Parenting is the hardest job I have ever had. In fact it isn’t really a job as I can not resign, can I? So anything I can do to make it easier is great by me. In the past I think parenting hacks were often just called tips, but no matter what they are called I totally dig finding new ones. I used to think that some of these hacks were just old wives tales (like the vapour rub on feet), but when you have a child coughing at 3am, you will try anything!
My Top Parenting Hacks
To stop night time coughing, rub vapour rub on their feet and put socks over them. Try it, it really works. Source A Day in my life
Take a photo of the kids when you arrive at your destination of you are having a day out and then in the unlikely event that they get lost you can remember exactly what they were wearing.
Take along some baby powder or talcum powder when you go to the beach, you cover the sandy area in baby powder and then leave it a couple of seconds before brushing it off. No more sand scratches. The baby powder absorbs the water in the damp sand, making it easier and softer to brush off. See more of my beach hacks here.
I love this tip from Kids Activities Blog about using silicone cupcake liners to keep your car cup holders clean. When they get grubby, wipe them out.
Glue up the holes in your bath toys so that there is no water goes inside and you get that horrible black mould in them. Source We love being Moms
Use a plastic or paper cup to protect little hands when using sparklers. I have been doing this with the boys since they were tiny.
Share your Parenting Hack and Win
So these are my top five parenting hacks and I would love to know yours. In fact I am working with Sudocrem to find their top ten amazing parenting hacks. The top three parenting hack on my blog will win a Sudocrem Summer Goody-bags and the top parenting hack nationally will win £100.
Sudocrem Parenting Hack
I often wonder when the word tips became hacks…! I love the bath toys one, wish I had know that my my boy was a nipper – the amount of bath toys that got thrown away because of that icky black stuff!
I know, I wondered that too! But hacks do better for keywords! I guess it is an internet thing. I am sure you must have some great tips., come and share them!
I am old skool and still prefer the word tips – but these are great whatever you call them. I always take photos of my kids at the start of the day when we are going out too. Now I just need life hacks for tweens and teens.
I love the silicone cup cake Idea, I have some I have never used, so I’m totally doing that!
Oh I am so stealing that sparkler one next month, that is brilliant!
Ooh I love the silicone cupcake liners hack! My own tip is to get two wash baskets for laundry – one black, one white (I got mine from IKEA) then place them side by side in the bathroom. Teach your children and teens to put their washing into the appropriate bin then it is pre-sorted for when you do your washing! It also encourages them not to leave clothes everywhere!
Lots of fab ideas Jen – I’m sure I have lots of things that I do automatically so I’ll have a think x
I’m with Michelle on the hacks thing. I always expect to see something else on a page about hacks. My tip is to have a bag for each activity, so for instance for swimming have a dedicated bag with all the swim stuff and as stuff is washed and dried put it back in there, so you can just grab and go.
When sharing something between two children, for example a cake, get one of them to cut the cake and the other one picks the piece they want, this makes them more aware of the fact that the slices should be even otherwise they are going to miss out…
Instead of spending lots of money on a playpen, an inflatable pool makes a great playpen for babies.
I would say make the most of your time with the children, as they grow up so fast. Enjoy playing outdoors, playing family board games. Make up a family memory book with information, photos etc of Days Out, at the Seaside, Birthdays, Stating Nursery etc, etc, etc.
wow great prize xx
The cupcake cases in drinks holders is amazing!
Place a hook with a sticky back on the back of the high chair to store bibs.
Love these hacks, so clever! I especially love the powder and the picture ones
Routine is key especially with more than one!
I love your tips! Living in Cornwall with lots of beaches around us, I would have to say that your baby powder hack is the best one!
I don’t have any children but would love to win this prize to donate to charity, to go to Romania.
I love these – especially glueing up the holes in bath toys – why do they even have holes in? I’ve never understood that!! Great tips!
I don’t really have any yet – am always scouring Pinterest for new ones though 😉
taking a pic of your kids when you arrive somewhere is such a good idea! I once lost Wilf at the zoo and was rushing around saying ‘have you see a boy in a red coat??’ when I found him he was in a yellow coat! x
Frozen veg can be really handy in a quick dinner scenario!!
use an ice cube tray for freezing baby food
I love the cupcakes one and sparkler. Great tips and ideas x
Old jam jars to hold crayons.
Have wet wipes everywhere because they are useful for everything!!!
Not just for infants….leave a bowl of water in rooms with radiators. The air gets very dry and this helps to humidify the room. Obviously, with small children, leave the water out of reach!
If little one gets a bad nappy rash (fingers crossed they don’t) beat a couple of egg whites together and wipe onto their little bums, the egg whites act as a film and stops the rash becoming worse – I have done this this – a bit messy but it works x
Hide, just hide.
vicks on feet i swear by
i cant think of a single one!!
I’m sure this is not a new hack but I wash all Bertie’s bibs in a zip up mesh bag so the Velcro doesn’t ruin his other clothes….
My favourite hack is one you have already mentioned- using baby powder to remove sand from skin. I have told so many of my friends about it and they have all been grateful 🙂 x
I only have a 7 week old, so I’m learning a lot rapidly!
But my best hack so far, is to put the liners into the reusable nappies as soon as they’re clean and dry. Saves any panic in a poo explosion moment!
Cover up any birthday present wrapping mistakes/untidy bits with sellotape and ribbon! (@PeanutHog)
The best tip is to always keep a pack of wet wipes handy!
When going away we pack essential top ups. Eg: nappies, formula at the top of the bag
Don’t give in (I always do).