Parenting Hacks To Make Life A Little Easier
Parents have one of the most challenging jobs out there. Sure, brain surgeons have it tough too, but they don't have to deal with crying at two in the morning and the fear of your offspring knocking their teeth out for no reason.
For their job, mom and dad need to have some tricks up their sleeves to help things go smoothly. We're here to give them that little bit of extra help.
So The Little Man Won't Get Burned
Kids love getting into scary situations and this dad clearly loves to grill, so he figured he'd make things safer for his son to roam around while he cooks dinner.
When You Don't Have A Bathtub
When you don't have a bathtub to give your little ones a bath, this is the next best thing. Just find a baby pool that will fit in the shower—it's also great for traveling.
The Cleverness Is Out Of This World
Here's a fun way to help teach your little ones multiplication. Sure, it might take some work to set up, but your kids will be better off with this extra help.
Use A Tent For A Sandpit
If your child loves playing in the sand, here's a stellar idea for you. Putting sand in a tent allows the kids to play in it, and you can close it at night so the cats can't intrude.
Colorful Magnet Saves The Day
Sometimes, kids won't listen when you tell them not to run in the street. This family purchased a colorful hand-magnet for their car that keeps their little one occupied and standing still while everyone else is getting ready. She loves trying to match her hand with the magnet.
Masking Tape For Toy Cars
It's almost a universal phase for young boys to fall in love with toy cars. They eventually will need a real track, but you can use masking tape to make one up for now.
For Added Entertainment
Parents who need a little extra time to themselves while doing chores should try this. Place your toddler in front of the washing machine and let the entertainment begin for the little one.
Ask Them To Sort Things
Here's another brilliant hack for when you need to keep them busy. Ask your child to sort things like felt balls into a muffin pan—it will buy you some alone time. As long as they aren't an expert at this game, you're good.
Color-Coding The Crew
When you go out and you have a big family, be sure to color-code them. That way, it's easier to spot them in the wild. If you've ever lost track of a kid before, you know that any trick that can help avert that scenario is a good one.
Saving Your Ankles And Walls
Walkers are useful devices for young kids, but that helpfulness sometimes comes at a price. Your walls and ankles aren't safe, but you can add pool noodles to the bumpers to help soften the blow.
Bring Crayons To The Doctor
Bringing crayons to doctor's appointments is a brilliant hack. The kids can draw on the sheet they make you sit on while you wait. This way, everyone stays occupied until the doctor arrives.
Use The Bathtub As A Playpen While You Shower
When you have to take a shower and your child loves to follow you around or get into mayhem when you're not looking, try this. Let the bathtub transform into a playpen.
Dad Hack Of The Day
When the baby won't stop getting into everything, take off your shirt and strap the child to a chair with it, like this dad did. Now, Dad controls when his son moves.
Carry An "Out Of Order" Sign With You
Carrying around a piece of paper that says "out of order" on it is an idea that can take you a long way. Your kid might want to use something, but you have a secret hack to keep your day on track.
Keep Those Pacifiers Safe
Pacifiers are crucial in a toddler's life. They help keep them quiet, which is what parents love, so this hack will keep them safe and clean. These plastic containers are a perfect size.
Streamline Your Kid's Day
Never let your kids or yourself worry again about what they have to wear for the day. With this, all they have to do is open a drawer up and they're good!
Cut The Hassle Out Of Packing
When traveling with a kid, putting their belongings in plastic bags can save you a ton of time and stress. Instead of rummaging through your suitcase, you'll know where everything is.
Let The Bibs Hang!
Bibs keep your child clean (for the most part), but they aren't always the easiest things to find—they're so small that they can easily get lost if you put them in a drawer. Designating a place to hang them up will save you a lot of time.
Keep Them Away!
Snacks entice children more than anything. With this simple hack, you can make sure your little ones don't ever go into the snacks with ease ever again...as long as they aren't old enough to figure out how to take these things off.
The Ultimate Trick
This little kid had no clue what hit him. He's sipping on his medicine and not the Pepsi he thinks. This could potentially turn him off of soda in the future, so beware.
