To ask how you cook dinner with a crying baby?

[Dotdotlineline]

Just that really! 1 year old son constantly cries when put down. I have a play kitchen close so he can play but he just cries to be picked up.

I'm going out my mind. Every evening it's the same battle to cook something before he has a full on meltdown.

I am struggling

Oh, I have no help OP, but I sympathise as I had exactly the same problem. Whenever the baby managed to sleep for 5 minutes alone I would start cooking and then continue whenever I had the chance. It would take the whole day and I couldn't do anything else. Maybe I could load the washing machine holding a baby but nothing else! I have no idea how I managed to cook every day because all I remember was crying whenever I put them down

Jumperoo kept him quiet for 30 minutes. Slow cooker in the morning when he naps. I popped mine in a back sling for times like this

I've learned to do a lot one-handed. And then constantly talking, putting him down when I can. I also do as much prep as I can when he naps. It's a phase op don't don't.

@Saracen @ScarfaceCwaw
Can't even blame the baby! That was me falling asleep holding my phone 😂

One of my boys was a nightmare for only ever crying when I was making dinner or cleaning. The answer was to lower his highchair, give him a few snacks and pop him in front of the washing machine. Up until he was almost 2, the spinning fascinated him.

I’m in the same situation - I find it really hard. I carry him on my back sometimes, have a toddler helper stool so he can see what I’m doing, usually I cook dinner when husband can look after him. The other day I cooked a whole proper meal and kept 1 year old entertained throughout. I was feeling great - then something happened and I burnt it all. I was not a happy bunny!!

I hear you! As a bedsharer and contact napper my 10 month-old is by my side almost 24/7. The house is a mess! My OH does all the cooking.

Prechopped frozen onions/soffrito saves at least 5 minutes

I would prep in the mornings as much as possible; and have batch stuff in the freezer as well. Evenings were always a disaster unless I got the kids their dinner by 5pm, and that was hard if I’d been out. So I always went for something quick and easy! (Eg freeze home made pizza bases, freeze home made tomato sauce etc which could be defrosted and cooked easily!) DH could make meals when he got home from work.

I got very good at doing things one handed. Also child in high chair, child in sling, child in travel cot, slow cooker use. Very simple meals. Did you know that you can chop onions and bung them straight into the freezer? No other attention is needed. Useful as it's one thing I never dared do one handed!

We usually stick some toddler TV on like hey duggee

My daughter was exactly the same. She has a watching hour(s) from around 4 til 7, every day. She would be quiet if I held her & I did try a sling for a while but that’s not safe whilst cooking!

I ended up putting her in her bouncy chair in the kitchen, & talking to her over the crying, which I tried to ignore. I eventually ‘trained’ her by doing this, showed her I was still there, no harm would come to her just because I wasn’t holding her.

Your sons a bit big for a bouncy chair, so maybe a high chair?

*witching not watching hour