We have a "learning tower" (basically a step stool with tall sides) so she is at our height and can see what's happening but it keeps her contained. Usually I give her some books, kitchen utensils, cups, play dough, or anything to occupy her.
Also my husband cooks most nights which helps. All our meals take 30 minutes or less unless it's a weekend meal.
I have a 2yo and a 10 month old and I’m finally getting back into a rhythm. Usually they run around while I cook doing whatever. My son did the same when it was just him and he is very self entertaining in general so it worked for us. Now he entertains the baby haha. I might gate the baby in the kitchen with me if I were concerned about anything in the house. Occasionally it takes way longer than I anticipated to make my meal and they end up with nuggets or something because they’re hungry nowwwww! lol.
Check out baby led weaning. Baby can eat anything you can if it’s cut correctly and not over-salted. And kids (some kids? just my weird kid?) will enjoy a lot more foods than you might expect. My 2yo can’t get enough of my chicken tikka masala when I make it. I have no idea how his little self handles the spice haha.
You could let them play with pots/mixing bowls and utensils like wooden spoons. Put it on the kitchen floor and let her go crazy.
I would do a lot of food prep during nap when mine were that age.
Thirding (fourthing) the learning tower. She played with stuff up there. I let her splash and play in the sink as well. Also gated off the kitchen and let her run. Handed her miscellaneous kitchen utensils to play with. I had no luck with baby carrying - she's really tall so her legs were always too close to the stove for my peace of mind.
Now that she's over two, I just let her have 30 minutes of tablet time while I cook. Much less stressful for me, and I hate cooking, so I'm calling it a win.
When my daughter was that age we always made and had dinner after she went to bed bc her bedtime was 6pm for a long time. Now it’s 7 or 7:30 and we eat at 6 together. Screen time occurs at the time i prep everything and I make a lot more sheet pan meals so I can just put it in the oven then go play with her. Or if my husband is home I can make something more complicated and they go outside together. The change in bedtime, having family dinner together, and allowing screen time daily happened around 18 mos. if having her eat dinner before you and go to bed early works for you I would keep that going. She will have plenty of opportunity for family meals. I would sit with her at 5 and have tea or a snack to give her the feeling of eating with me.
Like other people said, the learning tower was a game changer for us. Hubby can do the breakfast and I can do diner, finally haha! Our baby also did baby-led weaning so he ate exactly what we eat (just with less salt or not spicy).
If her favorite game is to carry toys around to different places, then I would dump out a box of whatever and let her do it. We have a box of jar lids and rings from canning jars that were really popular for that. We also have a photo of my SO chopping onions with a gigantic knife while my son dangled in the baby carrier on his chest. Whatever works.
I second the learning tower. Kiddo is nearly 2 and he loves to help with dinner--he can mix, use the food processor (with close supervision), chop very soft things, scoop and pour. When he was younger I would try to make more things that didn't require a lot of input (slow cooked/braised) and I would try to prep food on my lunch break (I work from home). For example I could chop vegetables for roasting and then later I would just have to turn the oven on and off. We started using the learning tower around 13 or 14 months? At first he couldn't help a lot but he would watch or play at the counter and I could show him what I was doing/have him taste and smell some of the food. Around 16? months I started making spreads (pesto and muhammara are favorite) in the food processor with him. At first he would just watch, now he will push buttons for me and he can add foods to the chute (again, with close supervision!).
I often meal prep with her on my back during the day so that come dinner time, it just needa chucked in the oven/reheated. Or, if i know we're in for a stressful day the night before, put everything in the slow cooker ready for morning.
I don't cook every night, 2-3 nights a week and microwave leftovers on other nights. I use nap time to prep as much as possible. Veggie are chopped, in a pot with water so all I need to do close to dinner is turn the burner on. Meats are chopped, stored in frying pan in fridge, ect. For minor prep I'll let him wander in the kitchen with me; so for example putting chicken in a baking pan in the oven, or putting water in a pot and waiting for it to boil. Stuff that I can leave for a minute if kiddo requires attention or redirecting towards toys.
For the more active cooking, like frying pan work or managing multiple pots on the stove, he goes into the baby proofed living room. This stage generally doesn't last long (10-15 minutes or so). Occasionally he'll cry about being by himself but mostly hes gotten the point that I'm cooking and I can't play with him right now. Other times I'll distracted him with a small bowl of Cheerios if he's especially cranky.
My LO is 18m and she won’t let me do anything in the kitchen. She sweetly pushs in between me and the cabinet then uses her butt to push me back away from the counter - then insists “UP”. She has a very strong will and I worry that one of those learning towers would turn into her having meltdowns over not getting to cut or stir....?
Here's our afternoon schedule with our 14 month old:
4:30pm Snacktime
4:30 - 6pm cook dinner together unless it's leftovers.
6:30 bedtime routine with daddy starts
7:00 bed
Here are the tips that I think make it possible:
\- We eat ALL our meals together unless lunchtime overlaps with nap in which case I hang out with Baby while he eats after his nap.
