Parent Hacks

Printable Valentine cards for "smarties"

via todaysmama.com

A cute, free, printable Valentine card + a classic (retro, even!) candy. SWEET.

Visit Today's Mama for the download: Printable Valentine's Day Cards

More: Hacks for Valentine's Day

Best way to heal a thumb-sucker's dry, cracked thumb? Talk amongst yourselves.

Thumb sucking is in its own special category of Parenting Issues That Drive Us All Crazy. It's not that thumb sucking is so terrible -- some babies suck their thumbs in utero, after all -- it's just that it tends to cause a number of complications.

Case in point: dry winter air + constantly-damp thumbs = cracked, painful skin. Adam's wondering what other parents have done to speed healing:

My newly-toddling son is a very stubborn thumb sucker. For the moment, we're ok with him sucking his thumb, but it's that time of year when skin dries out and the sucking easily exacerbates the problem to the point where the skin is dried and cracked.

We've consulted our pediatrician and while he did have some advice (antibacterial soap, Neopsporin, gauze and tape to help heal, and then once it's healthy use olive oil to moisturize as it's edible), trying to get a 1 year-old to leave his prized thumb trapped under gauze and tape is a losing proposition.

Any advice for helping to get through the healing phase?

Sigh. Both of my kids sucked their thumbs, and my answer is going to sound maddeningly like my response to Christina (whose toddler is throwing stuff into the toilet): this was a phase we just had to get through. What else can you do when your kid is too young for reasoning?

Like your son, my kids wouldn't tolerate thumb guards or other coverings for long. I carried around a washcloth and wiped their thumbs when I could. I dabbed Aquaphor on the irritated skin in an attempt to keep moisture and dry air away. I covered the worst cracks with small waterproof bandages which I took off at night. It wasn't a perfect solution, but it was the best we could do.

Surely someone has better advice for Adam than mine. So, Parenthackers:

What's the best way to heal a cracked "thumb sucker's thumb?"

More: Hacks for thumb sucking

Printable Valentine cards: Robot Hearts

via www.flickr.com

Look at these adorable classroom Valentine cards Christy made! Not only did she point to them from the Parent Hacks Facebook page, she's invited anyone to print, cut and distribute at will.

Happy Valentine karma for you, Christy -- thank you!

Download Robot Hearts Valentines from Christy's Flickr photostream: Robot Valentines for You

More: So many more Valentine hacks!

Connectivity (a thank you note)

I can't properly thank you for being/creating this remarkable community.

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"Lollipop illusion" photo Valentines

Did you do a double-take at that Valentine? That's a real lollipop he's holding!

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How to "semi-childproof" the toilet while potty training? Talk amongst yourselves.

Christina asks: how do you make the toilet accessible for a toddler to use while potty training but not for water play?

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Turn broken crayons into artsy valentines

Christine (Boston Mamas) found this lovely idea that is a craft project, a reuse project and a Valentine all in one.

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Make a heart stamp out of a toilet paper roll

That's a TOILET PAPER ROLL. With paint on it! I've seen this before but now I'm impressed all over again.

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Super Bowl Sunday: No crowds at the usual weekend family hot spots

I trot Jay's Super Bowl hack out every year, but it's such a good one!

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A Non-Fan's Super Bowl Memories

In my latest post at Babble Voices, I talk about why I'm so glad my Dad and I watched sports together, even though I'm not a sports fan.

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