My secret for minimizing the dinner rush chaos with a baby and toddler. No screens, no baby containers- just on hand materials to support independent play.
The trouble with work in the kitchen, it can be hard to stop mid-task. Having something screen-free and on hand for a busy toddler just made sense.
I started the kitchen basket a few months before my daughter turned 2 years old. It saved dinner time and dish washing more times than I can count.
The basket works because it promotes independent play while staying close enough to me to keep out of [too much] trouble.
I still whip our basket out now, granted, my was-toddler is more of a preschooler these days. My baby is newly entering the into-everything stage. Her kitchen basket is a bit different. I’ll include what baby toys are in it towards the end of this article if your little one is under 12 months too.
If you want my full step-by-step framework for building the skill of independent play, all while staying close and connected to you, shop the Big Book of Play.
It includes 50+ low prep play setups using simple supplies like these. Each includes therapist-designed play expansions to support fine motor, gross motor, language, or sensory processing skills. All organized to reflect your day as a mom. All building the skill of independent play.
Toddler Kitchen Basket:
I typically convert our 3-in-1 Kitchen Helper to toddler table mode and park it in the center of the kitchen before the basket comes out. If she decides she wants to help with dinner instead, I simply close to upright mode, lock, and move over to the countertop. This thing has been worth its weight in gold.
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- Kid’s knives and cookie cutters: If I am chopping something, I typically just pass her my scraps to practice cutting. She is happy playing chef; I’m happy to sneak some fine motor skills into play. Most of all, it is a low pressure way to pique curiosity before trying new foods.
- Kinetic sand and play doughs + mini construction vehicles/ other add ons: This is easily the most used item. It tends to get the longest stretches of play out of anything. I just have a hodgepodge, but you can buy pre-made construction sets too.
House rule: To limit mess, if play strays from the table, the sand/ dough goes away until next time. Early consistency with this boundary has ultimately made messy play setups much more realistic for me as a mom. It’s more effort on the front end, but the pay off of being able to use messy materials on the reg (without losing my sanity) is huge.
- Painter’s tape and Pom Poms: This could be 100 different things. Sometimes it is a road for cars. Sometimes it’s a sticky craft, like in this reel. There are endless ways to use these 2 together or separately.
- Toddler scissors: Spring-loaded first scissors help with the early motor planning for this complex fine motor skill. (My favorite Fiskars Starter Toddler Scissors are often out of stock, so sorry if this link does not include them today. I try my best to keep it up to date).
- Markers and crayons: In the kitchen is actually the perfect time to supervise markers- IYKYK. I stash them in these zip organizational bags.
Play Pro Tip: Save your restaurant kid’s meal crayons. Break them in half. This naturally promotes a pincher grasp.
Everything stashes away in my easy grab kitchen basket and comes out when my little one wants a quick, low-prep way to play in the kitchen.
Shop the Big Book of Play for 50+ specific low-prep play setups, each with therapist-designed play expansions to support essential developmental skills- paired with a framework for building the skill of independent play and organized to reflect your day as a mom.
Baby Container Alternative
Let’s pivot to what my baby does during dinner prep- other than climb on and off of the dishwasher…
I opt for no baby containers in our home.
Is that more inconvenient? Of course. For today.
Long term- I believe it’s worth the investment of embracing the early exploration.
A child’s brain is literally wired through experiences- every movement, texture, and trial and error. So for today, there is a kitchen basket to help us both out.
Before she was crawling, no baby containers meant moving our padded playmat to the kitchen during dinner prep. Thankfully, it’s cleverly designed with a handle, because this thing is heavy duty! With a non-toxic, latex foam insert and vegan leather cover, its supportive, wipeable, and waterproof. And I’m obsessed- as a pediatric physical therapist for the way it supports gross motor development, as a mom because its so practically designed and beautiful. [As a brand affiliate, I may earn a commission on any purchases through my link at no additional cost to you. This link automatically applies a special discount as a thanks!]
The kitchen basket has evolved with transition away from the newborn stage. What started as a handful of baby toys, mostly meant to keep Big Sis at a safe distance, is now a stash of actual favorites.
Baby Kitchen Basket:
Simply a basket of baby toys for the baby to rummage through while I cook. These are the ones that I would buy again and again:
- SpinnyPins: Obsessed. If I was only going to own 1 baby toy for the first year, this would be it. Textures to mouth, pins to swat in tummy time, cause and effect bell bowl, and simple round puzzle. It easily grows with baby to support age-appropriate developmental play, from the tail end of the newborn stage to toddlerhood.
- Teethers: Why does teething never stop? I feel like you just have to have these floating around everywhere for a solid year. This set has been a favorite, with so many different textures for oral sensory input. I pop them in the freezer regularly to comfort sore gums. (Thankfully, there is none of that mystery gel in the middle to worry about.) My other favorites are tube shaped. I go for these over the handled style because I want baby to really work the full jaw.
- Suction Toys: We own an excessive amount of these, but its because they are great. Stick them to the floor during tummy time. Raise to the fridge or dishwasher as baby starts playing in tall kneel or pulling to stand. This one is my favorite teether rattle combo for babies. If you are going to go for the popular suction spinners, I’m a fan of these too. I must say though, after trying multiple, the quality of the name brand ones really is worth the price difference in this case. They have a satisfying weight to them, chewable texture, and stick to more surfaces in my experience.
- Oball: The lightweight, webbed design is perfect for little fingers to reflexively grasp at first. Use it to promote midline play from the newborn stage and beyond.
- Hand Puppets: These are especially fun for Big Sis to play with Little Sis. Otherwise, when my hands are busy in the kitchen, they still make a nice lightweight stuffed animal.
You can find my full list of favorite baby toys here.
So there you have it- a peek into how I’m trying to minimize the dinner rush chaos in our house through everyday play. No screens, no containers, just on hand materials- and the conviction that short term convenience comes at a cost eventually, but play is worth the investment.
No matter if you are navigating the baby, toddler, or preschooler stage, try out your own kitchen basket this week.
If you want more specific guidance for really making the most out of everyday moments to build developmental skills through play, with less prep and pressure on you, the Big Book of Play makes it easy.
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