Thanksgiving is a long day of new faces, big meals and hot kitchens, which is a lot for a toddler. With a few simple plans, you can enjoy the day too, not just chase a little one around the house.
Plan around naps
An overtired toddler at the dinner table is nobody's idea of fun. If you're hosting, time the meal around their nap. If you're visiting, ask for a quiet room where they can sleep, and bring what they need to settle.
Set up a kids table
A table at their height lets toddlers feel part of the meal and keeps spills in one place. The Pebble kids table and chair set needs no assembly and wipes clean. Its 11-inch seat height suits many toddlers. See our table size guide to check the fit. Always supervise little ones at the table.
Serve toddler-friendly food
Many holiday foods need a little adjusting for toddlers.
- Cut food small. Cut grapes lengthwise into quarters, and cut meat into small, thin pieces.
- Skip choking risks for young children: whole nuts, popcorn, hard candy and chunks of raw vegetables.
- Check for allergens in stuffing, desserts and sauces if your child has allergies.
- Keep snacks handy for the long wait before dinner. The Twirl rotating snack bowl helps with tips and tumbles (it's for dry snacks like cereal and puffs, and no bowl stops every spill).
Keep the kitchen safe
- Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove and cook on back burners.
- Keep hot dishes and drinks away from table edges, and skip long tablecloths a toddler can pull.
- Stove knob covers help keep curious fingers off the dials. Our stove knob covers flip open when you cook.
- Set up a gate or give one adult the job of watching the toddler while others cook.
Pack a busy bag
If you're visiting, bring a small bag of activities: a few books, crayons, stickers and a favorite toy. New toys (or ones they haven't seen for a while) buy you the most time.
Visiting family?
A quick babyproofing sweep helps: medicines in handbags, cleaners under the sink and small objects on low tables. See what grandparents need for a visiting baby.
Questions parents ask
How do I keep my toddler entertained on Thanksgiving?
A kids table with crayons, a busy bag and a quiet space for breaks all help.
What Thanksgiving foods are unsafe for toddlers?
Whole nuts, popcorn, hard candy, whole grapes and big chunks of raw vegetables are choking risks for young children.
Should I keep my toddler's nap on Thanksgiving?
If you can, yes. A rested toddler makes the whole day easier.
More in toddler snack time with fewer spills.
