7mo doesn't seem to want to 'mingle'

[Slave2Babe]

DD is 7mo and we have recently started going to a new mummy/toddler group. There are pre school children of all ages ranging from a few weeks to 3yo.

When i put her down with the other babies, she takes a toy and crawls off to a quiet area of the room.

Is this normal? How can i encourage her to interact?

NORMAL babies of this age don't interact at all

even 2 year olds will play alongside each other not WITH each other

don't worry about it

I think it is perfectly normal at that age. By the way - congrats on the crawling at 7 months. My ds didn't crawl until a week before his first b/day!!

Eh? Are you joking?
7 month old babies are in no way developmentally ready to socialise,beyond perhaps smiling,reaching and showing fleeting interst in other people.
Don't worry about it!

Perfectly normal! Don't worry about it! Children don't actually play "together" till they're MUCH older (think years, not months!) - they play alongside each other, or a distance away.

At least you're not having to go "Don't poke little Johnny in the eye, darling, don't pull hair, be gentle", etc, etc

Hi, I think it takes a while for children to play together rather than play alongside each other, IYKWIM. Without wanting to dismiss your worry, I really don't think it's a problem in a 7 month old. If your child was 2 or 3 it might be a different matter.

Totally normal IMO ... children don't 'mingle' or interact with eachother until nearer 18 months.
DD is 16 months and plays 'alongside' other toddlers but not 'with' them IYSWIM? She plays with her brother but he is 5 and it is normally just chasing type games ... if he tries to show her a toy she gets jealous and takes it from him or thinks he is taking it from her.
Keep going to the playgroup to keep your DD meeting other children but it will be a while yet before you see her playing with anyone ...

Sorry I feel daft now!

Physically, she seems to be quiet a bit ahead of other babies at the group - she started crawling at 4 1/2 months and has been pulling herself up on things and standing for the last 2-3 weeks.

However, the reason for the confusion about social interaction was when watching the other babies/toddlers at the group. They seemed to be very interested in what each other was doing and the toys they were playing with, touching each other and smiling. Whereas DD just wasnt interested. She had her toy!

4.5 months and crawling?!!! blimey! that's really early.

S2B, different children concentrate on different things - and it sounds very much like your baby's concentrating on her motor skills!

I should say, HM!

hunkermunker, yes and i'm absolutely exhausted trying to keep up with her! I'm very proud but i do long for the days when i could leave the room for 5 minuted without returning to find the floor scattered with dvds and anything else that wasnt quite out of reach.

One thing to add, she does play very well with adults - she thrives on the attention and will watch with real interest as you show her how her toys work ... baba see baba do!!

I did wonder if the fact that she's an only child was a factor???

all first children are only children at 4.5 months! she's just who she is, don't worry