How do you manage a baby or toddler with a very small kitchen

[Aprilendings]

I've already got a child, and pregnant with dc2.

What do you do with a baby or toddler whilst you are cleaning up in the kitchen or preparing food?

When dd was born, we were living in a flat. The kitchen was large and semi open plan. When dd was a baby, I'd put her in a bouncy chair in the kitchen with me. When she hit mobile, I partitioned off part of the kitchen so I could supervise her whilst in the kitchen.

We've moved to a house. The kitchen is very small and narrow, and our bathroom is beyond the kitchen. There's literally no where to put the baby whilst I'm in there.

The kitchen is off the dining room, and I want to knock the wall through. This won't be cheap, as it will require steel joists.

When I go back to work after maternity leave, I'll be working full time. I think we'll need to be able to multitask supervising the baby and being in the kitchen. Dh thinks I'm overthinking it. He is self employed and usually working in the evenings, he works long hours (I have no problem with this as it means he earns more money than if he stopped work at 5pm.)

Put baby in a sling or carrier.

Surely there must be some space for a baby seat somewhere.

@seepingweeping

Put baby in a sling or carrier.

Surely there must be some space for a baby seat somewhere.

There is no space for a baby seat. If I put her on the floor in a seat. I would be stepping over her as I move around the kitchen. The rest of the family would have to step over her to get to the bathroom.

I used a sling regularly with dd1, but I can't see how I can cook and clean every evening with a toddler strapped to my back.

Are you thinking when baby is born?

Can the toddler not be in the kitchen when you are in there? If you want them somewhere out the way can't you pop them in their Highchair with some colouring books or toys? Baby could then be in their sling/carrier with you both?

If not what about a baby gate at the kitchen so you can still supervise the toddler?

@FreshBedding

Are you thinking when baby is born?

Can the toddler not be in the kitchen when you are in there? If you want them somewhere out the way can't you pop them in their Highchair with some colouring books or toys? Baby could then be in their sling/carrier with you both?

If not what about a baby gate at the kitchen so you can still supervise the toddler?

Dd1 is 6 so no need for supervision.

I'm thinking when dd2 is a baby and then a toddler.

There is no room for a toddler to be in the kitchen at the same time as me. The kitchen is very, very small and narrow. If she was on the floor playing, I'd be stepping over her, which would not be safe. Or more likely she'd be moving around and getting under my feet.

I could put her in the dining room in a high chair, but I'd only be able to see her from part of the kitchen. And dd1 would have only sat in the high chair for 10 mins or so when she was a toddler.

If I put her in the dining room with a baby gate, with her freely moving around, I won't be able to see her unless she's right by the door. Unless we knock the wall through, which is what I want to do.

Have you seen those tall stools so toddlers can "help" cook?

This kind of thing although I think you can buy them ready made now

www.ikeahackers.net/2013/03/lucys-learning-tower.html

I had 2 babies (year apart) and a 4 year old. I had a play pen for them so baby would be asleep in Moses basket in living room toddler in pen 4 year old playing or watching tv. You could use a video monitor so you can see them?..I used to have ds4 in a sling too whilst I cooked if he was feeding or unsettled. Hopefully you can knock the wall through but people do manage. I found being organised helped so cooking a meal whilst baby slept so you can just put in oven when you need to etc, you’ll work round what you have and make it work.

So you'll only have one baby or toddler? Not both at the same time? You'll find ways and adapt as the baby gets older. They all have different personalities and some are more adventurous than others. Millions and millions of people bring up children in victorian terraces as you are describing. All will be fine.

@Tryingtryingandtrying

So you'll only have one baby or toddler? Not both at the same time? You'll find ways and adapt as the baby gets older. They all have different personalities and some are more adventurous than others. Millions and millions of people bring up children in victorian terraces as you are describing. All will be fine.

Yes sorry I made a mistake in the title, I've asked mnhq to amend. I meant to say very small kitchen, not very small toddler!

@Crappyfridays7

I had 2 babies (year apart) and a 4 year old. I had a play pen for them so baby would be asleep in Moses basket in living room toddler in pen 4 year old playing or watching tv. You could use a video monitor so you can see them?..I used to have ds4 in a sling too whilst I cooked if he was feeding or unsettled. Hopefully you can knock the wall through but people do manage. I found being organised helped so cooking a meal whilst baby slept so you can just put in oven when you need to etc, you’ll work round what you have and make it work.

Video monitor is a great idea, thanks.

