[Amazing] 25 Parenting Hacks To keep Parents Sane And Kids Happy
Being a parent isn’t an easy job, and being a GOOD parent makes things even harder. And we’re not talking about the distant future and how to raise kids with values and morals, but rather about the little everyday things that could drive you insane. Worry no more because there are many parenting hacks and tricks to help you stay sane while your kids are happier than ever before. For example, did you know you can put a laundry hamper in the bathtub to keep your kid safe from falling over or onto the toys nearby? Or that old baby wipe plastic containers can be used to store small toys and baby items? Or that by putting vapor rub and socks on your baby’s feet, you will help him or her alleviate a nighttime cough?
To make a long story short, parenting is a challenge at the best of times, and whoever has personal experience will assure you of this fact. However, with the tricks of the trade that follow, you will find life easier for yourself and safer for your little ones, all while you find some peace and stay sane. After all, being a parent isn’t a sprint but a marathon that will last the rest of your life. Here are 25 Parenting Hacks To keep Parents Sane And Kids Happy.
Use a disposable coffee cup lid or muffin baking liners to keep Popsicles from turning into a huge mess. Simply turn the lid upside down and insert the Popsicle stick through the hole. As it melts, the lid will catch the drippings.
Image: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr
If your little girl has problems keeping up her summer dresses or spaghetti straps, all you have to do is use a barrette to keep straps from slipping. Simple and useful.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
If your toddler is a natural-born painter, but you’re worried about the chemicals in the paints, then we have a healthy and safe solution for you. Mix yogurt and food coloring to make baby-safe paint, and you won’t have to worry about your baby’s “art” since it will also be edible. Greek yogurt is the best kind to use since it’s thicker than your regular yogurt and provides a better consistency for the paint and is easier to handle.
Image: YouTube
Put cupcake liners inside cup holders for easy cleanup. It will also impress your kids because let’s face it—children are pleased by little things that we older folks aren’t anymore.
Image: flickr.com, Photo by Le living and co
Is your child a picky eater? All you have to do is shake a few sprinkles on their food. See, according to various studies, sprinkles make everything better for kids, even food they don’t fancy.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
Stick a Command hook to the back of the high chair for easy access to bibs.
Image: simpleinsomnia via flickr.com
Keep fruit fresh for your kids without any problems. When you are simply slicing an apple for lunch, put it back together and secure it with a rubber band for a crisp snack.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
Buying shoes with a tearful child is never easy, so why not stamp his footprint on a piece of paper to take with you as an accurate measure of his or her shoe size? Be practical.
Image: Katelyn Kenderdine via Flickr
Put a fitted crib sheet on top of the playpen while your baby is in it to keep mosquitoes out during the summer. This is especially helpful for those summer barbecues and picnics.
Image: shutterstock
Are you one of those parents whose babies love to throw their pacifiers everywhere, causing you to worry about their hygiene? Well, all you have to do is keep a couple of their pacifiers in your bag in sauce-to-go containers, and they will be perfectly clean every time.
Image: Doug McCaughan via Flickr
Teach kids to know how to understand time by color-coding a clock. For example, color-code the clock in their room as follows: if it’s yellow, they can play quietly in their room before they go to sleep; if it’s red, then it’s time for them to go to sleep; if it’s green, then it’s the ideal time for them to wake up and start the day.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
As you probably remember from your own childhood, that beautiful period can also be full of bumps and bruises. So when your little guy has an accident and needs some pain relief, freezer packs might be too cold for him. Not to mention how the ice can get really messy and melt as time goes by. So what’s the best solution to soothe a boo-boo? Frozen marshmallows! After putting them in the freezer for a bit, marshmallows are still soft enough for a tender bruise and lightweight enough for kids to handle easily. Not to mention that they don’t get too cold for comfort.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
Change up your children’s everyday lunch with fun, healthy "bento box" ideas that will help them eat healthy. Fill and ice cube or multi-sectioned container with a different food in each block: blueberries, mini-crackers, pretzels, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, or any other toddler-friendly foods. These beautiful bento box ideas will certainly make things different, but still let you incorporate your kid’s favorite foods and healthy snacks.
Image: Melissa via Flickr
Most kids want to do things by themselves as they get older. The good news is that you can give them the chance to do so by letting them fulfill their most basic needs. Teach them how to wear the correct shoes on the right feet by using a sticker. Cut a sticker in half, and put the left half in the left shoe and the right half in the right shoe. When they make the sticker line up, it will help your little man or woman put their shoes on the right way, and most importantly, they will enjoy the learning process.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
Get your kids involved in laundry sorting by using color-coded baskets to help them contribute. A white basket is for white clothes; a black basket is for dark clothes, and a red basket for colors. This way they learn to do laundry the right way at a young age.
Image: pixabay.com
Old baby wipe containers have a few possibilities. They make great storage containers for small toys and baby items. For slightly older kids, they are great for stashing toy cars, action figures, and Legos. For toddlers learning to take things in and out of containers, they serve as a great homemade toy. Because of the convenient size of the containers, these new "toy boxes" are also great for when you travel.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
Put a laundry basket in the bathtub to keep your baby’s toys within easy reach.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
As most parents already know, shopping with a toddler can be a problematic endeavor. So, if you want to keep your child busy while you shop, make him or her a cool Cheerio necklace and put it on them while you’re at the mall. They will be easily distracted, allowing you to purchase all your goods without forgetting anything.
Image: cheerios.com
Create a sensory bag by filling a gallon Ziploc bag with cheap, clear hair gel and some rounded, cheap plastic toys like dice and marbles. Seal it and wrap it with duct tape to make sure nothing oozes out. It’s a good way to keep your kids entertained when you can’t go outside.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
Use a fitted sheet and a pool noodle to keep your toddler from rolling out of bed at night.
Image: flickr.com, Photo by Edwin & Kelly Tofslie
Put baby vapor rub and socks on your baby’s feet to help alleviate a nighttime cough.
Combine water and lavender oil to make monster spray for nervous kids who have trouble going to sleep at night.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
Soak a washcloth in chamomile tea for a teething baby. It will relieve their pain, which means less crying.
Image: en.wikipedia.org
Put a pool noodle on doors to keep them from slamming or to prevent kids from locking themselves in.
Image: commons.wikimedia.org
Make a bracelet for your child with your phone number on it so in case your child gets lost (we HOPE NOT), whoever finds him or her will know where to call.
Image: radiobread via Flickr
