Anybody else have a baby who enjoys their own company?

[Jellyfish]

DD likes to play and explore. 90% of the time, I sit with her and I try to join in or just talk about what she is holding/doing but she is very happy playing on her own, as long as she can see me. Sometimes I feel like I am actually annoying her! Sometimes she engages me -- passes me toys, hand clapping games, "helping" build things (or destroying them haha) -- so I know that she has an idea about playing together, she just seems to like doing her own thing. I am a pretty 'solo' person myself so I'm not too concerned about it but is there other people who have a baby like this just to put my mind at ease? She is 10 months on the 17th.

[Ella]

Oh I very much have a child like this. DS is now 14 months and he has been happy to play by himself from the moment he could crawl. Like you I get involved and he loves when I do, but he is also just as happy to explore the backyard while I sit at the patio table for well over an hour.

Don't be bothered at it at all, do what I am doing and thank God for giving us such easy going children!

[Heaven]

Totally normal JB!!

Children go through different stages of play as they grow and develop. Very young infants only have the ability to attend to one object at a time. Once an object is out of their sight, it is quickly forgotten. Infants play by themselves because they are so busy exploring and discovering their new world. Every new object or situation that is introduced is a new learning experience for the newborn. This very first stage of play is called "Solitary Play" or independent play. They are fully engaged in gathering information and storing it for further use. This stage of play lasts until some where around nine months. This is a very self centered time for the developing infant.
The second stage of play begins to ripen in slightly older children usually by the time a child is two years of age. "Parallel Play" is typical of this age child. This kind of play involves two or more children in the same room. They are interested in the same toys and both see the toy as belonging to them. Hence they maybe in the same area and play with similar toys, but they do not play together. They are playing along side each other simply because they are in the same area.
When children extend their knowledge and play experiences they move into "Associative Play". In this stage, three and four year old children begin playing together but it is a loosely organized fashion. The more mature child soon emerges as the leader or organizer in this stage of play. They see themselves as capable and able to tell others what to do, the younger child seldom questions this authority that the more mature child has cultivated.
Finally the child expands into "Cooperative Play" somewhere between the ages of four or five. Cooperative play takes place between two or more children as they grow and develop socially and emotionally. In cooperative play, children exchange ideas about the game or the toy they are playing with at that moment in time. Rules tend to still be very loosely constructed, but children know who is playing which role in their game. Play may last only a few minutes or it may stretch out for longer periods of time. Gradually they learn to respect the property rights of others. This is a clue that they are gaining social skills; at this same time they begin to understand that they need permission to play with certain materials and certain people. They are also more willing to share their toys for the sake of the game. Communication about the play is the critical point of cooperative play.
It is important to note that children differ widely according to birth order within their own families. Boys and girls develop in different areas at different stages of their life, so there is never complete adherence to any of these exact ages. Not all children move through the stages at the same rate, because children who have more life experiences tend to emerge as leaders or organizers at younger ages. Confidence, shyness, and other personality traits factor into these stages of play.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Oh hun- yes my DD is the same!. - She loves her own company (a bit like her mumma i think) - She does play with me and loves playing roll the ball and "chasey" and practicing her walking skills (with my help!)- but she lets me know when she's had enough by just ignoring me! - it doesn't concern me because she is very social when amongst other bubbas - i think its just her personality to enjoy doing things on her own

[indie24]

My DD is 15 months old and is exactly the same. She plays by herself and I feel like I am interupting her whe I sit on the floor with her

[Doing my best]

Yep, DD has always liked playing on her own, but also likes company too whether it be adult ot child..

I have also noticed DS tends to like some time away in his cot with a toy and no-one (me or DD) to annoy him.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

Interestingly i've noticed that most of us (except for one poster!) who have a bub like this, have girls! hmmmm