how long is LO playing by her/himself?

Turtle143

Lately I noticed Liv can't stand to just be by herself. She used to be okay just surrounded by toys for long periods while I just supervise, probably for about 20-30 minutes. Yesterday and today I noticed she gets whiny then I leave her in her play yard for 5-10 minutes. When she gets my attention, she stops and smiles and continues to play. I wonder if it's because I have been sick for days and I always had Baby Einstein playing in the background while she played and now i don't. I felt bad about all the TV she was exposed to when I was sick as a dog.

I probably screwed her attention span.  I 

Are you constantly playing with your LOs? How long do you leave LO there to play by themselves? 

ladybear06

DD plays by herself for a good 3 hours in a day.  I'm always there with her, but she enjoys "reading" her books and playing with the dog.  But once she wants my attention, it has to be right then or she'll have a meltdown.

hepcats

I've noticed this about Martin too! I've chalked it up to either teething or slight separation anxiety. I have no idea why this is coming about now.

PurdueMama14

If he is playing on the floor, he doesn't last long playing by himself and wants me down there playing with him. If he's in his exersaucer, he can play by himself for probably a good 20 minutes before he gets bored and wants out.

thomas2013

Kaydence will play by herself for a long time. She plays on the floor for about 1-2 hours multiple times a day. I sit with her for most of the time. Ds comes and plays with her, every so ofter. But once she is done she is done!

kas80

We were up to about 30 minutes but then the holidays hit and we were at her grandparents for 2.5 weeks, where she had them, her uncle, and her dad home 24/7.  Now I'm struggling to get her to play alone for 15 but most of the time she starts screaming the minute I start walking away.  I think it's withdrawal from all of the attention plus they had the tv on all the time and my rule is that the tv doesn't go on until 7pm. 

 

62406

We've been experiencing the same thing.  I think it's a combination of being held so much over the holidays and getting overstimulated as well as her two front teeth coming in (she asked for them for Christmas ).  She has been getting better the last few days, but she the attention span of a gnat, which is maybe 10 minutes max before the whining starts. 

RobinSparkles81

She can play by herself for a long time...the problem is now that she is mobile she wants to play with everything that isn't a toy so I'm always chasing after her and usually I end up having to just play with her to keep her from going after everything else.

OverjoyedMama

DS use to be okay playing by himself for 20-30 mins. Lately, he's fine if he doesn't notice me leave the room but if he sees me walking around and i dont go straight to him (pronto!) he'll start to cry. 

MommaA117

10 minutes at a time tops. She gets mad on the floor, in her walker or in the jumperoo. Sometimes she will go 15 minutes. Shes always wanted to be with me and not alone though. I wear her a lot at home.

Turtle143

kas80:

We were up to about 30 minutes but then the holidays hit and we were at her grandparents for 2.5 weeks, where she had them, her uncle, and her dad home 24/7.  Now I'm struggling to get her to play alone for 15 but most of the time she starts screaming the minute I start walking away.  I think it's withdrawal from all of the attention plus they had the tv on all the time and my rule is that the tv doesn't go on until 7pm. 

 

Same thing with us! I had out-of-state family stay with us over the holidays and man they spoiled Liv! That's definitely withdrawal too.

MommaG123

It depends on the day.

Good days she can play by herself for a half an hour while I'm doing something else.  She can play for longer if I get down there and do things with her.

On whiny/clingy days the second I start to put her down she locks her knees, arches her back, and starts screaming at the top of her lungs.  It is sooooo much fun.