Creating a Safe Play Space for Babe
Some of the best learning and play that will happen in our children’s lives is that which doesn’t involve us at all. I used to be *that* Mom—the one constantly intervening and directing play, but as the days have gotten busier with two littles, I’ve realized something: some of the most imaginative moments of wonder in my children’s day are the pockets of time where they are able to sink deep into their own little world of play.
Independent playtime can begin as young as one month of age, but what often holds us back is the need to keep our babies safe. How can we sit back and let the magic happen if we’re worried they’ll roll under the couch or chew through a cord…? (You can find my babyproofing essentials here!)
The answer to this (and to getting 5 minutes to pee without panic):
✨a Yes Space✨
A Yes space is an intentional space you create in your home for baby to be able to play without fear of harm. It’s often an enclosed area where they have access to essential toys and comfort items, but big siblings and dogs don’t have access to them :) The boundary lines also prevent them from escaping and getting into something that may be harmful if you need to step away for a moment. A yes space doesn’t have to be their only place to play, but is primarily used when you need to step away for a moment and know they are okay. For things like showering, I recommend a baby monitor nearby to ease your anxiety a bit!
For more resources like this, check out these other Movement Mama posts:
Toy Rotation: A Step By Step Guide
Gifts for the Taby: That Awkward Phase Where They're Squishy but Sassy
Is a Play Couch Worth the Investment?
Toys to Encourage Baby to Roll
Here are some of my favorite ways to create one:
Pop a few safe toys in their pack-n-play (this one’s our personal fave & we’re upgrading to the bassinet + PnP option for this next babe)
Utilize a large baby gate that encircles them in a larger area to roam safely. You can find even more options for play yards here.
To make it extra comfortable for them, be sure to throw down a playmat. You can see my full review of several of my favorites here. You can shop them through my Amazon storefront, or for a discount use the links below:
Toki Mats 15% off with code MVMTMAMA10
Shwally Mats $10 off with code MOVE10
Note: for tiny babies, consider a Topponcino—a soft mat that becomes their “safe space”. I love this post from my friend Our Purposeful Play on how to utilize it
Once a solid sleep routine is established, use their crib and a few safe toys to occupy their time
I recommend some sort of overhead play gym for enticing them while they’re on their back! While the Lovevery play gym gets a lot of buzz for being expensive, I believe it is more than worth it. Here’s why:
It has multiple ways to play: tummy time mat, overhead hanging bar, and later a cozy cave for reading or pretend play
It comes with a jam-packed developmental guide that is essentially like having a room of developmental therapists telling you exactly what to expect in your baby’s first year. This is worth it’s weight in gold. Trust me.
It has a high resale value—done having babies? You can rest assured that you’ll get return on your investment with this one!
Choose a room in your home and make it entirely baby-proof. Don’t forget to stabilize furniture with brackets, cover power outlets, and lift cords from blinds out of reach!
I love utilizing some sort of mirror secured in the play space. Babies love to see themselves and it also makes the space appear larger. You can find my absolute favorite + a super inexpensive hack option here.
While you don’t need an infant seat, many parents choose to purchase them. My absolute favorite Infant Seat is not only created by a team of therapists but is amazing for hip-health and fits your little one up to 2 years of age! This link gets you $10 off! You can read more about it here!
see how he can see big sister but is still safe? we loved doing this!
The best play will also happen with open-ended toys. These are toys that often don’t come with batteries but come with endless opportunities for play! Try choosing toys your child is already comfortable and familiar with so that they can expand on their curiosity during this alone time. You’ll find some of my favorites in this list! You can also support an incredible small business I adore, Ten Little, and shop their expert-curated toys here.
Or if the idea of choosing toys overwhelms you, the Lovevery playkits are really such a valuable option for keeping things simple yet impactful developmentally. Not only do you get their amazing age-specific developmental toys, but you also receive an incredible developmental guide to pair with it. It’s like having all of the realms of developmental experts right there guiding you along! I know this is a pricier item, so consider asking the grandparents to get a gift card or to forego Christmas/Bday/Valentines/Easter gifts and instead pay monthly for a subscription! Trust me—it is more than worth it and allows you to reduce the number but increase the quality of the play happening in your home!
You’ll also find if you make this “Yes Space time” a part of their daily routine at a consistent time, they will begin to adapt and grow to expect it, reducing the anxiety surrounding it and improving on their ability to immediately engage in play alone. For our family, this was after the chaos of daycare and during mealtime prep.
please let me know if you try this out and if you encounter any roadblocks! i’m always here and happy to help!
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