1 year old gets fussy when we go in the kitchen

[ameliebob]

Hi everyone! Anyone else LO gets super fussy when you TRY to cook something??? As soon as I enter the kitchen my 13 months old starts whining even if he's still playing happily in the living room, and even if I keep him entertained in the kitchen (toys, pots and pans, Tupperware bowls, etc)

It drives me crazy to hear that at least 3 times a day!!! Do you have any tips before I turn insane? Loll

[creations]

I used to try to get one meal cooked or prepared during nap time when I had some peace.
My kitchen is big enough for a high chair so he could sit in there and I'd chit chat about what I was doing, how to prepare veggies or show him the different (safe) foods, tell him info about them and such. He liked information.  He also liked eating so I might prep during snack time so he could sit in his high chair feeding himself whilst I cooked.
Sometimes he'd be happy with a new kitchen item to explore so rather than toys or plastic tubs he'd seen before I'd give him the balloon whisk or a set of measuring spoons or a wooden juicer, a sieve or colander (great for putting on heads!).
You probably can't stop all the whining though, they do have a tendency to moan, I tried to just keep talking so even if he was moaning he knew I was paying some attention to him.

[We Three]

 Can you time meal prep with snack time?

 I used to give my dd little nuggets of fruit in 2 or 3 little paper cups.....good grief the fun! 

[dache]

I also cooked during nap time.
Whisk and a plastic bowl was big hit for dd. Now at two, she "makes" eggs, crack them, whisk them, adds seasoning and pours them in the pan.
I`d let her "help", she "pressed" the button of the blender, inspected things, mix things...

[Jodes112]

Yes! My kids have been the same. Dd still does it now & she's almost 3! I can now set her at the table with some pencils & paper & she will happily do that whilst i cook.

At 13 months though its not so easy! Could you strap her in the chair & get an activity going whilst you cook?

Agree with pp prep earlier in the day is a good idea.x

[weaver]

Prep when they're asleep definitely. Allowing 'help' is great too, and gets more productive as they get older.  My 3 yo likes to peel veg for example.  Giving a snack is a good idea, maybe he associates the kitchen with eating and would like something. 

I found I had times when LO had to be in the carrier/sling while I got on with the cooking, that was fine too.

[ameliebob]

Thank you everyone for your tips 
Definitely I try to make as much as I can for the dinner during nap time. But since baby #2 arrived (she's 3 weeks old!!) and is not on a really predictable schedule it's hard to have her to sleep at the same time of her brother lol

I'll try to do it at snack time when I can't do it at nap time. I'll also try to make him participate more it should help! And yup, he associates kitchen and food that's for sure 

[We Three]

 Awww.....so cute!   Yeah I'd put him in his high chair and give him a really engaging snack....a hunk of bagel or something that takes time.   

[ameliebob]

Ahah yeah it's kinda cute after all 
He does the same at daycare lol he knows food is coming

[weaver]

Just wondering - if he's getting worked up, do you think maybe he could do with eating earlier? Or having a substantial snack earlier? I know things go all sorts of pear-shaped with a new baby in the mix, keeping to meal and snack times kept me some sort of sane during that time. I know there would've been difficulties if we hadn't!

[ameliebob]

it's already earlier than it should! Most of the time we are having dinner a 4:40 instead of 5 and he have a real big snack at 2:30-3:00
And he whines even if he's not hungry LOL sometimes I don't understand these kids 

[deb]

Slow cooker/pressure cooker. Throw everything in early on and let the food cook itself. That thing saved my life on many occasions, and still does!

[ameliebob]

  Love it