How how how do you do it???!!!

[PinkPeonies22]

How do you cook a meal, or do anything really, with an 11 month old without someone else to look after them while you do it? He used to be happy enough in the jumperoo or sling, but not any more, he wants to climb up my legs, open the dishwasher, crawl underneath the stove. If i put him in playpen he screams, if i put him in the sling he just twists and grabs and tries desperately to get out. Any advice or tips warmly appreciated. Thank you xx

This

I do this - prep hours : days before
If I'm grating cheese do I need some the next day
If I'm making salad make another for lunches next day
I think you just multi task and get used to what is quick
Slow cooker is fab I use mine loads and I prep when I get quite times - then not expecting to have 30 mins free to cook dinner so lower that expectation

Yes but my point is why does the OP have to do this, unless they are a single parent or their partner is working away?

It is really hard to do, so I didn't do it! He cooked when he got back.

Oh i see, fair enough. My apologies, so many people just don't read the posts!!

Playpen and CBeebies on in front of it - gives you about 10 mins to make beans on toast.

Everything is a stage. It will pass.

TBH I often misread them

I am a single parent and a foster carer. I either use a travel cot as a playpen or sit them in the highchair with some interesting bits to play with while I’m cooking.

Yep I hear you OP, Mum to a nearly 1 year old here and it’s HARD to cook or do anything really!
Some things which sometimes work for me are: baby walker but close off doors to bathroom etc so she can’t really get far, high chair with some safe kitchen utensils, especially if I act like she’s not really “allowed” to have them, Cocomelon or similar on tv for a little while if I really need to get things done. But there are days where none of those will work either and she just clings to my legs and puts her arms up to be picked up!
As an aside, I do make use of things like frozen veg which don’t need as much effort. Frozen chopped onion, carrot etc into casseroles and the like, saves time on chopping vegetables. As a PP said, DD seems to be easier to manage in the mornings and more content, so I try to prep then and use the slow cooker. This too shall pass lol!