What do you do with 1yo while cooking?

[sunnyfields25]

Hi there

Another week, another dilemma that I'm hoping you kind folks can help me with. This seems like such a silly one to not be able to figure out on my own, but I'm stumped.

Until recently DS would sit in the living room and play with toys while I quickly got our lunch ready. But now he comes into the kitchen, whines and clings to my legs. This then turns a 5 min job into a 30 min one.

Our kitchen is small and it's getting increasingly dangerous. Today I was so distracted trying not to drop a knife or boiling water on him that I laid something down on the hob surface, then switched the wrong ring on and only realised when I noticed the steam and melting smell.

Do other people's one year olds entertain themselves for a few mins or is this a common thing?

It's annoying isn't it?! I usually put DD in her high chair to at least keep her restrained maybe with a book to keep her busy. But mostly I just get in a flap and try to block out the whining

I get everything done while she's napping and then just do the last bits while she's around. She's generally just plays though, she's not too bad most of the time waiting. You could put them in he high chair with a pre dinner snack to entertain them? Or their water cup? Or a toy?

I have one of these boxes that contains them but let's them see what you're doing. She loves to "help" me cook. You can usually find a used one Facebook groups or eBay.

Multi award-winning Little Helper FunPod Toddler Kitchen Safety Stand (Maple with Chalkboard Sides) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0051SWTF0/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_6hOhBbV73A0XR

We got a Funpod for this very thing They grow with the child...we're getting years of use out of it.

www.littlehelper.co.uk/FunPod-Kitchen-Safety-Stand-Maple

This is normal unfortunately! I used to put mine in a playpen/travel cot. In a safe position where they could see me. They'll often entertain themselves pretty well and if not tough!! You need to cook and safety is paramount.

Or stair gate across kitchen door with toys available. Depends on if they'll get into trouble elsewhere! !

x-post with Sail

If it's safe to do so wear on my back in my manduca carrier, otherwise pop in the highchair with toys clipped onto it with (too short to be dangerous) bungee cords so when the toys are inevitably knocked/thrown down they can pull them up again themselves without you. Singing songs and telling excited stories that you can recite without thinking (Goldilocks/Billy Goats Gruff/Enormous turnip) helps to distract too.

High chair with tray so they could “help” (empty bowl with spoon etc) or tray toys ( ones with suckers on) and then graduated to a “Little Helper” the best thing we ever bought for the kitchen...

www.kiddies-kingdom.com/folding-and-multi-position-highchairs/1119-little-helper-funpod-toddler-kitchen-safety-stand-maple-natural-finish.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq8DRrOXL2wIVb7XtCh0GoAIdEAQYAiABEgIdhPD_BwE#fo_c=164&fo_k=fd3d951f6dc67710dffa657d2188d20d&fo_s=gplauk

Thanks all for the replies!

Wow the Little Helper FunPods look brilliant. Even if we could find a reasonable second-hand one though I'm not sure we could shoehorn it into our tiny kitchen Just in case I'm wrong, what sort of things do people give their LOs to do once they're in them?

Highchair is a good suggestion but DS gets so impatient and fidgety when he's in it, regardless of which toys I give him. I'm so envious of friends whose LOs will sit nicely and play until their food is ready. I wait til the last minute to put him in and then free him as soon as he's done eating otherwise it gets unpleasant.

We've got a stairgate across one kitchen door leading to a safe enclosed space in the hallway where I can see him. Kind of a makeshift playpen. Tried putting him in there earlier with novelty toys, a drink and even a little snack and all he did was stand at the gate watching me and crying because he wanted to be in the kitchen. At the moment the options are have him in the kitchen being whiny and unsafe, or have him safe but very upset. I suppose I should be going for the second option but neither is good.

Sorry I hope it doesn't seem like I've shot down everyone's suggestions. They were all good. I'm just feeling fed up after a day of DS clinging to my leg and getting upset me not being able to explain to him that it's making everything take longer. The joys of motherhood!

My last was clingy when I cooked and I was forever tripping over her so I used put her on my back in a sling, though a wrap African style would work just as well, and sing.
Another thing that kept her busy was a big cardboard box that I had. I would put her in it with a load of colouring pens and stickers and she would scribble on the inside. Maybe slightly older than 12 months so that's more like 18 months onwards.

I have resorted to making a rocket out of a huge cardboard box! He happily sits in it with wooden spoons, plastic bowls. Crayons to draw on it. Anything except actual toys Only downside is I now have it stuck in the kitchen!!!

@mnahmnah - that's awesome I want one for meeeee!

Haha @mnahmnah that picture has actually brightened up my day and made me laugh! I am very impressed at your crafting skills.

@RainyAfternoon big cardboard box is something I'd not thought of actually. Like you say maybe a bit young yet but I'll start seeing if I can get a suitable box lined up to try in a few months' time.

Access to pan cupboard always kept my younger dc's happy!!
Can't ban them from the kitchen imo.

I would sit her in a high chair in the kitchen so she could watch what I was doing and chew on some food, or wear her in a sling. When she was able to stand safely and follow directions (probably from about 20 months), I’d put her on a chair at counter and she’d help me put things in pots that I’d chopped, etc. A travel cot with toys next to you might work as well.

Travel cot - ours was in the little cloak room bit next to the kitchen so still in the same area I’d chat to him as I cooked.
High chair with something like raisins was good for when a little bit older.

highchair with toys or pre-dinner snacks or in another room with tv on. But reading your further replies I would say it's separation anxiety and on your back in a carrier might be better. Try your local sling library?

On your back in a sling

Im a childminder so pretty well versed in juggling little ones with meal times and if they aren't wanting to play quietly (ha!) I will either let them loose on my cupboard of Tupperware & tea towels, put them in high chair with wooden/plastic cooking utensils, sit them in the washing basket with a load of pegs (they love this for some reason!) or very occasionally on my back in the carrier especially if they are really tired and just want holding.

Hmm a sling/carrier is something quite a few people have suggested and I've realised that's something I've not tried recently. DS used to love being in one when he was little, so maybe I should revisit that. I've got a BabyBjorn and a Manduca so I'll have to dig them out and experiment.

I had high hopes for the Manduca hip carry position a few months ago, but ended up in a tangled flustered mess with DS crying in frustration. Hopefully the back carry position will be a bit easier!

Mine were usually asleep while I was cooking lunch. Put him in his cot with loads of toys? Would he sit in front of Cbeebies?

@PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks I wish he would sit in front of CBeebies! I've brought up lots of different programmes on iPlayer and also tried nursery rhymes on YouTube but they only hold his attention for a few seconds. Hopefully that's something that will be more effective as he gets older though.

Ha @Mymadworld washing basket with pegs sounds like lots of fun! I must try that.

High chair and some activity to "help" me. I would sit her with one of her plastic knives and a mushroom to chop up or a cloth to wipe with and a couple of plastic cups.