How much independence?

[becca022]

How much independence do you let your mobile children have around the house? In the mornings I put dd (14 months) straight on the floor so she can have free roam through the house before breaky, then when it's ready we call her to come & eat. We pretty much just get her to crawl around all day & don't carry her much. Are we expecting too much of a baby, or do other people do it too?

[PeppaH]

Oh god I have never been on for constantly having DS on my hip lol Even when he was a new bubba, he would be left either in the other room or just in the kitchen (say while I did the dishes) He is very independant now and has free range of the house hahaha. I shut the doors I dont want him in and he has learnt not to go into the kitchen. He doesnt have any toys really to play with anymore because I got sick of seeing them out but him not playing with them lol so I jsut packed them all away but his blocks and a truck or two.

[Refresh]

My 4 just play together all day now it is holidays, so they follow each other around. DS3 who is 1 doesn't even like being carried around, he is too inquisitive.

We don't do baby gates or anything either, except on the deck stairs.

[Sunnygal]

Bug has always had free range of the house, when he was a crawler he would usually just follow me around, now he is two he happily plays by himself most times - still follows me occassionally though :)

[Teegzie]

18 month old DD get free rein of the house too. We had to spend a lot of time teaching her what she is and isn't allowed to play with, but she is pretty good now and will simply go to her toy tubs or table and chairs and start her own games.

I have to supervise a bit more closely now that we have a puppy, but she still gets a fair bit of freedom around the house.

All that said DF and I are very careful to make sure doors are shut to places we don't want DD to go (learnt the hard way to close the toilet door!) and that knives etc are well out of reach on the bench.

[Yummy_Mummy]

From the moment DD gets up we put her on the ground & she roams the house as she pleases and plays with all her toys.. will come to us when we make her breakfast or lunch or if she is ready for a bottle & a nap :)

She is rarely picked up when we are at home because we think its all about exploring for her

[Myztiks#1Fan]

i would let coop have free range in the loungeroom, hallway, kitchen and his room. all other rooms are shut as no need for him to go in them. generally though, he would have a bottle first and then do as he wanted but he would always be around me more than anything

[AM]

Totally free range here...

It really depends on the child too, my second son was very colicky and I HAD to carry him a LOT, this bub is so laid back, any more he'd be asleep!! So he is fine to cruise around and follow his big brothers, whatever, I carry him around when he wants it, which isn't that often if we are being entertaining enough, and he isn't tired or hungry :)

I think what you are doing is fine, just follow your baby's lead, they let you know what they need.

[BabelFish]

DD started crawling at 5 months and from that moment she was go, go, go! I have always let her have total independence around the house and we made sure that our house was as safe as it could possibly be for her to do so. At such a young age they have NO sense of danger so I watched her pretty carefully but as she's got older she understands the house and knows her boundaries so she is always confident and happy to explore on her own.

We spend heaps of time together and are usually in the same room anyway, but she is free to go where she pleases. I will always make sure I've got an eye out for her and she's got up to some surprising mischief but I don't hover and I don't suffocate her movement and she is a very happy, confident, independent little toddler.

I am ever watchful for her safety, though - it's a fine art but you can let them have their freedom and keep an eye on them too!

[bumMum]

we have a small part of the house which is completely toddler proof as they rest is being renovated and is a bit dangerous. he can do what he likes in the safe part which is the kitchen, hallway, our bedrooms and the lounge. he just does whatever all day but we go out a lot or i get bored :laughing: we also go into the yard a lot and he runs around in there and "gardens." i dont have to supervise constantly as I know he's safe but im always listening and checking to make sure, if im not near by

[Boobycino]

Pfft. When I get up I'm soooooo not ready to play with bub yet. I've told bub plenty of times if he wants quality time with mummy in the morning he needs to demand less of mummies attention at night!

My living space is VERY baby safe - because if there is a hazard bub would have found it by now! He has about 2.5meter long, 3 shelfs of toys which he can help himself to, plus a cycle of bigger toys he can play with, plus a fish tank to talk to - and I shut all the doors, so he can go into the hall way and drive his cars around the house, but he cant get into mischeif. And he'll happily tell me when he wants my attention!

[TripleTime]

They roam free all the time. Only rooms they dont go is bathroom & kitchen, pup's are in the kitchen & dont like kids in their zone.

There isnt anything kids can hurt themselves on.