How to Bake With a Toddler Without Feeling Overwhelmed
Greg and I love to bake so it’s only right we get Mackenzie comfortable in the kitchen at a young age! I’ve only just begun to include Mackenzie in what I’m baking, but I have a few tips for you so you don’t become overwhelmed in the kitchen with your toddler:
+ If your toddler helps you put the ingredients in the bowl, rather than measuring out each ingredient with them, get all your ingredients out and measured before you begin. I like to put all pre-measured ingredients in different bowls so Mackenzie can help me add them as needed.
+ If your child is older and you want them to help with measuring, get all ingredients and measuring cups and spoons out before you begin so you you’re prepared.
+ I like to let Mackenzie help with things I know she can do at first so she feels good about helping. For example, when making banana bread I let her peel the bananas with me. Other things I like to let her help with are pouring and stirring.
+ A toddler kitchen tower allows your child to stand at the counter with you. I’ve now baked a few times with Mackenzie sitting on the island with me since we don’t have her kitchen tower yet, and while I know she’s safe up there, I can’t walk away from the island. If I need to wash my hands or get something I need to make sure she’s safely on the ground. If she was using her kitchen tower I would feel better about needing to walk away for a minute or two.
+ Let your child taste as you bake. I let Mackenzie try a chocolate chip while we made banana bread. I wouldn’t normally let her snack on chocolate chips, but because we were baking with them I let her try one! I want her to try new foods and enjoy cooking & baking. That means letting her try things I maybe wouldn’t give her on a regular basis, like a chocolate chip. That could lead to her trying new foods that I want her to eat, but maybe she’s not interested in eating. Getting your little one involved in the kitchen can definitely help with picky eating.
+ Lastly, it’s so important to let go and let your child experiment in the kitchen. I know from my own experience that I want to control everything and make sure everything goes just right when cooking or baking, but when you’re cooking with a toddler it’s important not to be so controlling over every move they make. Of course if they are doing something that’s not safe like handling an egg, you’ll need to step in, but if they’re being safe and maybe sticking their finger in an egg free batter, let it happen. This also applies to measuring ingredients and just letting them make a mess. I’m still working on this while I bake with Mackenzie, but I want her to enjoy it so I know I need to let her explore! EMBRACE THE MESS!
Here are some of the recipes I’ve used when baking with Mackenzie:
Gingerbread Cookies (This cookie dough was SUPER sticky and required a lot of extra flour)
What’s your favorite thing to bake or cook with your toddler? Let me know below!
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