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We started IP really early - like 10 minutes in the pack n play at 5 months. Then we slowly extended it and now DS plays without problem for 30 minutes on an egg timer once a day in a childproofed space (currently our baby jail playroom aka living room. I make sure I can't be seen but am in earshot. We will be extending this gradually so that he can be playing in his own room for 1 hour by the time he's 2 years old.

Basically I would try using an egg timer and say mommy will be back in 10 minutes and give lots of praise at the end of 10 minutes. Maybe even a small reward. And then once she's good with 10 minutes keep extending the time. If she pops out just walk her right back in with no words. If she has a fit, go comfort her, explain you will be back as soon as the timer goes off, and try again.

I guess she's been doing this since she was old enough to lift her head up? I never thought of it as something intentional or planned, we would just start leaving her on the activity mat (or now that she's bigger, a blanket on the floor) for a few minutes while we do laundry or prep food or whatever. She just plays with her toys and rolls around and smacks the dog. If she starts fussing we come back and help her.

Maybe that will change when she gets older? She's only 8 months. Is there a point when most babies start to need an adult in order to play?

Both of mine started to play alone around 4-5 months old. DS2 is now 6 months old and will play on his tummy (or sitting) with a rattle or toy for 20-30 minutes. We often get him ready for the day, place him on the floor of his room, then get ourselves ready for work. DS1, age four, will play on his own for an hour or two easily.

Probably from about 3 months? Before that she was so sleepy all the time that when she was awake I wanted to play with her and maximize those few moments before she nursed and drifted off again. Haha. Now (8.5 months) she plays quite well while I cook/tidy for about 20-25 minutes, with a few redirections away from the Christmas tree

Ugh, I'm waiting for this still. My 3 yo only ever wants to play with mommy or daddy, never alone! It's sweet but the only independent thing he will do is the iPad.

We have done this since she was born, I guess. I started by leaving her awake (usually) in her crib while I took my morning shower. As she grew I might leave her playing with toys so I could use the bathroom or fix a snack. Once she started crawling I would allow her to do her own thing (in our child-proof living room) while I sat nearby, worked on dishes/laubdry, etc. she is 18 months and quite content to play on her own.

DD is 5 days shy of 12 months...she can play independently some days for long periods of time 10-30mins multiple times a day, some days, like today 0 ......lol

She played by herself starting around 5-6 months for a good 5-10 minutes

My DS is 21 months and will play by himself if i an doing nothing. Like sitting on the floor doing absolutely nothing. Other wise he wants to sit in my lap or help me with whatever I am doing. We've encouraged independent play for a while but he still doesn't like it. He's just now getting to the point where he will wander off and play by himself for a while and then come back (never more than ten min) but it is almost always when he is pooping. He just loves helping too much! I think even if you try to teach them to play independently (which we have done) some kids just aren't interested.

My LO just turned 3 and started being good with independent play in just the last few months. She will only play on her own if she knows I am busy though.

I think about 3 months. She almost always tolerated being put on the activity mat and left alone, but at three months she startes playing with the haning animals.