Worried my daughter isnt getting much social stimuli?

[lcmorla]

Most of the day, its just my 5mo daughter and I. Then when my SO is home, its use 3 but thats it. I don't have any friends or family here so I'm kind of concerned that she might become clingy to either me or her Dad. Should I be concerned for her or will she do fine?

 

[mummytobe_93]

I think she will do just fine I wouldn't worry about it. However I do think some groups would probably be good for you. I know how 'boring' it can get being in at home by yourself all day every day and baby/toddler groups help with that plus my babies like them too!
Have you looked up any groups at all you could go to? Maybe that way you could meet some friends with babies too xx

 

[MumToEva]

I would probably look about attending a group of some kind to get her a bit of social interaction, but overally I wouldn't worry too much - my 2 kids are polar opposites, one is the life and soul of the party and the other is painfully shy, despite them having the same amount of social interaction, so I think it's mainly it's to do with the individual child's personality.

 

[lcmorla]

Thanks ladies! My girl is filled with personality. She loves people. I take her to the park daily so she can watch all the kids play. Just yesterday, we were at the park swinging--I was in the big kid swing and had her in my lap and a little one year old across the playground started waving from afar. She came closer so we got off the swing so they can talk to each other. my daughter was so amazed at this 1 year old girl. Smiling and cooing at her. It made me sad that my daughter doesn't get much interaction with other kids--she obviously loves it!

 

[lcmorla]

I really dont know where to look to find baby/toddler groups. That would be so fun!

 

[mummytobe_93]

You could just try googling toddler or baby groups in your area? Are you in the UK or US?
There's loads in the UK and a lot are free xx

 

[_Meep_]

Groups are all over the place! I had no idea how many were on around our area until I looked.

We now go to soft play once a week at the leisure centre. It's free. I thought I would hate it, as I'm not really one for standing around making small talk, but my kid has a blast. She blitzes around jabbering and squealing, and loves seeing the other children. She's even had a go on the bouncy castle! Parents often come up to us and comment on how busy and fast she is, which is a nice talking point. We're basically all there for our children anyway, so we have that in common.

If you're in the UK, you could ask your health visitor about local groups.

 

[MindUtopia]

That sounds perfectly fine to me. When they're older (toddlers), they do need more socialisation once they start interacting with and playing with others. But at 5 months, really all they need is you and other family around them (whoever lives in your house). You can't create a clingy baby by spending lots of time with them - actually, it's the opposite. Babies who don't have one caregiver they are really bonded with and who they get to spend lots of time around, tend to be more likely to be clingy and insecure. It's that early attachment with you that will foster confidence and independence. At that age, my daughter and I went to maybe 1 group or social activity of some sort with other babies a week - if that. Mostly, it was just us, either at home or out doing something (like the shopping or going to the park or out for a coffee or running other errands, etc.). She hadn't even stayed with anyone but my husband or I at that point. She slept every nap on me, etc. It was pretty much just us. And she's incredibly outgoing, confident, sociable and not at all clingy as a 2 year old. The key really is just lots of interaction between you and them (or your husband or another close family member who might help out), eye contact, touch (massage is great for this), sensory experiences, and lots of talk (I used to narrate pretty much everything I did all day - if she was with me while I was washing dishes, I'd put her in the wrap so she could see what I was doing, and I'd talk to her about it). They don't really need to 'socialise' yet at that age. When they're older, yes. But it's not as important that young and you don't need to get them used to other people to encourage them to not be clingy (they'll do that on their own as they get older). But really it's about you - if you're bored and feeling un-stimulated and needing more social interaction than you're getting to enjoy your time with her, then yes, find it. Happy, stimulated mums who enjoy what they're doing are best for babies.