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14 month old socialising

3 replies

RedRobyn2021 · 26/04/2022 11:20

Just wanted to hear from other more experienced parents really

I have noticed recently how much my daughter wants to play with other children and I have been trying my best to facilitate this by taking her to soft play or swimming or to the park. We were going to a baby group but they stopped doing the class on my day off.

We live very rural and she is looked after by either my mum or her dad when I'm at work.

I feel so guilty that I haven't been able to make other mum friends. I've really struggled to meet other women.

I am trying, but between work and finding a class that's on on a day I can take her that doesn't clash with her morning nap, it's proving difficult and I'm starting to worry about her development.

I read in a gentle parenting book that kids get most of what they need socially from being at home with a care giver, but I can't help but feel that some of that is just one persons opinion and what if I am letting her down.

What do you think? Is she going to suffer if I don't make sure she is meeting up with other children regularly? It would be so nice if she had a friend she could connect with ♥️

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sarahb083 · 28/04/2022 20:43

I'm sorry you're struggling with this. I don't think the guilt about mum friends is helpful - you are posting on a parenting forum about how to make friends for your toddler, so you are clearly and kind and caring parent. I've struggled to make mum friends too.

Is she interacting with kids at all at the moment? Even one or two classes per week would be a good start. Could you send her to nursery for a half day per week? My DD is 15 months old and loves nursery.

Prinnny · 30/04/2022 09:06

It would be so nice if she had a friend she could connect with

At 14MO that won’t happen so stop torturing yourself with the guilt! I’ve just put my nearly 3YO in nursery one day a week for the social side but before we did a weekly class, soft play etc so she had plenty exposure to other kids. Children don’t play together until the age of 3, until then they just parallel play so she really isn’t missing out atm.

MissMaple82 · 30/04/2022 09:38

Quite simply, no! A 14 month old doesn't need a social life! Playgroups is the answer, not soft plays as such.

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