MoMs of 2-yr-olds...

CateElizabeth

What do you do with your 2 y.o. twins when you are making their meals?  My boys get batty when they sit in their highchairs and are not getting enough attention, but I need to be able to have them sit there for a while while I get their lunch or dinner ready. Any tips?

LakeGenevaBride

Mine are 20 months and the past week I started putting on Baby Einstein Neighborhood Animals while I make lunch and even while they eat lunch.   Otherwise it is a screamfest at my house.  They've actually learned some new animals while watching the show.  They can't say spoon, but they can say "otter".   Yes, I'm probably a bad mom for letting them watch TV, but at least I can make lunch without them holding on to my legs/screaming/hitting each other, etc. 

How are you doing?  I often think of you and your 2 sets of twins.  

macchiatto

I never tried to make them sit in their high chairs while I prepped food or they would've been ready to get up by the time the food was ready! I would occupy them with other toys or turn on PBS Kids or a DVD for 15 minutes. You can also have a drawer or cupboard full of things like tupperware that can be "theirs" to play with while you're trying to cook. Oh and the fridge farm and leapfrog alphabet fridge magnets helped, too!

jalaiaa

My boys just play while I make their meals. They are just now wanting to "help" with everything so sometimes I give them jobs like stirring things or setting the table. I was surprised when I told James to put forks on the table for each of us and he actually did it. Sometimes they just play in the living room or outside. Both of these locations are right in my line of view. I can't imagine trying to set them in their highchairs while I made food unless it only took a minute or two.  

jenn_darrin1515

macchiatto:

I never tried to make them sit in their high chairs while I prepped food or they would've been ready to get up by the time the food was ready! I would occupy them with other toys or turn on PBS Kids or a DVD for 15 minutes. You can also have a drawer or cupboard full of things like tupperware that can be "theirs" to play with while you're trying to cook. Oh and the fridge farm and leapfrog alphabet fridge magnets helped, too!

this.

BudgetBride04

My boys love to stand on chairs at the sink and pour water in & out of cups.  It can get a little messy, but it's just water, and it keeps them out of my hair... plus forces me to clean the floor! 

 

LALASEPT05

I try to prep everything when they are sleeping if possible. So I get up early to get most of the breakfast ready. And do dinner while they are napping as well. My kids do not let me cook. I also will give them something in the kitchen to occupy them if necessary. DS will occupy himself but DD I give her some tupperware or plastic spoons or something so she's 'cooking' too I tell her.

2shihtzus

This is my biggest challenge of my day.  I have tried everything, putting on a show, giving them paper and crayons to color while I cook (which they sometimes still eat), giving them tupperware to play with etc., and it will sometimes work for a day but I have not found a permanent solution to keep them happy while I cook.  It is a daily struggle in our house for sure.

Haven1

It's a real struggle for us too. Most of the time I unlock the tupperware drawer and let them tear that apart, but they still hang on my leg. Up! UP! UUUUUUP! (x2)

Almost everything they eat has been prepared before hand and frozen or put in meal ready containers in the fridge. I swear the only cooking they think I do is heating things up in the microwave.

They received a play kitchen for Christmas, and a few people mentioned it was an "odd" gift for boys. (eyeroll) They watch DH cooks giant meals on the weekends while I just push microwave buttons during the week. To them, cooking is totally boy work.

LoveTravel

Haven1:

It's a real struggle for us too. Most of the time I unlock the tupperware drawer and let them tear that apart, but they still hang on my leg. Up! UP! UUUUUUP! (x2)

Almost everything they eat has been prepared before hand and frozen or put in meal ready containers in the fridge. I swear the only cooking they think I do is heating things up in the microwave.

They received a play kitchen for Christmas, and a few people mentioned it was an "odd" gift for boys. (eyeroll) They watch DH cooks giant meals on the weekends while I just push microwave buttons during the week. To them, cooking is totally boy work.

That's kind of strange they would say it's "odd" gift for boys- my boys were in the Church nursery last evening and my sister was on duty for that evening and she said Tristan was using the kitchen and play food to cook and serve the "food" to her, I thought it was cute!  

atc282

If I don't do convenience dinners (i.e. heat and serve), I prep while/if all 3 are down for a nap. Then when it comes to cooking time, I put out Play-Doh (they love this), 12 piece puzzles, put on nursery rhyme sing-a-long DVDS, or let them watch a Sesame Street DVD or a Barney episode on youtube. Can't say it works every time but it does allow me a few windows to at least get something on the table!

Most nights since DH works late and often unpredictable hours, I feed DDs first and so another way to cook is while they're in their seats eating their dinner, they watch me prepare whatever it is DH and I will be eating later after they are in bed.

 

bkjcwedding

I give them kitchen utensils and cheerios and they pretty much entertain themselves.  That being said, I don't put them in the chairs until I've only got about 5 min of prep left. 

joliemariée

sorry to say but thank goodness for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse for lunch prep!!! But dinner prep is always a nightmare ....even when my DH is there. They just want my attention at that time and nothing seems to work! GL

jenn&chris2

Mine aren't in highchairs anymore so it won't be easy to keep them sitting at the table until the food's ready so I'll let them play until it's on the table.  Sometimes they'll push their chairs over & watch me prepare it or they'll get their silverware & placemats ready.