how much tiume should you spend playing with a 15 month old?

[bumbly]

my little one has always been v high maintenance form birth and i could never leave him, not hold him etc..he used to cry always

even though he prefers dad if i ever leave him he cries..most odd...nothing resolved with crawling and def didn't resolve with wlaking..

today had one of worst day ever..he simply would not play by himself as i was doing chores in the same room..i spend time with him reading playing etc every single day and today but now am getting so exacerbated

plus been so worried about his health didn't need this

ermmm to my shame not very much, I get him involved in something and leave him to it.

I read to him a couple of times a day, but have to say other than that not a lot. He plays with his brother sometimes.

Have you tried setting up a game and then leaving him to it? -

now I feel guilty!

My 17 month DD was very low maintenance from birth but since she turned one (I think?) she has been less willing to play on her own, so to answer your question: I play with my DC all the hours we are together. It all seemed to coincide with her starting nursery and walking.

i will leave my baby (15 months old too) playing by herself for as long as she pleases. our open floor kitchen and living room gives me the opportunity to carry on with my chores. i can even sit at the computer that is in the same area where she is playing. i honestly dont think there is a set rule for it. she makes herself very clear when she wants a cuddle or she wants me to join her.

i think you could start building up. play a little, give a toy and leave him to it. try to extend it slowly, and hopefully he will get absorbed enough eventually.

I don't think you can really play 'with' a baby of this age. My ds is 14 months and whilst I constantly talk to him and tell him what his toys are and what I'm doing around the house etc, I don't really spend much time playing with him as he doesn't really understand the concept of taking turns or roll playing. I occassionally build towers and things out of blocks which he delights in knocking down but if I try and play with one of his toys he just snatches it off me! I do read to him a few times a day and aften play peekaboo, this little piggy and things like that. Also bath time is a great time for interacting and playing 'where's the ducky gone' ie, me putting a plastic duck under the water, asking him where it is, then letting it bob up to the surface. Also, I put his teddy or plastic cow toy behind the curtains or the sofa and ask him where it is, that tends to keep him busy and makes him chuckle when he finds it! Other than that he just sort of potters around with me, emptying cupboards, playig with his toys, he whinges when he wants attention or a cuddle.

Hi bumbly

DS is a bit like this some days - poor DP gets no peace. It seems to coincide with teething. He is happier to play alone when he's feeling fine but as soon as something's bugging him he wants constant entertainment.

It's easier to get things done if you can get him to join in - DS will load the washing machine, play drums with pots and spoons, put toys away etc if encouraged. He'll read books by himself sometimes but mostly he prefers to be joining in with whatever's going on - or yelling to be handed something he can't reach (or isn't allowed ...!).

Do you think maybe today was a bad day for him - teething or a cold coming on possibly?

All my lot have been very clingy so you have my sympathy (although that's not much help is it?).

Does he want a cuddle or does he just seem to be bored?

Don't feel bad about it - you simply can't do everything for them all the time. It does get easier.

Dd was like that even though she preferred her dad. I must be a mug as I seemed to have played (or similarish) with her every freakin minute for the last 3 years. I have tried to get her to play alone, really I have....

acino - maybe we have twins!

Eek - what a thought

My DS was like this at 15 months - from birth to about ??2.5 but am a bit hazy on when it stopped being like that. I played with him and/or talked to him, read to him, sang to him all the time and the house looked like a tip (unless I could persuade DS to play hoovering)

He is turning 3 tomorrow and plays on his own so extensively I'm often told to go away these days. I watch him from the next room and MN and wonder where it all went.

It is hard, but hang in there. Sometimes the worst thing is thinking they "ought not" be like this and you build up resentment.

bumbly - my dd was completely and constantly demanding of my attention throughout her first two years of life. It was exhausting. I adored her but used to dread getting through the day.

She's now 3 and still quite demanding, but is so much more fun to play with that I don't really mind. To be fair, she will play by herself for 10-15 minutes, but no longer.

I do sympathise; it used to wear me out. She would NEVER sit in an infant seat, NEVER go under a baby gym. A friend once told me she just used to put hers by the window and they would watch the shadows of the trees, for hours. I wanted to kill her.

It will pass - be strong!

It varies.

Some days dd (also 15 months) is happy to play alone and to potter about. Other days she mithers and torments the life out of prefers to play with her sisters, and days like today, she has been unable to be left alone at all.

She is coming down with a cold though so needs more tlc than usual.

Not sure how you get them to play more independantly though. My dd1 couldn't entertain herself either, so i know how hard it can be - she still doesn't come to think of it

noonki - I'm the same as you.

I have to confess as much as I adore my children - i'm just NOT the "get down on the floor and play with them for hours" type of mum.

I do do stuff with them, but generally "playing" is either on their own, or with their brothers. (DS3 has just turn 17 months btw). (although it doesn't mean that my housework gets done )

Of course if they want a cuddle/attention I give it to them - but I'm never going to be an "interactive playing mummy" - we just do other stuff together, which I'm more comfortable with.

They don't seem to be any worse for it. In fact I really don't think it matters whether you spending every waking moment playing with your child, or whether you do other stuff "together" so long as everyone is happy.

And as for housework - well you've got a toddler it's SUPPOSED to be messy

How much do you play with a 15month old?
As much as you possibly can!
My DS and yours sound very similar...it's hard work but it does get better, I swear.
I used to find it helpful to let his toys mirror what I was doing...ie giving him a pan and spoon whilst I'm cooking, I used to have 1 safe cupboard where I could unlock the door and he could help himself...that seemed to help him feel involved...oh and I sang songs and nursery rhymes like a lunatic...it all helped but was exhausting.
If I got really desperate, and he was getting into serious danger...ie trying to climb leg infront of hot stove i'd put him in high chair with laptop and fav DVD...Baby Einstein kept me sane...I'm sure I'll be throttled by some for this but desperate times!
The good news, he's now 2.7 and is mostly a very confident, independant child who knows that mum is always there when needed. In fact it's so strange and satisfying to see your clingy little mummies boy, say 'bye mummy, play with friends now', and run off leaving a very pregnant me trying to keep up!
You said you're worried about his health...I hope all is ok...

thanks to all!!!!!!!!!