Have I spoilt my four month old?

Don’t worry! Babies have different personalities. Your cuddling and entertainment haven’t prevented your daughter from rolling over and she will show interest in doing it soon enough.

Babies do need constant attention and are rarely able to entertain themselves for any significant amount of time, so your daughter is quite normal in this respect.

Try using a baby carrier, with your daughter positioned facing outwards, as you walk around the house and get some jobs done. This will give her cuddling and entertainment while you get things done that need doing. She will be near you, but interested in the things you are doing in front of her. Washing up, gardening, cleaning and cooking will be very interesting for her to watch and will help her development. You will also get exercise as you carry her.

Eventually, you will get a bit more freedom. As your daughter develops, she will become more interested in manipulating toys, for example, but the ability to ‘entertain herself’ begins gradually and is best achieved if you have her very near to you and she can see you clearly. This kind of behaviour usually does not even begin to develop until a child can manipulate herself through sitting, crawling or walking.

Remember that the need to be close to you is a baby's way of staying safe in a world that is out of her control. Her instincts tell her to remain in your focus of attention.

Your baby is doing her job to keep herself safe. Find ways to lessen your own frustration by doing things with her. Do not expect her to play on her own for any significant length of time, but do expect her to be interested in the jobs you are doing around the house.