Every busy Mom (which Mom isn't busy?) has always got a hundred things on her mind at any given moment in time. And any kind of help is always appreciated, as long as it doesn't result in double the work! When you have kids, there's bound to be more stuff around the house and consequently, bigger messes. So, because we love you and we feel your pain, we've collected 50 of the best parenting hacks around the internet that are actually useful and don't require too much effort to implement. And because we're really nice and would like to save you even more time, we've gone ahead and sorted them into categories. So are you ready? Let's go!!!
Health & Safety
1. If your child has a bad cough that's not letting him sleep, rub some Vaporub on his feet and cover them with thick socks. While the exact reason is not known, that is said to help with night time cough!
2. Having kids means having to deal with broken things! Broken glass can be particularly tricky to clean but you can use a slice of spongy bread to catch the really tiny pieces that aren't visible to the naked eye.
3. To remove splinters that are lodged in, combine baking soda with just enough water to make a paste over the wound. Cover with a bandage and after an hour, the splinter will be easier to remove.
4. To stop doors from closing and kids getting locked in, use a rubber band to lock the knobs together. (via Good Housekeeping)
5. Next Diwali, stay safe but have fun with sparklers. Just use a large paper cup that goes over your child's hand and insert the sparkler through it.
6. If you are worried that kids might get burnt with hot water from a tap, put a Slinky over the hot water tap so they know that it isn't to be touched.
7. For instant childproofing, use insulation tape to cover sockets and plug points. They're very sticky and can't be removed easily.
Babies
8. Don't waste time hunting for bibs when your baby is in the mood to eat, just hang them on sticky hooks behind her high chair.
9. Got a child who insists on someone patting her to sleep? You can 'escape' by putting a glove filled with beans on her back once she's drifted off. (via The Parent Bible)
10. Rather than stocking all your baby's diaper changing essentials in one room, have a portable diaper basket so you can change her diaper wherever you are. (via Andrea Dekker)
11. Giving babies medicine is tricky, so cut a hole in a pacifier and push a dropper through it. The baby can now suck on her medicine!
12. You can avoid overdosing your baby on her medicine by creating a chart on the prescription bottle and marking each dosage with an 'X'. (Instagram user fvaldes86)
13. For babies learning to walk on slippery floors, use some glue to write or draw patterns on the soles of baby shoes to make them anti-slip. (Prudent baby)
Food & Drink
14. Strawberries can be hard for kids to hull, so try pushing a straw through the bottom. The leaves and stem will come out without damaging the fruit.
15. Ice lollies are yummy but messy! Prevent them from dripping everywhere by inserting a cupcake liner under them to catch the drippings.
16. If you have kids who keep misplacing their cups, fix magnets on the back and stick them on the fridge for easy access.
17. For a more mess-free alternative to eating watermelon slices, cut them into triangles and stick Popsicle sticks into the bottoms.
18. Use cookie cutters to make eggs and pancakes much more interesting. You can also try them for idlis and dosas - be sure to use heat proof ones.
19. Pressing the juice box can cause juice to spill out so make your toddler hold the two flaps on the side instead. (via Baby Zone)
20. If the cupcake liners don't cut it, use a larger paper plate for ice creams that are likely to melt before getting eaten!
Travel
21. To keep kids entertained on a trip, turn an old DVD cover into an art box with paper cut to size and art supplies.
22. Hang a shoe organizer on the back of the front seat and load it with kid-essentials so that you're always prepared for an emergency!
23. When buying fast food as takeaway, there is a chance for the drinks to spill. Keep a caddy in the car so everything can be organized. Also helps kids eat without messing up the interior. (via Lookie What I did)
24. Avoid junk and have a healthy snack for the road. Put the dip at the bottom of the jar and the crudites on top for easy access and no spills.
25. To keep cut apples from turning brown, rearrange them as a whole and keep the slices in place with rubber bands.
26. When going on a trip with a little girl, use a pill box or sewing kit to keep her hair ties sorted. They'll stay in place and won't get all mixed up in luggage.
27. Make a beaded bracelet for your child with your phone number and let them wear it before you go out, especially in crowded places like fairs and festivals.
28. To keep kids' drinks cool when travelling, use sponge ice packs. Saturate a sponge, put it in a zip loc pouch and freeze overnight. Put it among drinks the next day to keep them nice and chilled.
Toys
29. Playing cards' boxes often break or get lost, so keep matching sets together in a soap box. You can also use soap boxes to store other game pieces. (via Shady Tree Diary)
30. Got way too many stuffed animals who're invading your home? Collect them from every corner of your house and use them to stuff a small bean bag for your child.
31. Legos need to be washed too! You can do it easily by putting them all in a mesh laundry bag and washing them in the washer on a light cycle.
32. Don't lose sight of those valuable Lego instruction books! Keep them organized in folders with transparent slip covers. You can even have a folder for each category - Duplo, Friends etc.
33. Wash stuffed animals easily in the washing machine by putting them in a mesh bag. Make sure they don't have delicate parts that may get damaged. (via Mama's Laundry Talk)
34. To help Barbie on her bad hair day, make a mixture of water and fabric softener and comb it through her hair. Smooth tresses guaranteed! (via DIY Home Sweet Home)
35. Those squeezy bath toys tend to collect mold in their holes. Glue them shut with a glue gun.
36. If you have a large collection of bath toys, organize them with a shower basket hung over the shower curtain rod, or suspend them on a rope from a hook in the ceiling.
Everyday Stuff
37. Get some control on those numerous coloring books by organizing them on a simple dish drying rack. It can also hold art supplies! (Real Simple)
38. Keep your little boy's clothes organized by using clothes pins to hang the pants on the same hanger as the shirt.
39. A great way to get some quiet time to yourself is to let kids watch some videos on your phone. Make a Lego phone holder to prop it up for them to see.
40. Protect your floors and surfaces! Spread an old shower curtain or table cloth on the floor and let your Picasso let loose!
41. For children who are too young to tell the time, get a cheap clock and change the background to colored sections to denote each activity, like meals, naps, play time etc.
42. Don't let a distant tap get in the way of hand washing! Use a clean shampoo or lotion bottle to extend the water stream so that even little hands can reach.
43. Little kids get confused between left and right, so use two sided stickers to help them with their shoes.
44. To encourage chores, turn it into a game. Stick tape on the floor to form a shape and let your child learn to sweep everything inside the shape.
45. Craft glitter is every Mom's nemesis! Make clean up a breeze with a lint roller to catch all the tiny stray particles.
46. Help your boy aim right by sticking a target sticker in the toilet bowl. Alternatively, you can throw in a piece of cereal and ask them to hit it!
47. A great idea for play time is a quality bedsheet tied around a sturdy table. Make sure that both can withstand the weight of your child.
48. Try this trick to teach school kids the right way to hold a pencil: Hold a tissue or cotton ball between the palm and the last two fingers, while holding the pencil with the thumb and first two fingers.
49. Kids can go crazy with soap dispensers! Ensure portion control with a rubber band twisted around the top.
50. Use Q tips or ear buds to clean the hard to reach parts of sippy cups.
There you go, we're pretty sure you're thinking 'Why didn't I think of that before?' Well, we know you can't wait trying some of these, which is just the way we felt too! If you know of any more parenting hacks that have been useful for you, do let us know!
Lots of Love,
