Do You Cook Dinner While Your Kids Nap?

I, cook dinner or at least prep everything for dinner, in the morning... before naps, before playing/play dates/my son's activities, before the afternoons because the afternoons are too busy for me.
And this works best for me.

I have sometimes cooked dinner when my son is napping.. but the 'noise' sometimes wakes him.

Right now, i have my crock pot on, with dinner in it. Real easy.

good luck,
Susan

when my LO's used to nap, sometimes I'd do the prep work (wash,chop veggies, assemble a casserole to pop in the oven later, etc.) although i don't remember doing actual *cooking* then. Crockpot setup is another great idea.

My kids never napped, oh they'd fall asleep when we were doing errands, in the car, but nap-nope never. We called it the curse of our street (everyone with kids on our street had the same problem..). So, I went with the flow...I love to cook, used to own a catering company (that I sold after a year of marriage-I was busy 100 -120 hours a week-and had a daybed in the back)....Needless to say, didn't fit with marriage. So I love to cook, still.

I would frequently make waffles, or muffins, and pancakes, (I'd always add fruit and very little sugar-the fruit would sweeten it)....The smell would often make waking them up much easier...While I was preparing dinner, while they were eating breakfast, or right after, we'd be yaking or I'd send them to the pantry to be "my helpers". From the time they were 2 they would "make" one meal a week each (with mom's help...) but they learned how to separate eggs, how to make pasta - from scratch, loved making lasagna, and italian soups (which I frequently made w/leftover chicken, pork, and veggies...ezy)....While chopping veggies, they weren't allowed near "the island" (I chop-having been a chef- very quickly-didn't need little fingers in there)....I always made dinner prior to lunch, if it was a favorite of theirs I'd make extra and they could have it for lunch, with some muffins, or bread that they would "make". Incorporating them in the kitchen activites shows them from an early age proper nutrition, and also dangers. To show how "hot" the top of the stove got I set a paper towel on fire, after the burner was shut off. I explained that could have been their finger! Plus, even though I cooked, and baked and still do - I still make dinner early, just a habit. When my husband gets home, I enjoy the time. Alot of times, I would let them make "appetizers", "mini cheese balls", etc. They loved it and have all turned out to be excellent cooks. If there is a time you dont want them in the kitchen, get a huge rubbermaid container that fits in the bottom of your pantry and fill with different kinds of beans, small pots, and measuring spoons and cups.....They love this and don't even know they are learning fractions.....Also, they loved working with puff pastry or fillo dough, one would be certain to cover it carefully to keep it moist, the other would butter, one would fill, and frequently had fruit turnovers, or whatever we were having for dinner in "pockets" of fillo dough-suddenly they love whatever you are making....Learned to love fish, shrimp & scallops this way. Also Salmon is delightful with a sour cream and dill sauce spread thinly on top b/4 wrapping....I loved having the kids in the kitchen.....They were great at peeling veggies, cleaning out peppers, peeling potatoes, etc. They loved "smashed" potatoes for lunch, which are baked potatoes cooked, then you smash them with a spatula in a fry pan w/very little oil till brown, and "top" with anything they want, cheese, leftover veggies, meat, or even a can of chili and cheese, leftover eggs (from breakfast & sausage/bacon, quick nutricious lunch....the more they help-the more they eat and are less picky eaters. Just a thought - this is how I handled it, then we would have "fun" cleaning dishes and the kitchen, then outside to play, I miss those days....(pot pies are great for young children to "make" and low and behold how they'll eat their creations"....(Own numerous crock pots but have never cooked in one-usually use them for parties sometimes....but, generally prefer my chafing dishes).

Nope I nap too...when I can...

But I do have a "no kid" in the kitchen while I am cooking dinner rule. That is when they get their one hour of evening TV.

They help me with breakfast, lunch, snacks, baking cookies, etc...but getting dinner on is stressful enough for me at the end of the day without kids underfoot.

I just about always prep my dinners during nap time. Chop onions, veggies, marinate meat, whatever it may be. I get things as ready as possible and it works great for me!

I have done that (back in the day when naps were still a reality!) LOL
Great idea!

use the crock pot when possible also. you throw it in and forget it. except for the wonderful smell that floats through the house. i love the crockpot

Sometimes I do, it really depends on what I am making, I also sometimes cook meals that take longer so I start during nap time so they are cooked by dinner.

