Toddler grabbing food from kitchen side

[Noauthorityhere]

Genuinely interested to hear how other MNers would/have dealt with this. Our 2.5 year old DS is always trying to grab food from the kitchen side as we are preparing food. It can be grabbing cheese, diving his hands into the butter to grab a handful, anything. It's really irritating! We dont know how best to handle it to try and stop it. We have never encouraged it. How would you deal with this behaviour?

If I’m cooking and just need to get the food out quick to a hungry child, I put the tv on for 20 mins while I cook / plate up to keep her in the living room whilst I’m in kitchen. Not ideal but it’s real life for me.

On other days (when I have more energy!) I let her “help” with meal prep and just keep the stuff I know she’ll want to eat handfuls of out of reach. If she wants to try any of the veg or fruit we are cooking I have absolutely no problem with that and would actively encourage it. But foods with high salt / sugar content I would just keep out of the way and only bring out a portion at a time from the cupboards/ fridge.

I'd either give him something like a slice of apple and cheese to occupy him, or I'd give him a "job" to do, like putting him at the kitchen sink with some plastic things to wash up. It sounds as though he's hungry while you're getting food ready.

I always had a baby gate across the kitchen door to keep toddlers out when I was cooking. Safer for everyone.

How is a toddler reaching a kitchen worktop to grab food?

Personally I would be giving a stern 'no'. Explain the the food is for everyone and he will have his when the meal is ready. IF they are really that hungry then maybe you need to look at the timing of meals, the use of snacks or the size of portion. I wouldn't allow grabbing handfuls of food though. IF it continues, then they need to be removed from the room.

When DS was about that age we got him a tower that he could stand in and reach the worktop and some kids safety knives. We'd let him have a go at chopping up some veg or whatever we were having. He ended up eating it mainly but it kept him entertained and made eating veg a treat

Thanks all for your advice. Feels so obvious now to think he is hungry and doesnt want to wait - feel a bit silly not to have thought of it before. He has a step already so I have just ordered some child friendly knives and will set him to work chopping up some fruit or veg each time. I think that's a great idea and I think he will love it. Plus if he is hungry he can help himself to his handiwork whilst we are finishing making lunch/dinner. Thanks again

Put a baby gate over the kitchen door surely? If he can reach the counter, whats stopping him putting his hand on the hob?!

My nearly 2 yr old goes into cupboards and drawers and takes food out, like to dip hands occasionally too. I think this is the age where they are just getting into everything. If it is really annoying me I’ll put her in her high chair especially when I’m trying to cook and can’t monitor her whereabouts x