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?

I did a mix of

Play pen to keep him contained (for about five minutes then screaming ensued)

Helper tower (mine transforms into a little table but it does take up a lot of space). DS mostly likes to 'wash the dishes' ie make an almighty wet mess of himself and everything within a metre of the sink.

Baby gate on the kitchen door and left to entertain himself (and whine at the door)

Stopped cooking. Every dinner for a year or so was some form of frozen pizza, microwaved baked potato and beans, ready meal etc. It's a bit crap, but for me it was better and easier than 30-45 minutes per meal of screaming destruction while I lovingly sauteed asparagus... try Cook for some tasty frozen ready meals that just need popped in the oven!

@HolidayHelper I've just scrolled back and noticed that you used a Manduca carrier. Is it easy to get LOs onto your back? Or is it at least something that becomes easier with practice?

Same here, 13 month old dd just toddles in and empties the cupboards then clings to my leg screeching. It's no fun. The little helper thing I'm pretty sure she'd climb out of, she's an amazing climber! And fast at it! She wouldn't be happy in the travel cot either she hates being contained in any way. I might experiment with the sling on my back as some have suggested.

My rocket actually looked much better a couple of days ago, covered in tin foil and with a door! Started demolishing it and both boys threw a wobbly. Looks like it’s staying

Playpen.
They are the work of satan according to mn Op
Personally I can see nothing wrong with a device that keeps your child safe and occupied while still being able to interact with them whilst you carry out tasks such as cooking. If the phone/ doorbell rings or you need a wee you can nip off for a few minutes and know that your child is safe.

Playpen - but my DC was never clingy so he was happy to be in another room while I was cooking.

Stick mine in the jumperoo with telly on, but she's not clingy

My Manduca? I think it's great. I've only needed to ask for help a couple of times. I'd suggest practicing it over a sofa to start with, so if you somehow did lose your grip of your munchkin there wouldn't be any bumps. I never did though, it feels far easier doing it than watching someone else do it! I just sat little one on my hip and then eased her round while leaning right forward until she was in place, then slid the back of the carrier up over her. It's a great solution if your baby is clingy, which of course they tend to be at the end of the day when tired and hungry.

You can make a learning tower using an Ikea step if you want something cheaper. I know you said space is an issue but they are very useful. My 3 year old would still use it if the 1 year old would let her.

happygreylucky.com/ikea-hack-toddler-learning-tower-stool/

High chair.

Snack.

Done.

Wow, amazed at the box you can buy to stick your kid in What next?! I used to just put mine in a high chair

We had a bar. Kids were in a seat the attached to bar one side and me cooking the other side.

Fun mood all the way and find “jobs” move that dry pasta from the red bowl to the blue bowl... pull the stalks off mushrooms... rip up basil leaves!

Baby jail aka play pen. They might whinge and cry but they will be safe.

Fun mood???? Funpod we have the one linked above

Can you fit a ball pit in your hall for when you have to put him in there with the vate shut? Or get a big cardboard box, chuck a bag of balls in? Then you can nag them back up after dinner, keeping them novel might help distract while you cook? You could add crayons and stuff as he gets older? Kids do love a good box! Or maybe try building him a den in the hall? Oneof mine used to cook at his toy kitchen and copy what i was doing but think he was closer to 2 once he started doing that.

But if bothing works, there is nithing wrong with leaving him to it in the hall and ignoring the whining, as hard as it can be. He can see you, interact with you, play uf he wants and most importantly hes safe. Our gate went into the room where thelids played and my youngest ( the clingy one!) would often stand sobbing for me like id left the country, even though i was right there, because she had to be wrapped around my legs all the time. But it wasnt safe so i just had to tune her out! Was a stressful time though but it does improve!

Sorry for the typos, my phone and I do not get on!!!

Wow I feel like such a lazy parent, I just stick him in front of the TV think I need to get more creative!

Thanks so much everyone for your replies, I didn't expect to get so much help with this

Thank you for the Manduca tips @HolidayHelper. I started off today with the Baby Bjorn - I remembered the straps being a bit easier so I thought I'd ease myself in with that and then work up to the Manduca in the next day or two. Wearing DS on my back definitely helped (it was just bloody uncomfortable as he's a bit heavier than a newborn now!). The discomfort was worth it though for the lack of stress.

Additionally I've been looking into the Little Helpers... I measured up and concluded we could just about squeeze one in the kitchen when needed, but then it would need to live in the hall when not in use. Not ideal, but they seem to be highly rated and it could be the solution to my problems. I've found a reasonably priced second-hand one on Ebay which is local. If we got it and DS didn't take to it or we got sick of tripping over it in the hall, I suppose I could always try to sell it again. Sorry I'm basically just trying to talk myself into bidding on it!

Thanks for that link @teaandbiscuitsforme. They look like a great alternative, I think I might worry though that DS wasn't 'contained' enough. He's a little too adventurous for my liking. I'll run it by DH though and see what he thinks.

@Passmeabrew thank you for all the tips. I would love to build him a den in the hallway, I bet he'd love that. It's just it's also the walkway through to the kitchen so anything too bulky would block it off. Big cardboard box might be doable though, could always chuck it in the garage in between uses. I think you're right and that if all fails I'm going to have to resort to the gated doorway on some occasions. Although I know he's not in pain or anything, I still struggle to focus on food prep when he's stood there sobbing. But at least he's safe!

When they were small, a babywalker thing with no wheels. As they got bigger, an old pan set and a wooden spoon. We got through a lot of wooden spoons. Pack of rice on the floor with farm toys to put in trailers - sweep it up and keep for next time. Simple meals with little prep, and batch cooking for the freezer when dh home.

High chair + finger food or toys 😀

Mine is nearly 3 and no where near out of his pod... we also use it for crafting (contain him and the mess)... to the snarky pp it is to much better than a high chair - increased mobility, active participation, stood up not sat down so encourgages being active not sitting, basically ds stands next to me in the kitchen helping me cook. So no not just a box to put children in.

Disappointed that MissVanjie has made a stupid remark about an award winning item devised and developed by a mum and that many parents love.

I wouldn’t be without mine. DS adores it, loves the fact he can reach the sink, the worktop and the hob and we make food together nearly every day using it.

Nah it’s just a box!!! I love ours - best thing we bought!

My 16 month old loves a good whine round my legs while I’m cooking! I let him loose on cupboards or quite often put him in the high chair but with something to figure out. Like put a rice cake in a tin, or give him a spoon and some sweetcorn or peas. He likes stuff to mush and he loves stirring metal teaspoons in mugs just bits and bobs lying around the kitchen. Pinterest is good for helping you get on the road to making a game out of every day things. We sing, put music on, I do silly dancing and silly walking, peeping between fingers while he sits in his high chair, poking a leg or a hand out from behind the fridge while he’s in his chair, chasing (chasing is hot stuff in our house at the moment, he comes towards my legs and I turn quickly and say Mummy’s chasing and he runs off giggling and screaming).

I also scoured the internet for cook ahead and quick meals, as well as meals you can either prep for and freeze or prep for while they nap if they nap

We also eat frozen pizza at least once a week