Don't think I play with DS enough

[Moorhen]

He's 7.5 months, and has always been perfectly happy to amuse himself for ages. Because of this, I feel I've got really lax in actually playing with him myself.

I do sing to him, do clap games, read, show him how to bang stuff together, peep-bo etc every day, but I know mums who spend hours doing it and I'm probably doing less than an hour.

Obviously I talk to him and show him things and chat in the pushchair and cuddle him, but if I'm honest, I would probably say I far prefer watching him taste and fling things than put on a bright mummy-voice and do some lovely constructive play.

He seems happy and bright and independent - shades of my huge need for space and privacy, perhaps? - so I don't think rationally that I'm actually stunting him.

But I would love someone else to tell me so!

goodness it sounds like you do loads with him and if he is contented then you are doing a good job. You can't play with a baby for hours every day - at least I can't. Talking about what you are doing and cuddling him for the majority of the time is fine - and all the other things that you do every day are great too. As he gets older he will demand more - I always used to feel guilty for not reading to DS enough but now he makes me do it and it is much more rewarding because he enjoys it so much. At 7.5 months the needs are simpler

I'm a bit like this too, and felt a bit guilty about it until I spoke to another mum who said she too spent a lot of time on her laptop whilst her child was playing on his own.
Now I think it just breeds a sense of independence in my dd.
If she wants me, she will start to moan. And, since she started to crawl, she will bring me a book if she wants me to read to her or come and grab at my newspaper or pull on my leg if she wants my attention.
Even at playgroups, etc. I will just let her get on with it and watch her from afar.

Don't believe there is a right way of parenting, but this way feels right for me.
I'm no expert, but you sound like you're doing what seems right for you, and your ds sounds perfect!

hth