Looking back at the past few weeks I have to say it is pretty 50/50 if I started dinner/cooked dinner during nap or did something else during nap time (maybe nap myself or work e-mails).

I do that occasionally. Most of the time it works out well. Not every meal I cook can be made ahead of time. And there are times when the kids wake up early or refuse to nap...so sometimes it's a little counter productive. :) I am also a big fan of making doubles on some meals and freezing half for an easy meal later down the road (I make homemade pot pies a dozen at a time, lazagna, baked ziti, chili, fried rice, cajun rice, etc.). And I like to get my kids to help with dinner too. That way they are entertained and I can get things done instead of worrying about what they are in to. My son is 4 1/2 and my daughter is 22 months. My son can help with almost any meal. If I can't find a job for my daughter I put a little flour or an egg in a bowl and let her mix while we work.

Sometimes I do! Or I throw in some laundry and on a rare ocassion I nap with her! LOL!

Go for it!! When my kids were little we LIVED out of the crockpot. I also bought meat in bulk (hamburger, chicken breasts, bacon) and cooked it in bulk to put in the freezer/refrigerator. It is so much easier to defrost already cooked meat than raw meat and it makes putting together dinner take about 1/2 as long. I'm convinced that's why God made small children need naps :D If we didn't have that mid-day break to get stuff done, they wouldn't live until dinner LOL

WHy not. Any free time to do something is always worth it. It can always get warmed when they wake up. It's probably the way to go. That way they don't get cranky waiting for you to cook it and then trying to entertain them while you finish up...go for it!

I always take time to relax or have a nap myself when my 3yr old is having his nap. I find it keeps me strong and happy.
Fair play to you if you can have this energy to keep going while they are resting.
My advise would be to put your feet up and relax when you get a chance.
Parents have very busy lives and need some quite time too so why not get this when the kids are.
Take Care
B.

Hello SH, As the mother of 5 and the Nana to several I promise you that I have been doing it for at least 30 years!
It was the only time that I got anything literally done . I found that the 1 hour I required each day for quiet time I could save 3 hours just by being well organized( and not have so many little hands to help me).
So have a great time and enjoy.

S.H., I agree with the other moms & grandmas. My son is in middle school now, but when he was younger and even now while he is at school, if I have time I'll cook or prep in the morning if I feel like it. And while you threw that chicken on the grill today, I hope you threw on a few extra peices to freeze for a later lunch or dinner. And I love the crockpot too. It is my favorite kitchen appliance. Go with what you feel like doing. If you feel like cooking while your kids are napping, then cook! If you feel like napping too or resting, then do that.

Yes. If I didn't, I'd lose my mind!
I have 2 hours to get it ALL done w/o him around my ankles. Every once in awhile, I will take a day to rest but otherwise I always make dinner. When it's cooled off, I put it in the fridge to reheat at dinner time. No one is the wiser and it still tastes great! And......I am more relaxed.

Take full advantage of those times. Cleaning, cooking, doing bills, reading a paper lol....yeah all those things I did when she was napping.

I often chop up veggies/meat and have it all ready to put on the stove or in the oven. Depends a lot on the time your kids nap. But yes, I try to get everything done so that when the kid wakes up, all I have to do is put a pan on the stove and turn it on.

I work full time, and am not usually home during the week when my DD is napping, but... on the weekends, are you kidding? I try to get as much done as POSSIBLE while she's napping!! Prep for dinner, do laundry, clean the bathroom, whatever I can cram in before she wakes up. There is nothing wrong with taking opportunities when we can to get things done.

man these days I NAP when my son is napping haha
but that is only because I'm 37wks pregnant and TIRED.
BUt Cooking dinner while napping is totally something I'm going to do when this new baby arrives.

Thankfully so far my son is totally entertained while I make dinner. He either helps where he can or just hangs out in the kitchen playing with his toys.

I think it's a great idea! That way, when the kids are up, you can spend time with them rather than trying to cook with them underfoot. I always stress on kids in the kitchen when I'm cooking - so dangerous! Go for it, girl!

Absolutely. Even if I don't make dinner all the way I often try to get all the prep work done (cutting up veggies, cutting up chicken if necessary, etc) so then I can take less time to cook when my son is awake. If it is a casserole or enchiladas or something I think that would work great to make ahead and then pop in the oven later. I personally don't love reheated chicken so I wouldn't do the BBQ ahead myself but I think your general idea is great.