Ideas to separate an open plan lounge/kitchen when cooking with baby.. Diagram inside.

[Snowydaysaregreat]

So open plan. And I can't seem to see a way in which to put anything up. Because if one side there's a wall the opposite has a radiator or something which prevents fixing to wall..
Did think of play pen but can't fit one in and no where to put when not in use.

Trying to cook with baby out way who's 9m is hard. Dp is at work when I cook. And won't have time to cook when he gets in due to going to his second job ( max 1 hour indoors)

Need something as she's hanging from my legs whilst cooking.

Anyone got any ideas.

Jumperoo? I got about 20 minutes per day with that. Cook something like pasta sauce in a big pan and freeze in portions
I haven't eaten well since DD was born though because she doesn't like me to cook.

Jumperoo or high chair would be best.

Travel cot with a few toys inside to act as a mini playpen?

Surely the baby is still napping in the day so use that time.
I can't give advice on layout as diagram out of focus

I do the highchair with toys or a small snack while I cook.

Playpen/high chair are your best options,

Could you strap them in their highchair so they can see what is going on? You can get toys that stick on the tray and could put some healthy snacky food for them to nibble on too. Might give you a few minutes. Lots of people cook with their babies in the kitchen and it will soon be a great way to keep them busy.

She naps for 20 min at 10am.then 20 min afternoon.. So not long enough.

Tried highchair. She screams the entire time...
May try and borrow a travel cot to Tey before buying one. But judging by the fact that she has a meltdown when in cot and makes herself sick I'm not holding my hopes up.

Highchair and toys, definitely.

Shes just got more clingy. Hoping she'll grow out of it so would sit and watch. My ds was never like this lol.
Have even put TV in for her but lasted 5 min l

I used a high chair with a table and toys on it and aimed low with my cooking for a few months!
My mum used a cheap travel cot as a playpen when she had my ds. I think it cost £15 and she folded it down when she didn’t need it.
My MIL filled a cupboard with plastic stuff and let ds open it and pull everything out which kept him away from her cooking. Every other cupboard was child proofed.

Will try highchair again today.. We have those stick on toys anyway. Thanks.

Sounds rough OP! If feasible I would try a play pen, as sometimes the travel cot can be too “cot like” and they freak out because they think they’re being put in bed. A nice play pen with some toys would keep your little one safe :)

Also if you can invest (as you will likely need it until baby is at least 2) you could try something like this?

www.argos.co.uk/product/3793211?cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59156%7Cacid:444-797-0832%7Ccid:596683589%7Cagid:28645056925%7Ctid:aud-484139255981:pla-186033038965%7Ccrid:96088332925%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:7760204631447378217%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:1o4%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9046143&gclid=CjwKCAiA0uLgBRABEiwAecFnk-DLvZcyMvzNCTnRGuSo5Fa8zPcvDLFqrDdUUB6IJaUGOeQNT0X5GBoC6GcQAvD_BwE

I looked at that @silver but it's wall fixings and the radiator is one side. There's no other space to put it that would like up with the wall on door side..

Get a box and fill it with exciting, colourful toys she's only allowed to investigate when your cooking. I used this with my toddler when 2nd baby was newborn. Worked great for us.

I tried one of those play pens that turns into a room divider at one point but I couldn’t get on with it - unless it’s fastened at both ends it isn’t safe as a divider. As a playpen it was too big for my kitchen.
Can you prep dinner while she is eating lunch (or even breakfast and slow cooker something)? Mine ate like snails while they were babies so I could eat mine then chop stuff at the table while I sat with them. If I tried to start cooking when they were already hungry it was a miserable experience.

Playpen.
Mums used to use them quite happily until people started referring to them as baby cages

We have a box with thingd like whisks mixing bowl. Plastic cups, ladles etc. She plays for 10 min max.
She just likes full on one to one playing... Will try the suggestions though.

I tipped her entire ottoman of toys out last time as rwalsoed after 2 min I wasn't there with her.
I always prep it during day when she's eating lunch.. But its thgr things like opening the oven she's th ere like a rocket. Had to shove her away with my foot yesterday as had hands full and she heard it open and darted over

Mine's 8 months and in this stage too, I just do a lot of freezer food chucked in the oven

I sit mine in the high chair, feed him grapes and sing songs. He loves grapes

I don't know how much they cost, but what about a driveway (so wide enough) retractable barrier, which since they are fabric you should be able to take diagonally across the house, if there is a wall on each side. So, like this, but wider

Back carry in a sling? Worked for me till mine would sit in the high chair

If you are after a physical barrier, have a look at the baby Dan playpen.

We got the hexagonal version which can also be used as a room divider, and it's been brilliant. Rather than drilling the walls we've used furniture and right angles to hold the bars in place, for example have one of the sections at a right angle to the others, tuck that behind your sofa, the the rest going along the width of the room, and if you have enough, another one at the end at an angle again.

Hope that makes sense. If done right it is very secure and won't fall on your little one.

You can by extra sections too.

Buy even!