Once Willow got over the 6-month hump, I feel like a lot of things naturally fell into place again. One of those things was making dinner. When she was younger, I kind of just would wing whatever while she was taking a nap. Now that she is napping less, I had to work around that and find a new solution, which is babywearing.
I LOVE BABYWEARING. She loves babywearing. It has made our dinner routine so much more enjoyable and easier. I think we both look forward to it towards the end of the day. It definitely helped curb her evening fussiness when she was younger, too. Sadly, she is getting much heavier these days and I don’t think I’ll be wearing her much longer… but I am going to miss it SO MUCH.
I thought I’d share some of my tips while cooking dinner with a baby, because I think a lot of people tend to either forget about it or rush through it. But you can actually enjoy it with a little one… I promise. Here are my favorite tips.
#1: Babywear
Okay, so let’s talk about this first. Yes, babywearing while you cook makes it 10 times easier. I also know that it can be dangerous if you are not careful. But really… just use common sense. You are not going to fry anything with a baby in front of you. You are not going to stand close to stove. As long as you use common sense, you should not have any issues.
As soon as I break out the Ergobaby carrier, Willow lights up and gets so excited. She absolutely loves to be doted around as I cook. Hands-free, easy on the back, and she gets super comfy. And the best part – when she was smaller, she used fall asleep after about 20 minutes of being in the carrier and took a quick cat nap before dinner. It did wonders for her mood. I don’t let her fall asleep in there before bed anymore, though. Or else she’d never go down at 7 (lol!)
#2: Play fun music
In this house, this means Disney music. Our favorites lately have been the Princess and the Frog soundtrack (BEST EVER!). Lion King, and Moana. She gets so excited when we sway and dance. It makes this whole process so much more fun.
#3: Explain as you go
Sometimes I’ll just ramble on and on about what I am doing. It keeps her engaged and entertained.
#4: Show as you go
Willow will peak over the edge as I show her what I am doing and cooking with. I’ll let her touch veggies or fruits for textures. It’s a learning experience!
#5: Allow baby to taste
If you are cooking with something that your babe can have, give them a little taste here and there.
Do you like to cook while wearing your baby? I honestly love this time of day with Willow… I am sure I am not alone! xx bianca