He Wasn't Missing This
If a festival or concert is kid-friendly, all you need is one thing. Bring a pair of earmuffs and call it a day. Now, you can enjoy the concert with your little one on your back, and you don't have to worry about their hearing.
Let Them "Paint" With Water
Unless your kid is very smart at a young age, then you can get away with letting them "paint" with water. The initial water spots will look convincing enough until it dries.
A Glove Filled With Beans
What does this do, you ask? Well, when you're too tired to show that you care, this bean-filled glove on their back will help them feel loved as they fall asleep.
An Infinite Whiteboard
Grab yourself some butcher paper for an endless whiteboard. Whenever your child fills up the designated area, you can easily rip it off and let their creativity continue to run wild.
The Trick That Never Gets Old
When you're playing video games as an adult and the kids want to jump in, all you have to do is hand them a controller. They won't know if it's plugged in or not.
The Game Of Treasure Hunt
Whenever you've lost something around the house, draw it up and let the little ones get to work. Tell them they get a prize if they can find your missing things. It keeps them occupied, you find your missing stuff, and who doesn't love a treasure hunt?
Use A Plastic Egg For Unfinished Lollipops
Sometimes, even finishing a lollipop can be a little too ambitious for kids. If they have a history of not finishing them, put them in a plastic egg like this to keep them clean and save them for later.
Prevent The Toys From Floating Away
Toys love floating away in the bath. Well, they don't have to anymore with this helpful hack. Keep the child and toys inside a laundry basket for a good time.
Mom Of The Year
Nothing is more precious to youngsters than their Wi-Fi. When you have control over the password, this is how you keep the ball in your court. Make them work for that precious internet access.
Good Thinking
There are probably some things you have in the fridge and pantry that the kids shouldn't touch, but will anyway. When they're not home, eat as much as you can.
Too Young For Short Shorts
This dad was willing to put his dignity aside to wear short shorts to the store with his daughters to prove to them that they're in fact not "soooo cute." Either they were embarrassed enough by the experience or enough people did go up to them to confirm.
No Gender Stereotypes
"To avoid perpetuating gender stereotypes, I gave my daughter a mix of dolls and toy cars to play with. This is what happened." Kids aren't born with gender stereotypes, which means they can be avoided as they grow up with hacks like this.
Preventing Injuries
Trampolines are all fun and games until a kid jumps a little too high and falls on the wire bands instead of the trampoline area and spends the afternoon staring at a scrapped knee and crying. This also prevents scratches on the way up and down from the trampoline.
The Forever Revolving Canvas
This parent used leftover brown paper to create a revolving canvas for their kids to work on over the years. Depending on how you mount it, you could have it so that the finished drawings create a separate roll so you can cherish the evolution of their art forever.
Low Effort Affection
When your child wants to feel loved and won't go to sleep unless you cuddle them but you're too tired, take a glove and fill it with beans, then rest it on their back. The weight of it will feel soothing enough do to the trick.
A Day In The Life Of Triplets
Here's the ultimate trick to avoid car fighting. This works for kids of all ages, not just triplets, and even for adults who simply do not wish to interact with each other.
How To Keep Lunch Cold Without Ice
A frozen sponge in a ziplock bag is a creative way to keep the kids' lunches cold, especially if you're running low on ice packs. Plus, without the ice, it doesn't leak!
The French Fry Apple Snack
This parent's toddler refused to eat an apple so they got creative. She cut them up like this and told the kid she made apple french fries... and the kid ate them all up! Sometimes all you need is creativity and a white lie.
Easy To Build Igloos
Winter doesn't mean having to stay cooped up inside. If you take a rectangle-shaped Tupperware and fill it with snow it'll take the shape of snow blocks, which is perfect for making igloos.
Get Them To Volunteer For Chores
Since kids love to do exactly the opposite of what you ask, often simply out of spite, tell them you hate some chore and voilà... your house will be sparkling and they won't catch on for a while.
