Too Much Alone Time?

You're lucky to have such an independant infant- a stage that could end at any moment... as long as she's content, and you do make it a point to spend time intereacting with her, she should be fine...

Sounds to me as if she is a very happy little girl. Be happy that she can entertain herself!! I wouldn't push her to do anything. She will do things when she is ready. All kids are different. All 5 of mine did things at different times.

If your daughter can sit up alone and play with the toys around her and be happy I don't see any reason you should change things. If your daughter is not able to sit up on her own and she is just laying on the floor then I would change something. I think letting her play alone is more than fine if she is happy but I would buy an ultrasaucer or some kind of bouncer she can sit in if she is unable to sit unsupported on the floor.
I think it is important for babies to see the world as we see it, and we don't lay around looking at the ceiling..haha

I hope this helps a little,

Hi A.,
I wouldn't worry about it. I would enjoy while you can since they go through so many different stages so quickly. Its funny that when you have your first child he consumes your life. Everything is about him and what he is doing. But when you have your second you are so much busier that you don't have time to worry about the little things. lol. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Chris

I also have a 7 month old daughter who loves to play by herself. She can sit there for up to an hour just playing with her toys, making noises, and exploring her surroundings.
I think as long as you spend time with her as well, her alone time is good for them (and you). That time helps her develop her fine motor skills and helps her develop some independence.
When I worked at a child care center, we often allowed the children to play alone.

My daughter also is not too fond of rolling over. I try to spend at least once a day rolling her over. She can do it, she just doesn’t like it. If you are unsure, ask your Ped.
I don't think I'd be too worried if she isn't rolling over. All children develop at different rates.

Good luck!

Consider it a blessing that your little one can entertain herself like that. As long as you're talking to her while you're doing other stuff and she knows where you are she's fine. Also She will roll when she's ready. She's got one part down the next will come soon most likely. My little one is also a very good self entertainer and has been since a very young age. He is now 2. Good luck!

A.,
It is great to let your child play on her own. It's not too long as long as she is having fun, and it sounds like she is. Kids like alone time, and interaction with adults. Don't worry about that being to long, she'll let you know if she wants interaction with you. My daughter does the same thing she plays by herself in the morning and plays and does stuff with me in the evening. Playing by themselves helps spark imagination and it's great for a child to have a good imagination!!! Don't worry about her not rolling from her back too her tummy she will learn how to do it. L.

It sounds like you have a wonderful little girl. It is great that she enjoys playing alone (and great for you, I'm sure!). I am sure she is taking in all of her surroundings... learning and being stimulated is keeping her interest. My son was like that at her age (he is three now), but I was always too afraid to leave him playing alone for too long. I am sure he would have been fine if I just left him to play, but even while sitting and reading next to him while he played, I interacted with him every few minutes, just to let him know I was there (and a part of his play and excitement about the world). But that was just me, and it might have made no difference at all. Your daughter will go through a lot of phases, so don't be alarmed if pretty soon she wants to be around you constantly. My son was always clingy when he was tired, but usually wanted to play and explore alone. But I remember before he was 11 months old, a period when he was terrified if I wasn't holding him. But in a few weeks, he was over it. :) Good Luck!

Chris

I don't think it's a problem to let her play alone as long as you are playing with her some too. I would try to help her spend more time on her tummy rolling and help her to roll from back to belly. I think that this will help her with the crawling stage. Crawling is so very important to children. It helps develop hand eye coordination and helps then later in school. My mom is a 5th grade teacher and can tell you which children didn't crawl for long and she's almost always right. So I would encourage your daughter to spend more time on her tummy pushing her to roll over and to try to help her roll from back to tummy.

If she can sit and play by herself that is a great thing. That isn't something that kids just necessarily do. A lot of kids have to be taught that or they end up never playing or wanting to do things by themselves. Like the other mom said.......as for the rolling over they do everything in their own time. Don't worry about comparing how old she is and what she is doing to other babies cause they all do it in their own time. Unless it is a huge developmental issue enjoy her cause before you know it she will be in school :) :) :)

Hi. I am like the other mothers enjoy the time you have with her just playing by herself. It is normal for them to play by themselves at a early age it is very good for u to get some rest like reading a book to her or saying abc's while she is playing. As far as the running over thing don't worry about it. All kids develope at different rates. My son which is eight did everything early the only thing that he is slow in is his reading but other then that he is ahead of the other kids. So don't worry about it, enjoy it cause like the other moms said before u know it they will be in school and not cleaning their nasty room.

As long as you are interacting and playing with her at least sometime during the day she will be fine. i wish my son would do that. he is going to be turning one next week and has just recently started playing by himself but not for long. Babies need their time to just be by themselves and chill out. it is good for them. my son did the same thing with rolling. at first he would roll from his back onto his right side but never his left side for some reason. he only did the left side every once in a great while then he worked from the back to the tummy but never from tummy to back he kind of skipped over that part before he started crawling which he started at about 8 months so i wouldn't worry about that either. hope this helps. Jen

Some kids are just better self entertainers. You have been blessed, as have I. I found that those times when my son played so well by himself were fantastic times to get some much needed housework done. I wouldn't feel at all bad for letting her be content to play on her own. This just means that she feels secure enough in your love for her that she doesn't need you right there with her at every moment. That means you are doing a great job. I would be more concerned if she DIDN'T want to play with you at all, even later in the day. So, it sounds to me like you are doing a great job. Keep up the good work, and enjoy.

When my daughter was that age I was always told to give them their "own" time for them to get used to you in and out of rooms, helps them fall asleep on their own, etc. I always left my daughter in the morning watching baby enstein videos with her toys all around her and I would check lots on her but she played for about an hour while I did work and she developed into a very content child. I could lay her down to sleep and she would play and talk to herself and fall asleep, she never cried when I left the room and she is now 6 years old and still likes her "alone" time each day in her room playing after school. Then when she gets that time, she comes out and we play a game or do homework together or read or watch a show together. I am all for them having alone time

Hi A.,
As a seasoned mom (I have 4 kids ages 20, 17, 15 and 7)I'm thinking - enjoy it while you can! But, as a new mom you are worried about things like that, it's natural. Is she playing with items, her hands, feet, etc.? Is she placed in front of the tv? If she seems to be content with curiosity and is developing normally I wouldn't be too concerned. Consider yourself lucky. However, if she is just laying there with no interest in her surroundings and is just being quiet, I would think about approaching your pediatrician. As far as rolling over, I wouldn't push her into anything. She will roll over when she's ready, that's a natural progression. It wouldn't hurt to assist her when you are playing with her, but I wouldn't be too worried that she's not doing it yet, it will happen. Kids are a lot of fun and watching them progress from one step to the next is amazing. You are at the point that you can't wait until the next thing. I was the same with my first. But, they do grow very quickly and before you know it, they are doing everything on their own (except cleaning their room). Enjoy your daughter!!

Hi A.,
My 5 year old daughter was the same way. She had (and still does) a long attention span and was content to play happily by herself for quite awhile. She'll let you know what she needs but you also want to let her know that you notice what she's doing (talk to her, smile, hugs, etc.). As far as her not rolling, some kids never do, they just "skip" steps. For my kids, I would just encourage them and "help" by holding their hand while they were lying on their back and gently pull them over. Usually, they would be pulling at the same time and it wouldn't be long until they figured it out on their own. S.

Be grateful!! It's good for kids to play alone some and that doesn't seem too long to me. It teaches them to focus, explore, be independent, etc. Enjoy it. At 3 1/2 my daughter is still good at independent play and it's quite a blessing many times. Hug her, love her, and play with her, but let her learn independently also.