Cooking Dinner

Bizzy80 · July 2014

Trying to cook dinner and keep DD entertained has been a real challenge lately. She wants me to hold her whenever I am in the kitchen doing something and it is nearly impossible to prepare meals this way! If I put her down she stands at my legs and pushes me and fusses and cries until I am able to pick her up. It usually ends with her having a total meltdown and then she doesn't always eat dinner because she is so upset. I know she is hungry so I give her snacks but she still wants me to hold her. If my husband is home he has to take her upstairs or outside while I cook to distract her but he isn't always home in time to help. Anybody else have this issue?

LSU628 · July 2014

Can you put her in her high chair or booster with a snack and talk to her while you are cooking? I have the problem of my DS is a wild child so I have to contain him so I can cook so he doesn't hurt himself or cause chaos.

Bizzy80 · July 2014

I haven't tried to put her in her highchair yet with snack but will try that tonight. The problem is once she is done with a snack she just wants more and gets pissed if we don't give her more food! She doesn't understand that she has to wait for dinner yet

=Lee=B · July 2014

My daughter empties the container drawer and the pot drawer. They are more or less hers to empty and refill while I cook. It makes a huge mess but she has fun, explored the noises and sizes of containers etc. She is good about helping to put it all away (as messy away as it ends up being) when I am done cooking.

The other cupboards are off limits.

ashiscute · July 2014

I'm not sure how old your LO is but I would try to involve her as much as possible. If she's old enough to "help" I'd set her up with her own cooking utensils and some snacks to work on. My DD likes to do that. DS gets very clingy during dinner prep as well but usually DD is able to distract him.

[Deleted User] · July 2014

The user and all related content has been deleted.

pb_bride · July 2014

I SAH and DH doesn't get home until 6:30p. Because of that, I have to cook dinner alone with DS, so dinner is ready as soon as DH is home (in order to make bedtime at 8p). I totally understand your situation.

Since I SAH, I prep as much as I can when he's napping, so the actual cooking part doesn't take longer than 10 minutes tops. Or a casserole I can throw into the oven, or as PP suggested, crockpot meals.

Besides that, we try to be outside most of the day, so when we finally get home (around 5:45p), DS actually misses playing with his toys so he will play independently for a while, which is my golden time to cook dinner.

But lately, he seems less interested in independent play and constantly wants to be in the kitchen with me. If the stove is not on, I'll just let him trash the kitchen. However, if the stove is on, then I'll just endure some tantrum from him.

snacks don't work for us b/c like your LO, if he gets a few pieces, then he'll ask for more (or throw a tantrum if he doesn't get more). Plus the snacks ruin his appetite for dinner.

DS (20m) also isn't into coloring activity or playdough either. His coloring activity span is like 2 minutes.

vvvvvfee · July 2014

my DS loves playing in the sink. i put him on a sturdy stepladder (although one of those kitchen helpers would be ideal) and let the water trickle. i give him a couple of kitchen tools and cups and he is content for a while, just pouring water back and forth. if i have veggies to wash i let him rinse them off.

if i'm baking-- muffins or pancakes, usually-- i'll put him on the stepladder and hand him each ingredient in a measuring cup to pour or dump into the bowl. then i help him stir it up.

steelerbaby29 · July 2014

Our kitchen is like dodging landmines during cooking time. If its not pots and pans, its random toys all over the floor. Whenever I'm cooking a meal my son and dog included love to hang out. I just deal with it until hubby gets home to distract him or once in awhile I put him in the pack n play so he can watch me if Im using the oven. He is only 13 months so until he can help me I try to avoid the stuff on the floor or use the pack n play. Just curious but how far apart is your LO's last snack and dinner? A late afternoon snack may help with her not being so hungry while your cooking.

Justtee33 · July 2014

With my 18 month old, for a few dinners a week, I get a lot of cooking done by wearing him on my back. We have a small tv in the kitchen so I put on the kids music station or Sprout sometimes. Otherwise, he's all about going through the pots and pans. I also say a lot of, "Go play with your _______ toy! Where's your ______toy?" and off he goes to get it.

kimx86 · July 2014

My son would always cry when I tried to make dinner too and I'm generally by myself a lot of the time, so I got a special high chair with a removable toy tray, so he can play and then it can be removed when it's time to eat x

aibrean · July 2014

We actually have a pack and play in the middle of the kitchen (although obviously kitchen size is a requirement) so I can set her there and she can "walk" with me as I go around the kitchen getting things. She is very curious about what I'm doing. I also bring down things as I'm cooking so she can see how the food is being cooked (pack and play is far enough away she can't grab anyrthing).

Bizzy80 · July 2014

She will be 15 months next week. She gets an afternoon snack at daycare around 3pm but still seems hungry when I pick her up. I try to have dinner ready by 5:30 or 6 at the latest. I try to give her veggies to snack on when we get home so she doesn't fill up. She is a little chow hound though and loves her food! I tried putting a cartoon on for her last week but she wasn't interested. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I've been looking at the kitchen helpers. Just wish they weren't so expensive!

nanabanana06 · July 2014

Have you thought about just wearing her when you cook dinner? I know my son can get cranky and clingy around dinner time. I just throw him on my back in our Tula and keep cooking. It calms him down and allows me to continue cooking. I wouldn't do it if I was frying something, but for basic dinners it's great. Plus I explain what I'm doing while I'm cooking.

DanandVan · July 2014

I agree with pp. Toddler wearing has saved us! I can actually cook while dd hangs out on my back (kinderpack). She's happy, and half the time falls asleep on me!

Want a personalized experience?

Cooking Dinner

Re: Cooking Dinner

Choose Another Board

Search Boards