Currently, I have three babies - 8, 9, 13 months. They are pretty independent and I allow them to play on their own for a lot of the day. They in a secure area where there is ABSOLUTELY nothing that could hurt them unless they fall from trying to stand or walk, or bonk each other with something. I spend the time before morning snack on the couch drinking my coffee and watching them play and after snack cleaning and getting ready for after nap (luckily, I have morning naps! i love it lol) Then they get up from nap, have lunch and we go outside. They go back and forth playing alone and exploring and coming over to me for reassurence. We come in from outside and have 30 minutes before afternoon nap. That's when I get down on the floor and show them all the toys, press buttons, sing songs, clap, dance, lie on the floor so they can climb on me. Then I take them all upstairs and put them in their playpens (at the moment, they're all in seperate rooms). I give them their bottle or milk and a toy and go from room to room giving kisses, tucking them in and reading a short story. I am really lucky that all my kids are pretty independent and are patient. It's VERY rare that they protest while waiting to go to sleep. After naps, we have snack and then they have free play until pick up. I'm usually in the room with them, but don't really get down on the ground unless they are showing signs that they want me to. But usually, they're pretty good on their own. I love it!