Do I play with my 10mo enough?

[Pollypanda]

Just that really! DS is 10mo and henrallt a lovely happy baby. When he wakes he comes into bed with us for about an hour where I feed and we play with him. Then we go downstairs for breakfast. After breakfast he goes in the jumperoo for a short while then plays on the floor for about 45 mins. Then he has a nap, then we normally go out for a walk if it’s not torrential, come home for lunch, then another nap. After his second nap we usually pop to the shops or visit my parents or friends with babies. I always try to be home by 5 when DH is home from work.

I’d say on average a day he spends an hour-hour and a half solo playing, either while I’m in the room or pottering about.

During meals, walks, nappy changes etc I’m always chatting to him. I BF still and he is cuddled to sleep so we have plenty of cuddles together.

I do get down on the floor and play with him during the day. We read books, he has a bath every day which he loves. But I think it’s important to enjoy solo play especially as I’m unsure whether he’ll have a sibling. And he seems to enjoy it! If he ever cries out for me I go and play with him. Sometimes if he seems restless but I can’t go to him straight away I put the tv on for 10 minutes. Other than that we have no tv on in the day, we listen to the radio.

I guess I’m just asking if you think I’ve got the balance right between interacting and letting him get on with it? I’m worried I’m leaving him alone too much and this will adversely affect his development. All opinions welcome 😊

Of course, you are doing just fine don't doubt yourself! Keep on enjoying your baby :)

Your day doesn’t sound too different from mine with 1yo DS. He’s quite happy to cruise about and play independently as well for a period of time. Tbh my little one is in his own little world most the time happily pottering from toy to toy 😂 I think as long as they seem happy and you do things like read/play and chat away then it’s all good.

You do a lot more than i do

Thanks so much all for taking time to reply. My mum guilt has gone into overdrive recently hence all this overthinking. I’m going to try and follow the mantra that if he’s happy I’m happy. He’s been very independent from a young age, not at all cuddly or clingy so I shouldn’t be surprised he enjoys independent play. Thanks again x

You really don't have to play with them that much - our generation does way more than the previous and this whole thing is quite a new concept really and people seem to have survived fine without it. A lot of our mums would have left us in cots/playpens while they went about their domestic business a lot of the time, TBH.