Exactly LaQueen, not to mention if/when you have a 2nd child, it's much easier to tend to a baby when your older DC is adept at playing alone. And possibly less of a shock to the older sibling if they've not previously been used to having 100% of your attention 100% of the time.

Oh, and when I say on the bed I mean just on the rug really, as I wouldn't want her wiggling into trouble.

I don't try and entertain her all the time - I know that would be detrimental - I guess I just feel guilty doing something for myself in that time?

Thanks guys. I honestly thought I was going to be told that I was being UR (and a shit mother).

What do you think people with more than one child do?! Of course it is fine to let your baby have some time to her/himself, they may actually like this and not need constant stimulation (I had one that very much liked time on her own and used to play under the baby gym for half an hour or so, or just lie in her cot and look around). When they get older, it's great if they can entertain themselves and don't expect you to do it all the time. All this is with the proviso you interact lots at other times, if you are tired of the constant interaction, your baby might be too!