I can do it myself – standing back and letting your baby work it out

Your baby's independence is growing, and they are keen to get jobs done all by themselves. This can be a joyous time for you to step back and see how they engage with the world around them. Read how you can support them during this exciting stage... 

Plan for allowing more time 

Your baby’s drive to do things for themselves will mean that, at times, things will take a little longer to do; but this need for independence is important for your baby’s development. You can support them by allowing a bit more time to get things done. 

Watch and learn 

Your baby’s desire to be independent might also lead to a determination to solve problems themselves as their cognitive skills develop. Now is the time to watch and wait, rather than jump in to help. Your baby has the cognitive skills to try a different way of doing something if the first way doesn’t work, so give them time to have a go.