How to entertain newly mobile 1 year old while cooking?

[wishIwasonholiday10]

Any suggestions on how to entertain a newly mobile almost 15 month old while I’m cooking on evenings when DH is home late from work? She’s only bum shuffling rather than walking but no longer wants to sit and play with toys. The kitchen is quite small and it feels dangerous to have her on the floor around my feet. I tried toys in a high chair but she just chucks them on the floor and tries to break out of the high chair if I put her in it near me to watch at a safe distance from the oven. Also won’t tolerate a playpen.

Sometimes they jut have to learn to tolerate a playpen , both of mine used to whine a bit when put into playpen , but there was no alternative , they have to learn . I had to cook for the family , the dog was wandering about . They need to learn .

Learning tower, hands down my saviour in the kitchen!

Thanks for the responses!

@Batbatbatty Do you mean one of those toddler standing stool things where they can watch/help you cook? I love the idea of them and want to teach DD about cooking but at the moment she can not stand up independently, even holding onto something and may still be several months off doing so so I’m not sure it’s an option for us right now.

@wishIwasonholiday10 yes one of those! But yes, it requires being able to stand 😕

I 2nd having a playpen for when you need it.
We made ours feel like a special treat as much as we could - special toy / activity in there. Rarely used sort of thing.

We would also do most food prep when they were in bed (the night before or daytime nap) - make use of the slow cooker or do things like a lasagne / cottage pie made the evening before so just a case of putting in the oven before eating.

I used a jumparoo in the kitchen doorway for a while, or you can get those doorway bouncers which are fun, might that help?

Playpen didn't work here either, mine just threw everything out

I was just going to suggest a door bouncer. Worked a treat for all of mine.

Can you fit a stairgate across door to kitchen so she can still interact with you but not interfere. Usually they will be ok for a bit while you put stuff on. A rice cooker and timed cooker or hob are useful.

One cupboard filled with plastic kitchen stuff she can pull out. Mine is pretty occupied by this, she’s 14mo and walking.

Quick and easy teas for those days? Slow cooker prepped during her nap? Gate on the kitchen door and make sure the room off it is baby proof?

For us it was playpen with coco melon on the tv in the living room, not ideal but it was for 15 minutes a day so we could all get some dinner. She’s 3 now and it’s done absolutely no harm!

Mine was walking at 10 months. Cupboard of pans and wooden spoons she could bash them with kept her busy for ages.

(she’s now studying grade 5 drums though…..)

Play kitchen in the kitchen was the only thing that distracted my DS a bit.

Honestly though I just couldn’t really do much cooking when DH wasn’t there. Just things that could be quickly put in the oven.

Also won’t tolerate a playpen.

I started putting DD into a playpen from about 6 months old. As she was used to it from such a young age it worked for us.

I would keep trying the playpen if you want to keep your DD safe.

When cooking, I stick my 16 month old in the highchair with a snack - breadstick or raisins or something they won't need help with. Normally keeps him busy for just long enough.

We had a playpen for needs must moments. We kept it for that so he was only ever in it for short bursts and we rotated toys and books.

High chair with some toys/books/snack also worked.

I also second having lots of things in the kitchen to explore. We have a kallax style unit and I filled a couple of boxes with safe things for him to pull out and explore, plus he loved pulling my cookbooks off the shelf. Pots and pans and wooden spoons also a hit! (Literally!) We also have toy storage baskets dotted around and he still rummaged in them at nearly 3.

I used to put mine in one of those square-looking carriers where they sit upright behind your back on a square like Prince John in the Robin Hood cartoon, and just get on with the cooking

I just got my toddler involved in the cooking really

I would keep perceiving with playpen. They are a god send. Even if you need to answer the door, go to the toilet etc.

persevering

When they were that little, I cooked whilst they ate. High chair (in kitchen if you're not open plan) plus food to munch themselves. It took absolutely ages to feed themselves but it was great for fine motor skills and they could do their own yoghurts with a spoon from very young, just because they had to.

My DS never tolerated a playpen. He walked at 10 months. My living room and kitchen are all open plan. Honestly, the tv has been a god send. I don’t really care about people’s negative opinions because he knows all colours and can count to 11 and he isn’t even 2.

what we did do was block off the kitchen ‘area’ by lying chairs on the floor before he could climb over them just so he couldn’t touch the oven. That did work.

Mine have always just gone in the highchair strapped in and I put up with the winging. Have toys and the occasional time the iPad is on

LOL @ won't tolerate the play pen,mine wouldn't tolerate lots of things but still had to get used to them 😂

Slow cookers are handy to make things quick and easy. Stair gate across the kitchen door too.