How to set up independent play for your baby

{ Learn more about play at each stage in my COMPREHENSIVE ROUTINE GUIDES. }

If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I am a big proponent of independent play from day one. Yep, you heard that right - having your baby “play” independently from the start is actually SO good for their development.

When your baby is playing independently, they are:

• Exploring movements with their body to help develop motor skills (reaching for something, rolling over, learning to push up on hands and knees, etc)

• Practicing “entertaining” themselves (They enjoy this! Babies do not get bored) to help build their attention skills

• Learning about the environment around them through their senses (sight, sounds, touch, and body awareness) to help promote sensory processing

• Building their brain for future development of learning and executive functioning skills

• Allowing YOU to have somewhat of a break, even if it’s for a minute or two : )

So what do I mean by playing independently? Well, this is anytime your baby is exploring an object, toy, or their surroundings without you being right there and interacting with them. Most importantly, you are not talking to them or telling them what to do / not to do. Ideally, during independent play, your baby is not in any sort of seat, bouncer, or stander, but rather their entire body is free to explore straight up on the floor or in some sort of safe enclosure such as a pack-n-play or “baby jail”, as I used to call it with J.

Of course, safety is always the number one priority, so the image of what a baby playing independently looks like changes as they get older. Pre-mobile babies (not yet rolling or crawling around) can be placed directly on the floor …. yes, I promise! Once they can move around (or if you have pets and/or other children around), you will need to create a safe space and/or baby-proof the area so that you feel comfortable turning your back or your attention for a bit without having to constantly watch them.

If you’re starting to feel worried or guilty that you haven’t been incorporating this into your baby’s day… STOP! You can begin independent play at any age, I promise.

Here is how to try it:

1. Create a safe play space depending on your baby’s age. It does NOT have to be fancy! A blanket on the floor with 1-2 objects/toys is perfect.

2. If your baby isn’t used to be left alone yet, sit and play together for a minute or two.

3. Get up and walk a few feet away or into the other room. Give baby a chance to be alone.

4. If your baby begins to fuss, give them a chance to self-regulate. You do not need to jump in right away. You know your baby best, so trust your gut with how long you give them without intervening.

5. Practice the above over and over again! A minute or two multiple times per day is GREAT.

6. Rotate out your baby’s toys each time so that your baby only has a few at once. TOO many toys actually makes your baby pay LESS attention to them! Also, new objects are very enticing to babies 4-ish months and up. Use anything random (and safe) from your kitchen or around the house.

Have you tried this? Let me know how it goes in the comments or send me a DM on Instagram.

If you need more help with play, my Comprehensive Routine Guides include an entire section on play at each age, including how and when to incorporate independent play into your baby’s day. You’ll feel confident in knowing that your baby is set up for success. Check them out HERE!