How have you had five kids now and haven’t figured this out? You need a nanny/housekeeping or a deep freezer full of casseroles.

Anonymous wrote:Not literally with, obviously. But I’m looking for ideas for meals where the prep can be done piecemeal throughout the day and then I can throw everything in the oven/slow cooker/instant pot. Browning meat or similar is hard because you can’t really stop halfway through.

I have downtime to cook while the baby sleeps, it’s just totally unpredictable when he will sleep and for how long. Feeding two adults and four other kids, and the youngest kid won’t touch tomato which spoils all my baked pasta dishes from previous babies.

How did you feed the first 4?

You can stop anything halfway through. You should know that by now.

Anonymous wrote:This is your fifth kid?!

+1

This is your fifth kid?!

Anonymous wrote:You have a kid who won’t touch any pasta with tomatoes, so you’re scrapping all pasta dishes? Seriously? You cannot be this limited in your thinking, OP. How about just setting aside some plain pasta for the non-tomato kid?

This

Anonymous wrote:What about wearing baby?

Oh sorry you are looking more for recipes lol. But I still like baby wearing for this.

-Short cut anywhere you can. Precut veggies (frozen or fresh), boneless skinless chicken thighs vs doing it yourself, pre-portioned salmon filets.
-Batch cooking (if your kids will eat leftovers). You could do a big prep on Sunday (or whenever other parent is available to assist), freeze/fridge everything.
-Sous vide (if you have one) is actually so easy. You cook things for lower/slower than normal, but its totally hands off and wont overcook. You can fridge them once "cooked", and then when it comes to actual dinner you can just reheat quickly. So for example, you cook a bunch of chicken breasts. Drop them in the water, leave them for 2 hours (or whatever). If you come back in 2.5 or 3, its still fine! Then you can buy a premade salad to serve with.

Anonymous wrote:This is a literal newborn who is not interested in a book and cannot sit up. Yes, someone else can hold him if necessary, but I’m tired and blanking on ideas here. Thank you for your help.

Having an older kid read the newborn a book is more for eye contact with a loved one for connection for the newborn, and gaining confidence in reading for the reader. But sounds like wearing the baby could work well.

What about wearing baby?

Anonymous wrote:Can you put the baby in a sling or high chair in the kitchen? Or hell, you have five kids - can one of the older four read the baby a book? Seems funny you have so many kids but haven't figured this out with them...

Exactly-what did you do with other kids at that age?

Rotisserie chicken meals, pre-made meatballs, pre-cut veggies and fruit. Do you have an air fryer? Great to quickly cook protein, veggies

This is a literal newborn who is not interested in a book and cannot sit up. Yes, someone else can hold him if necessary, but I’m tired and blanking on ideas here. Thank you for your help.

You have a kid who won’t touch any pasta with tomatoes, so you’re scrapping all pasta dishes? Seriously? You cannot be this limited in your thinking, OP. How about just setting aside some plain pasta for the non-tomato kid?

If there’s room on the floor away from the stove, a bouncer worked well for me for this for months. Baby cooking theater.

Can you put the baby in a sling or high chair in the kitchen? Or hell, you have five kids - can one of the older four read the baby a book? Seems funny you have so many kids but haven't figured this out with them...

Not literally with, obviously. But I’m looking for ideas for meals where the prep can be done piecemeal throughout the day and then I can throw everything in the oven/slow cooker/instant pot. Browning meat or similar is hard because you can’t really stop halfway through.

I have downtime to cook while the baby sleeps, it’s just totally unpredictable when he will sleep and for how long. Feeding two adults and four other kids, and the youngest kid won’t touch tomato which spoils all my baked pasta dishes from previous babies.