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Original poster

Baby playing independently

15 replies

Ellie1995 · 01/08/2019 11:02

My little girl is coming up to 4 months old and up to now has been spending the majority of the time in my arms - I do give her time in the baby gym/bouncer/tummy time each day but most of the time she is held.
I feel like she’s starting to get to an age where she should be spending a bit more time playing independently if possible - both for her development in terms of having time practicing rolling, grasping etc and for me so I can start to get a bit more done.
I’m wondering how people have started to encourage this - where do you leave baby to play independently and how. She isn’t yet at the point where if she dropped a toy she could get to it and pick it back up and I don’t want to just leave her lying there bored.
To further complicate things we have a dog so I can’t just wander out of the room!

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shellysheridan · 01/08/2019 12:55

My ds was in a jumperoo from 4 months. I also just laid a blanket on the floor and put out a few toys for them to explore. Independence grew massively when they could sit up.

rottiemum88 · 01/08/2019 14:07

My DS is 6 months now, but I tried to do similar around that age - also have two very large dogs so I know the challenges well! I found the easiest thing to do was use the travel cot and put a few toys in with him within easy reach. DS's been sitting up on his own the past few weeks and is still happy to go in there to play. I bought some plastic balls so it's mostly used as a ball pit now It's worth remembering though that their attention span for self entertaining is still quite limited when they're so small, so follow their cues in terms of when they've had enough and it's fine. Sometimes I manage a whole 5 minutes before he's grumbling

ErrolTheDragon · 01/08/2019 14:13

I can't make 'independent' and 'baby' fit together as a concept at all, tbh.

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sundaymorningblues · 01/08/2019 14:19

Playmat or blanket and a few toys is good. Probably depends on your baby's personality but DD used to really need that time from around 4 months or so. She was noticeably grumpy if she was over-handled for too long/ not given time to explore.

PotolBabu · 01/08/2019 14:19

On a play mat. On a blanket on the floor.

AnneLovesGilbert · 01/08/2019 14:25

Mine spends a lot of time rolling around on a padded fabric mat on the floor or propped up resting back in the corner of the sofa with a toy in her hands. I’m with her so she can’t roll off but she enjoys quiet time and playing with something in her fingers and I chat quietly or sing songs and watch tv or read a book. She’ll nod off if she’s sleepy or I’ll notice she’s hungry and feed her then pop her back.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 01/08/2019 14:29

DD loved her gym at that age.

HypatiaCade · 01/08/2019 14:30

DS1 couldn't sit properly until around 6 months, until then I guess I just let him spend time in the baby gym (he absolutely adored one of the toys - a purple giraffe, which we have kept and as a boisterous 12 year old he now treasures!), bouncer, once he could sit up, the door way jumper (he absolutely adored that!).

Tigger001 · 01/08/2019 14:33

A play gym is a good start to lay them down to look at and play with as they grow.

We had a jumperoo but my DS wasn't really that interested, but always worth a go as they get a little bigger.

Daffodil2018 · 01/08/2019 14:54

"Independent" is relative isn't it, no one's suggesting dropping the baby off in town for a wander round the shops

I got a play mat for DD at around 5 months and it's one of the best things we have. She loves it and it's really thick and squishy so comfy for me to sit on too. I just pop her on it and give her a small toy - she loves rattles. Agree with PPs who've recommended a gym - something that dangles over her while she's lying down will be good.

FenellaMaxwell · 01/08/2019 14:58

Looks at velcro 2yo, gives a hollow laugh

You can try jumperoos and things, but the actual concept of independent play isn’t something you’d really expect until they are 2 or 3.

MumUndone · 01/08/2019 15:04

Baby gym and tummy time.

ChildminderMum · 01/08/2019 15:07

Mine have been on a playmat or baby gym, or just a blanket on the floor with toys at that age.

Jumperoo when a bit bigger.

Mine have all played independently (with me close by) at that age, I'd be surprised to meet a 2 or 3 year old with no ability to play by themselves.

Sevo7 · 01/08/2019 15:18

I had a baby who loved to be held,still does actually! But from 3 months I started to lay her on a quilt on the floor and hand her a toy to examine,she also loved her play gym and her kick and play piano was a big hit. Started using a jumperoo at around 4 months which she absolutely loved once she got the hang of it. She would only play independently for 10 minutes or so before wanting to be picked up again. It certainly didn’t slow her development as she could roll over by just over 4 months,sitting by 5 and crawling by 8 months. She’s happy now to play for 30/40 minutes or so at 8 months.

sundaymorningblues · 01/08/2019 15:29

"I'd be surprised to meet a 2 or 3 year old with no ability to play by themselves"

I guess there's a difference between "not being able to" and "preferring not to". I have videos of DD aged around 4 months playing with toys on her playmat by herself for about 10 minutes. I also have videos of her aged 12 months playing with a watering can and water table and shouting "go way" at me if I tried to join in. Aged 3 years, she still has days when she'll follow me around while I'm trying to put the laundry away, demanding to be amused because she's decided she's bored and can't amuse herself!

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