Keeping LO busy while you cook

Meggiemuggins · December 2014

Hi mamas,
I'm having trouble keeping DS out of the kitchen these days. He used to be content to just hang out and watch me cook, but now he's getting to the point where I'm worried one of us is going to get hurt. He's underfoot (like, literally, I either step on him or trip over him constantly). He'll sometimes watch me happily from his high chair, but if he spends too long in it he gets restless. Putting a stool at the counter so he can "help" me or watch me from there isn't an option. He's a climber and would be sitting (or standing!) on the counter in a flash, getting into the raw meat and knives (speaking from experience here).

So my question is this: What do your LOs do while you're cooking? how do I get him to stop shoving me away from the counter when I'm chopping?

holly321 · December 2014

High chair in front of the tv maybe? I wouldn't do it all the time, but if ds is particularly " helpful " he goes in he highchair. And if he gets bored and it still isnt safe to let him down, he watches TV.

sjames2 · December 2014

I am running into the same problem. Our kitchen isn't big enough for a big step stool, which is what I wanted. So I have a bar stool that I have next to me, but far enough away from the counter and splatters, and she sits in there. She moves a lot but I explain that she can sit there good while I stir or chop or she can get down. She's getting better. Don't know if that's an option for you. Here is the step stool I wanted to get. But add a very more pieces of wood at the back.

lc&jw · December 2014

I struggle with the same problem. As soon as I start trying to cook anything DS wants to be held so he can watch everything I'm doing. Sometimes I move my prep area to the kitchen table and sit the kids on chairs that are far enough from the table that they can't reach knives, etc..

When that's not working and I'm tired of holding DS or just need 2 hands free, I resort to putting on an episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. The kids are instantly riveted and no longer care about what I'm cooking. I don't feel bad about it either b/c they really don't watch very much TV.

colinsfebmommy · December 2014

Mine usually doesn't stay under foot but sometimes I give him play dough to use at kitchen table, or I give him dry pasta with a bowls and measuring spoons/cups, tv occasionally, or I take out felt boards I made

ericalee27 · December 2014

Usually that is screen time for both of my boys -- otherwise, it will take me 2 hours to get dinner done by the time all the interruptions and requests happen!

SummerLove21 · December 2014

DS isn't allowed to bring toys into my prep area, so he sits just outside of it with his toys. If he brings stuff underfoot, I take it back out. If he keeps doing it, I put it away in a room and shut the door. He gets the message eventually.

If I need to open the oven, he goes in his crib until I'm done with that. Sometimes he'll be happy in there for a bit, so I get a little extra time.

Maybe let him get a wooden spoon and pot and bang on it while you work? It's annoying but it makes mine feel like he's doing what I'm doing. I've caught him stirring imaginary things in the pot before. :-)

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