Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

Sometimes I feel like I'm not spending enough time playing with Kevin. He's not quite sitting up on his own so its a bit harder to play with his new toys but we sit on the floor and he bangs away on them. He also like to lay in his playpen and bat at his soft toys and sometimes he'll play in his exersaucer for 15 minutes or so.

We read and I talk to him but sometimes I just let him hang out in his bouncy seat so I can get things done around the house or just take 10 minutes to sit and read a magazine or check LIF. I also let him watch a few shows on Noggin and his Baby Einstein video.

Is it ok for him to entertain himself parts of the day at 7 months or should I be providing constant activity?

Sometimes I feel when I leave him to entertain himself I'm being a neglectful mother.

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I have been thinking the same thing, Julia can sit up and play but she wants to for only so long, then shes in her pack and play for like a couple of minutes to play, or shes in her exersaucer (which shes getting very board of) I put on the baby genius DVD's and she loves them, but I dont want her infront of the TV all day too, and I also feel like I'm neglecting her too. She loves to just sit on the coach with me and hangout, but I feel like its the same routine everyday. Fridays we go to gymboree.
I guess we will always be wondering if we are doing the right things with our kids.......

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I think that providing constant entertainment (if you could do it without losing your sanity)would not be a good thing. Allowing your child time for independent play is important too! Sounds like he is having fun on his own. So much of learning at this stage is self-directed.

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I would say 90% of the time I entertain....the other 10 I let him self-entertain....

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I would say 50% of my time is spent actually playing with him. I talk to him all day long and he loves playing independently. He is really good at entertaining himself. I used to worry about this issue too, but I have read that independent play is very important. We read, count, and play with his toys. Plus, we do mommy and me classes. I think we all worry if we are stimulating them enough. But the whole world is stimulation to them and they learn all day long by observing the world around them.

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I used to spend every waking moment entertaing him and it got completely out of control. My house was falling apart and nothing was getting done. Now I play with him for about 50% of the day, The other 50% e spends, rolling on the floor, haning out in his highchair, excersaucer,walker, etc. . My days are so much better now that he entertains himself a little. I get so much more done around the house and the time I spend with him is more enjoyable because I get that little break to regroup

Re: Do you play with your baby all the time when they are awake?

I play with her quite a bit but I also let her play by herself and sit near her and I talk to her or just sometimes leave her be if she's content.
Its hard but I am starting to observe that she discovers things when I leave her to herself for a little while at a time.