When Can Babies Play by Themselves?

Starting a quiet independent play time is ideal when baby is around five months old. At that age, he is generally able to hold his head up and manipulate a toy on his own, but is not yet mobile. While that is the optimal time, children of all ages can be taught to play quietly on their own.

At what age do babies entertain themselves?

Some babies do entertain themselves by eight months of age, while others seem to want more contact with their parents. In general, however, it seems as if babies have a built-in expectation to be a part of adult life and are not prepared, developmentally, to spend large periods of time playing alone.

Is it OK to let babies play by themselves?

While interaction with adults and peers is vital to a child's development, experts say it's just as crucial for babies and toddlers to have time by themselves. ... Since a child may see himself as a separate individual for the first time at around 8 months, independent play also helps to strengthen his identity.