Baby and friends

[BabyMamaStepMama]

My LO is nearly 1 year old. She is very gentle and happily interacts with other babies and children, even ones she has only just met. She has lots of 'friends' at Baby classes we attend and is quite a sensitive soul.

We have been to a few quiet soft play sessions recently, but there have not been many babies there, mostly toddlers (or at least look about 18 months/2+ years). They have either interacted with my LO in a way that she doesn't like (getting too close/ being too boisterous near her/ throwing balls etc around and accidentally hitting her with them) OR 1 or 2 have told other kids not to play with her, been possessive over toys or even built a 'fort' with their friends so she can't reach them and then laughed when she has become upset.

This probably effects me more than her, as it's upsetting to see her so happy to be trying to interact and then kids either being a bit mean or just not understanding how to play appropriately with a smaller baby (even after being told).

Has anyone else experienced this and any advice please?

The difference between a 1 year old and 2 year old is massive in terms of ability, social skills, imaginative play etc. etc. But also an 18 month/2 year old is still a baby really. So expecting them to understand how to play with a younger baby isn't exactly reasonable. And 'even after being told' you might as well be speaking a foreign language trying to get a baby of that age to do as you want them to. Sorry OP, but sounds like you need to focus on getting some pals of the same age together to play with your DD. She sounds like a lovely little girl and she'll be stronger and more able for the boisterous play as she gets older, but she's still very young. This is just a normal thing that happens when littles are mixing so try not to let it get to you❤️

Thank you. Appreciate it is probably me not being used to babies of these ages interacting and what's normal/ what isn't.

We do try to not shield her from the boisterous play unless it's getting to a point that she will get hurt. And when I say even after being told, I meant 'oh I don't think she likes that. But she does like xyz'. You're right ght that it can be like speaking a foreign language sometimes though! It is more the 'mean' comments and behaviour that make me feel sad (mean is probably the wrong word, I don't know what the right one is!).

A few of us from baby groups have said we will get together when we are all free though. These soft play sessions have been more to get her comfortable with the bigger children, more noise and give her somewhere safe to play that isn't just our house/ group sessions!