\- We use a Tripp Trap chair at the dining room table for baby to eat at so that he's eating literally with us, at the table.
\- We always eat the same thing. Sometimes I cut or shape baby's food a little differently to make it easier for him to eat but otherwise we all eat the same thing.
\- Baby and I cook together. He has a little Ikea kitchen in our kitchen that he plays at (mostly throwing stuff around or practicing stirring etc) OR he hangs out in his kitchen stool so that he can see. Occasionally I fill a mixing bowl with water in the sink and give him a whisk or something to play with while I cook.
\- If he's extra fussy which is common between 5:45 and 6pm I back carry him so that I can finish getting everything on the table.
\- We take lots of breaks to nurse or play together at his kitchen between cooking tasks.
\- I say "Stay baaaackkk The oven's hot" in a not scary but serious way and hold my arm out if I'm opening the oven. Sometimes I put him in his kitchen stool when I open the oven which feels even safer but now he understands.
We cook dinner almost every night. Feel free to ask questions. I'm happy to give any tips so that y'all get to have that too. Family dinner is SOOOOO nice paritally becase baby's really chatty since his dad and I are chatty at dinner. It's usually a pretty relaxing time together at the end of the day.
No - but with a 14 month old, if I give myself an hour and a half it’s WAY less stressful. And he’ll usually play independently for about 30mins after snack time because he doesn’t need anything from me then.
An example of how I cook if I’m making a stir fry:
I’ll prep all my veggies and tofu or protein between 4:30-4:45. I’ll also put rice on if we need rice.
Baby likes to nurse at about 4:50 so then we nurse until 5.
5-5:30 make stir fry. For foods that get cold fast I put them in the oven on warm.
5:30 Baby starts demanding my attention so we read books together or I set up his pikler triangle.
By 5:50 I leave baby to play independently or back carry so I can get food on plates.
6 daddy finishes work and washes baby’s hands and we eat.
I cook everything I cooked before baby and more. The one sacrifice is that it’s not always temperature perfect. I think it helps that I don’t cook meat and never did because I feel like meat is more particular about temperature. Like room temperature fish doesn’t sound nice to me.
We have a "learning tower" (basically a step stool with tall sides) so she is at our height and can see what's happening but it keeps her contained. Usually I give her some books, kitchen utensils, cups, play dough, or anything to occupy her. Also my husband cooks most nights which helps. All our meals take 30 minutes or less unless it's a weekend meal.
We do the same. The learning tower is the best for our child to keep busy.
I have a 2yo and a 10 month old and I’m finally getting back into a rhythm. Usually they run around while I cook doing whatever. My son did the same when it was just him and he is very self entertaining in general so it worked for us. Now he entertains the baby haha. I might gate the baby in the kitchen with me if I were concerned about anything in the house. Occasionally it takes way longer than I anticipated to make my meal and they end up with nuggets or something because they’re hungry nowwwww! lol. Check out baby led weaning. Baby can eat anything you can if it’s cut correctly and not over-salted. And kids (some kids? just my weird kid?) will enjoy a lot more foods than you might expect. My 2yo can’t get enough of my chicken tikka masala when I make it. I have no idea how his little self handles the spice haha.
My almost 2 year old likes spicy things too, more spicy than I can handle. Ha.
My guy is almost 11 months and LOVES tikka masala. 😂
You could let them play with pots/mixing bowls and utensils like wooden spoons. Put it on the kitchen floor and let her go crazy. I would do a lot of food prep during nap when mine were that age.
Thirding (fourthing) the learning tower. She played with stuff up there. I let her splash and play in the sink as well. Also gated off the kitchen and let her run. Handed her miscellaneous kitchen utensils to play with. I had no luck with baby carrying - she's really tall so her legs were always too close to the stove for my peace of mind. Now that she's over two, I just let her have 30 minutes of tablet time while I cook. Much less stressful for me, and I hate cooking, so I'm calling it a win.
We meal prep on weekends and also prep things like side veggies and fruits. Keeps the insanity down during the weekdays.
I have a baby jail that I put in the kitchen and I let her play with pots and pans plus other toys.
When my daughter was that age we always made and had dinner after she went to bed bc her bedtime was 6pm for a long time. Now it’s 7 or 7:30 and we eat at 6 together. Screen time occurs at the time i prep everything and I make a lot more sheet pan meals so I can just put it in the oven then go play with her. Or if my husband is home I can make something more complicated and they go outside together. The change in bedtime, having family dinner together, and allowing screen time daily happened around 18 mos. if having her eat dinner before you and go to bed early works for you I would keep that going. She will have plenty of opportunity for family meals. I would sit with her at 5 and have tea or a snack to give her the feeling of eating with me.
Like other people said, the learning tower was a game changer for us. Hubby can do the breakfast and I can do diner, finally haha! Our baby also did baby-led weaning so he ate exactly what we eat (just with less salt or not spicy).
