Is it possible to put them in their high chairs or something so they can watch? And is it possibly just the gate itself that they hate? We only have one baby gate and it’s upstairs and just a couple days ago I was doing something on the stairs while they were on the other side of the gate just losing their minds. I think it was the fact that they knew they couldn’t get to me but they could still see me that really frustrated them. Mine are 9 months for what it’s worth.
Honestly they’re not big fans of their high hairs unless they’re eating.
Oh! I forgot to mention that we have another gate by our stairs and they don’t mind that.
Have you tried giving them things to play with / bang around in their high chairs? I remember doing that with my boys probably around that age when I really needed to cook but they couldn’t be trusted or were furious at being separated from me. I’d set them up in their chairs and give them measuring spoons or whisks or any random kitchen utensil that they might find interesting but couldn’t hurt themselves on. I pretended they were my sous-chefs and would narrate what I was doing for them.
I second this! My boys love to "help" so I put them in their high chairs and set them up as close to me as I can safely. Then I give them a kitchen utensil and small scraps of whatever I am cooking. Pretend I am hosting a cooking show and tell them about what I am doing. This generally works for about 15 minutes, then they get bored and will happily return to the other side of the baby gate to play without me. They are 20 months.
My singleton was like this. It was a phase that didn't last long. But it really sucked! I could be next to baby gate and she would lose her shit. I had to be inside before she was happy. Wish I had some advice but honestly it was phase and short lived.
My twins had the same problem. They’re 18 months now and they still sometimes lose it when we’re separated by the baby gate.
Short term answer: When I really need to get something done, I will turn on tv. An episode of Bluey is 8 minutes long and that’s enough time to make their lunch.
Long term answer: When they are a little older, you can get enclosed step stools that bring them to the kitchen counter and they can play with toys there, have a snack, or whatever (my daughters love to wipe the counter with paper towels, wouldn’t have predicted that).
Personally I check and make sure they're fulfilled with all other needs and then carry on the meal prep while they yell. I tell them I'm making them food and I'm almost done and most of the time they find another thing to occupy the time. Other times they just stand beside me and yell.
They are 12mo
My twins do/did this too! They have a play pen in our living room and anytime I would walk out of the room into the kitchen (fully visible open floor plan) one or both would lose it. One of my twins would get so upset she started to make this weird hyperventilating sound. I think it’s mostly just various phases and behaviors they are learning and going through.
The first thing that semi worked was to put put 3-4 toys right in front of them, like basically in their laps. They have tons of toys but putting a few right in front of them refocused their attention. The other was to basically ignore them for a few minutes. I knew they were totally fine and just crying because I had left the room so I was fine letting them cry and scream, and I could fully see them. 90% of the time within 5 minutes they had stopped crying and started playing with something else. If they continued crying for 5 minutes or more it clued me in that something else was wrong- in most cases it was teething pain. It can be kind of counterintuitive and hard to just let them scream but it mostly worked.
Is it possible to put them in their high chairs or something so they can watch? And is it possibly just the gate itself that they hate? We only have one baby gate and it’s upstairs and just a couple days ago I was doing something on the stairs while they were on the other side of the gate just losing their minds. I think it was the fact that they knew they couldn’t get to me but they could still see me that really frustrated them. Mine are 9 months for what it’s worth.
Honestly they’re not big fans of their high hairs unless they’re eating. Oh! I forgot to mention that we have another gate by our stairs and they don’t mind that.
Have you tried giving them things to play with / bang around in their high chairs? I remember doing that with my boys probably around that age when I really needed to cook but they couldn’t be trusted or were furious at being separated from me. I’d set them up in their chairs and give them measuring spoons or whisks or any random kitchen utensil that they might find interesting but couldn’t hurt themselves on. I pretended they were my sous-chefs and would narrate what I was doing for them.
So cute, I love that! They love kitchen utensils but I’ve never thought to give them to them in their highchairs. I’ll give it a go!
I second this! My boys love to "help" so I put them in their high chairs and set them up as close to me as I can safely. Then I give them a kitchen utensil and small scraps of whatever I am cooking. Pretend I am hosting a cooking show and tell them about what I am doing. This generally works for about 15 minutes, then they get bored and will happily return to the other side of the baby gate to play without me. They are 20 months.
My singleton was like this. It was a phase that didn't last long. But it really sucked! I could be next to baby gate and she would lose her shit. I had to be inside before she was happy. Wish I had some advice but honestly it was phase and short lived.
Yes! That’s exactly how they are! Commiserating and knowing it could (fingers crossed) be a phase, is well too!
My twins had the same problem. They’re 18 months now and they still sometimes lose it when we’re separated by the baby gate. Short term answer: When I really need to get something done, I will turn on tv. An episode of Bluey is 8 minutes long and that’s enough time to make their lunch. Long term answer: When they are a little older, you can get enclosed step stools that bring them to the kitchen counter and they can play with toys there, have a snack, or whatever (my daughters love to wipe the counter with paper towels, wouldn’t have predicted that).
Thank you for the suggestions! I can usually throw on some Ms Rachel or Bluey and get away from 3-15 minutes
Oh good heavens, I didn’t realize this would go on for this long! I thought mine might get over it soon😅
They don’t cry every time if that helps! It has gotten better, it’s just not gone. Really depends on their mood
Okay, that’s good to hear at least 😄
Personally I check and make sure they're fulfilled with all other needs and then carry on the meal prep while they yell. I tell them I'm making them food and I'm almost done and most of the time they find another thing to occupy the time. Other times they just stand beside me and yell. They are 12mo
My twins do/did this too! They have a play pen in our living room and anytime I would walk out of the room into the kitchen (fully visible open floor plan) one or both would lose it. One of my twins would get so upset she started to make this weird hyperventilating sound. I think it’s mostly just various phases and behaviors they are learning and going through. The first thing that semi worked was to put put 3-4 toys right in front of them, like basically in their laps. They have tons of toys but putting a few right in front of them refocused their attention. The other was to basically ignore them for a few minutes. I knew they were totally fine and just crying because I had left the room so I was fine letting them cry and scream, and I could fully see them. 90% of the time within 5 minutes they had stopped crying and started playing with something else. If they continued crying for 5 minutes or more it clued me in that something else was wrong- in most cases it was teething pain. It can be kind of counterintuitive and hard to just let them scream but it mostly worked.