High chair or one of those stokke steps things and put baby in doorway? Keep talking to her as you cook.

[quote IslaRoseGraceEtc]Have you seen those tall stools so toddlers can "help" cook?

This kind of thing although I think you can buy them ready made now

www.ikeahackers.net/2013/03/lucys-learning-tower.html[/quote]
I've seen a friend use something like that on wheels.

This wouldn't work with a toddler in our tiny kitchen. It is VERY narrow. There is just not room for two people at once. I'd have to constantly move her around, as there isn't a single bit of spare space. It would also make the kitchen more unsafe, as she would have access to more stuff.

Why does baby/toddler have to be in the kitchen with you?

If baby can't be left in a moses basket or something in another room you could use a sling.

Baby in seat at one end of kitchen (ideally near bathroom door. If someone really need the bathroom they step over. But agree with others - when you have two you will become less reliant on being in the same room as them all of the time (as long as they are safe ).

I've found the baby bjorn chair to be one of the narrower baby bouncers.

I used to put dd in her high chair in the kitchen doorway. When she was getting too mobile for that I had to put her in the living room with the telly on and just keep checking on her. The same with our very very small bathroom.

@Amichelle84

Why does baby/toddler have to be in the kitchen with you?

If baby can't be left in a moses basket or something in another room you could use a sling.

I wouldn't be happy with leaving a tiny baby in another room. Aren't they supposed to stay close to you when they're tiny?

Once she's mobile, I definitely would not expect her to be left unsupervised in another room. Even if a room a baby proofed, how could I leave a crawling or cruising baby unsupervised?

I never had mine on me or in my eye view every second when he was tiny. Not like you're leaving baby for a long period if youre just tidying up the kitchen. You can pop in and out but do what you feel comfortable with, a sling would be good if you dont feel comfortable not having eyes on them at all times.

Now mine is crawling rolling around, if I have to tidy the kitchen I leave him on the floor in the front room playing with his toys, obviously the front room is baby proofed and I just pop my head in and check on him every few mins.

Do you have any overhanging worksurfaces where you could use a clip on highchair? E.g
www.huggle.co.uk/products/mountain-buggy-pod-portable-high-chair?variant=31530835968084&gclid=Cj0KCQiAnKeCBhDPARIsAFDTLTJv9p2c0ceZChgkl-VpYI_6o0R4T0SaSAYg7vjOAWhnG2ux3dHgGqQaApxAEALw_wcB

Mine never went in the kitchen.
I had a stairgate across the door and used to pop them in the playpen or baby seat on the other side of it.

Surely you can block the doorway with a small bouncer for the baby whilst you cook? Then move them once you are done.

Then once older, you’ll have to take turns. We have a massive kitchen but I still can’t cook more than a simple thing with toddler DD in with me. One of us cooks, one watches the toddler. You’ll adapt your routine to fit.

You are overthinking this a bit.

I don't have a tiny kitchen but I do have a toddler who I can't leave unsupervised (climbs things, puts things in his mouth, empties boxes of cereal etc). My older children sometimes play with him or watch TV with him while I cook, although they're a couple of years older than yours but that might be an option. I also cook while he naps quite often so all I have to do is serve up at dinner time. It would definitely be easier to knock through to the dining room though if you can afford to.

Mine went on the playmat/in the moses basket/ door bouncer/ highchair in the lounge whilst I cooked. I'd just stick my head in every so often and keep up a constant stream of chatter. I had 2 dc 2 years apart.

We had a Tripp Trapp chair with the newborn seat for this. If you have space I would highly recommend.

I don't see the problem with leaving the baby in another room especially if the toddler can't get to them.

That's going to have to happen sometimes when you have a baby and toddler. You don't literally need to have an eye on them every single minute - what are you worried will happen?

Even once they are mobile I did wander in and out and kept an ear open for my babies. I wouldn't get into any really attention demanding cooking while alone with them though. That would need to wait for nap time or another adult to be around.

We have a tiny kitchen which is within earshot of the living room but not next to it. When my son was a baby he was mostly left in the carrycot in the living room or on the playmat, he was fine - I'd pop back in every few minutes to check on him.

When he was older but not crawling we left him in a Galt baby doughnut with some toys, he was very happy.

Once he started crawling we used a travel cot as a playpen. Also fine, he complained a bit but was actually quite happy left in there with toys and maybe a bit of TV.

Now he's a toddler the room is baby proofed and I can leave him alone for a few minutes. I stick my head round the door often. You can't get really involved in anything, but it's manageable.