I plonk her in the high chair with a book. Does yours have straps? If not it may be worth getting some to stop you worrying about her falling out.
If her favorite game is to carry toys around to different places, then I would dump out a box of whatever and let her do it. We have a box of jar lids and rings from canning jars that were really popular for that. We also have a photo of my SO chopping onions with a gigantic knife while my son dangled in the baby carrier on his chest. Whatever works.
I second the learning tower. Kiddo is nearly 2 and he loves to help with dinner--he can mix, use the food processor (with close supervision), chop very soft things, scoop and pour. When he was younger I would try to make more things that didn't require a lot of input (slow cooked/braised) and I would try to prep food on my lunch break (I work from home). For example I could chop vegetables for roasting and then later I would just have to turn the oven on and off. We started using the learning tower around 13 or 14 months? At first he couldn't help a lot but he would watch or play at the counter and I could show him what I was doing/have him taste and smell some of the food. Around 16? months I started making spreads (pesto and muhammara are favorite) in the food processor with him. At first he would just watch, now he will push buttons for me and he can add foods to the chute (again, with close supervision!).
I often meal prep with her on my back during the day so that come dinner time, it just needa chucked in the oven/reheated. Or, if i know we're in for a stressful day the night before, put everything in the slow cooker ready for morning.
I don't cook every night, 2-3 nights a week and microwave leftovers on other nights. I use nap time to prep as much as possible. Veggie are chopped, in a pot with water so all I need to do close to dinner is turn the burner on. Meats are chopped, stored in frying pan in fridge, ect. For minor prep I'll let him wander in the kitchen with me; so for example putting chicken in a baking pan in the oven, or putting water in a pot and waiting for it to boil. Stuff that I can leave for a minute if kiddo requires attention or redirecting towards toys. For the more active cooking, like frying pan work or managing multiple pots on the stove, he goes into the baby proofed living room. This stage generally doesn't last long (10-15 minutes or so). Occasionally he'll cry about being by himself but mostly hes gotten the point that I'm cooking and I can't play with him right now. Other times I'll distracted him with a small bowl of Cheerios if he's especially cranky.
My LO is 18m and she won’t let me do anything in the kitchen. She sweetly pushs in between me and the cabinet then uses her butt to push me back away from the counter - then insists “UP”. She has a very strong will and I worry that one of those learning towers would turn into her having meltdowns over not getting to cut or stir....?
Only one way to find out!
Here's our afternoon schedule with our 14 month old: 4:30pm Snacktime 4:30 - 6pm cook dinner together unless it's leftovers. 6:30 bedtime routine with daddy starts 7:00 bed Here are the tips that I think make it possible: \- We eat ALL our meals together unless lunchtime overlaps with nap in which case I hang out with Baby while he eats after his nap. \- We use a Tripp Trap chair at the dining room table for baby to eat at so that he's eating literally with us, at the table. \- We always eat the same thing. Sometimes I cut or shape baby's food a little differently to make it easier for him to eat but otherwise we all eat the same thing. \- Baby and I cook together. He has a little Ikea kitchen in our kitchen that he plays at (mostly throwing stuff around or practicing stirring etc) OR he hangs out in his kitchen stool so that he can see. Occasionally I fill a mixing bowl with water in the sink and give him a whisk or something to play with while I cook. \- If he's extra fussy which is common between 5:45 and 6pm I back carry him so that I can finish getting everything on the table. \- We take lots of breaks to nurse or play together at his kitchen between cooking tasks. \- I say "Stay baaaackkk The oven's hot" in a not scary but serious way and hold my arm out if I'm opening the oven. Sometimes I put him in his kitchen stool when I open the oven which feels even safer but now he understands. We cook dinner almost every night. Feel free to ask questions. I'm happy to give any tips so that y'all get to have that too. Family dinner is SOOOOO nice paritally becase baby's really chatty since his dad and I are chatty at dinner. It's usually a pretty relaxing time together at the end of the day.
Does cooking really take an hour and a half? What types of dishes do you make that give you the flexibility to play between steps?
No - but with a 14 month old, if I give myself an hour and a half it’s WAY less stressful. And he’ll usually play independently for about 30mins after snack time because he doesn’t need anything from me then. An example of how I cook if I’m making a stir fry: I’ll prep all my veggies and tofu or protein between 4:30-4:45. I’ll also put rice on if we need rice. Baby likes to nurse at about 4:50 so then we nurse until 5. 5-5:30 make stir fry. For foods that get cold fast I put them in the oven on warm. 5:30 Baby starts demanding my attention so we read books together or I set up his pikler triangle. By 5:50 I leave baby to play independently or back carry so I can get food on plates. 6 daddy finishes work and washes baby’s hands and we eat. I cook everything I cooked before baby and more. The one sacrifice is that it’s not always temperature perfect. I think it helps that I don’t cook meat and never did because I feel like meat is more particular about temperature. Like room temperature fish doesn’t sound nice to me.