tips for dealing with having the builders in and a toddler

[milkyman]

We are starting an extension soon on our kitchen for 3mths. Our ds is 23mths. Has anyone been without a kitchen, had experience of having builders in - any tips?

Toddlers like sandwiches and cut up bits of other food, so just put a fridge elsewhere and don't bother cooking much for the duration.
My house has been a building site for most of my kids' lives and they take it in their stride - learning "tools are not toys" from the start, and soon asking to help. My 2yo dd likes using the power drill (held by a parent!) and tries to sharpen her toy angle grinder.

Can you use plastic and tape to cut off the kitchen totally? Dust will go everywhere otherwise. Keep other doors shut as much as you can, even upstairs.

Chat to builders at the start of each day and find out what they plan to do and if anything will be especially noisy / dangerous so you can plan to be out at that time if possible. Let ds meet them when they come in and explain what will be happening so he is prepared.