https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 06 Jun 2026 09:55:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461588 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 15:01:09 +0000 littlek 1461588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a learning tower with chalkboard attached. Love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461579 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:54:53 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1461579@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Learning tower.</p> <p>Saved our life! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461577 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:54:06 +0000 skibobrown 1461577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is why do most of our cooking either while both of us are home and one of us can watch her, or after DD goes to bed. DH also will hold DD while he cooks one handed for simple dishes. He has stronger arms than I do though...<br /> I used to laugh at learning towers, but I'm starting to think we're going to need one.<br /> I agree that PBS kids for a limited amount of time is probably just fine. That's my emergency backup. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461556 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:36:21 +0000 bhbee 1461556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when I can spare a few minutes during naptime (I usually work then) I fit in some prep. I try to make easier recipes for sure and use the slow cooker where I can prep early morning or the night before. and using a stepstool has really helped us. we didn't have room for a learning tower but had a large/tall 3-step stepstool. when I push it up to the counter I feel like it would be pretty hard for her to fall off. sometimes I will do things that I know will involve clean-up, like letting her pour water between different cups/bowls, because it holds her attention a long time.</p> <p>worst case scenario is the tv - you can't see our tv from the kitchen so it's really PBS app on the phone (in guided access mode). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461550 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:33:11 +0000 looch 1461550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have a table in the kitchen, with a big basket of crap he likes, play dough, paint, etc etc. He can use those only when he sits at the table. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461548 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:31:53 +0000 Andrea 1461548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Snacks. She is only 13 months so a bit young to help. I give her some raisins and she's content for almost 30 minutes. My 3 year old is happy to play while I cook. I also only cook very basic things when the kids are awake. I save anything with a lot of chopping time or time spent at the stove for when they are in bed. Or the weekend when DH can watch them. During the week, I do a lot of roasted veggies in the oven and throwing things in the crock pot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461531 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:22:53 +0000 Springtime 1461531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's so hard! My 22 month old still whines and cries while I cook. Sometimes a tv show will work sometimes it won't! I'll be glad when this phase is over. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461523 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:20:57 +0000 yerpie110 1461523@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We prep dinner the night before after she's gone to bed, so the actual work left on the day of is minimal. It not be ideal, but it works well for us, and we have been able to significantly cut down on ordering take out too. There's no way I could prep and cook every night with LO at my feet (she's too young for a learning tower)! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461504 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 14:07:01 +0000 Mrs. Twine 1461504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we go through a phase when she is difficult, or I have a recipe where her helping is impractical, I cook after she's down for the night or during her nap. Usually two meals at a time to save me doing it every day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461475 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:40:45 +0000 mrsjazz 1461475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>She likes to help in the kitchen but I can't have her by the oven. Our kitchen is super tiny so there's no space for a learning tower--we just use a small side table and she steps up there. I usually give her some kind of activity to do so that she feels like she's helping. Lately she is into our magnetic poetry and Scrabble letters on the fridge so she points out letters to me. I also have her play kitchen right outside of our kitchen.</p> <p>One of those methods usually works and when all else fails, DH is in charge! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461474 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:38:02 +0000 travelgirl1 1461474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I usually put her (15 months) in her highchair and bring it in the kitchen and let her eat snacks in it while I cook. So far it works okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461466 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:31:12 +0000 meganmp 1461466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have an area penned off for them to play in (they're 15 months). If they whine in there, then they whine. Mama (or Dada, usually) has to cook! We've been letting them in the kitchen and while it's difficult to work around them on the floor (they don't walk yet), we've seen improvement in their behavior. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461449 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:18:52 +0000 Mrs. Pen 1461449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mom of the year award here- he watches a show while I cook. Not ideal but you do what you gotta do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461426 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 13:04:48 +0000 Tidybee 1461426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 16 months and is in the phase of wanting "Up" whenever I'm doing something other than playing with her or literally climbing onto my feet when I'm trying to cook. I try to prep everything during her nap (chop veggies, marinate meat, even put a pot of water on to boil at dinner time) so that my steps in the kitchen are minimal in the evening. We do have a TV in the next room, so I try to time it that we watch a little bit of sesame street together and then she watches the last segment of it (usually Elmo related) on her own while I do the last few things in the kitchen. It is tough though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461411 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:55:20 +0000 lovehoneybee 1461411@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We don't have a tower, E stands on a stool, but otherwise I usually what @junebugmama: does. He loves to help me cook. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461392 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:37:34 +0000 junebugmama 1461392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got Jax a learning tower. He actually does "help" me prepare things. He will dump food into bowls, if I measure things out first. He of course eats a ton of veggies as I'm cutting them up to cook them, but I've realized that him eating raw veggies before dinner, is just as good as him eating them during dinner. </p> <p>If I don't let him participate he will whine and cry and push my legs in most cases. </p> <p>Also, I'm sure people will think I'm nuts, but I have let both boys near the stove. They stir things that are cooking. I know that others would find this risky, but both of them have never been burned and respect and understand that the stove and the things on it are hot. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-cook-dinner-with-a-toddler#post-1461388 Sun, 02 Mar 2014 12:33:31 +0000 stargal 1461388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am seriously having such a hard time making dinner lately because P is so whiny when I cook. I'm losing my patience ad feel terrible. He will play with his toys and then come over and cry/whine for what I am cooking (even when he just had a snack!) and will sometimes throw a tantrum.</p> <p>I'm going crazy. ive tried....<br /> toys aren't working.<br /> giving him pots/pans works for a couple minutes but not long enough<br /> I cant have him by the stove so he cant help out.<br /> we don't have a tv near the kitchen for him to watch.</p> <p>Help!! </p>