Parent Hacks

Computer programming for kids

Pre-parent hacker Brian (baby due in July) wanted to share something with the "other geek parents out there": I am a computer programmer by trade, and have often thought about how daunting it might be to teach my children “what daddy does." http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com/ has a programming environment designed specifically for...

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Baby food fruit sweetens smoothies

Here's how Michelle uses up baby food fruits: I have a pantry full of baby food that we never got around to using when my son was younger, mostly the fruit varieties. My son is now 22 months old and has outgrown the jars. I figured out a way to...

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How to keep a hat on your baby's head

Here's how Caley keeps a hat on her baby: My 9 month-old son loves to take his hats off during our walks. Until today, I was CONSTANTLY having to stop every couple of minutes to pick his hat up off the ground and return it to his head. Short of...

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For the inevitable "bloody mess"

From Jennifer, in the "why didn't I ever think of this" department: I have a handful of black and navy washcloths that I save for cuts, scrapes, and bloody noses. When I'm wiping up the kids (now 3 and 5), they don't have the added trauma of seeing their own...

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Pasta and juice that contains protein and vegies?

Kristen (Cool Mom Picks, Motherhood Uncensored) seems to have read my mind in the protein-and-vegie department: 1) For kids not eating enough protein but who love their pasta (or mac n' cheese), try Barilla Pasta Plus - it has around 10g of protein per serving. [It contains whole grain, ground-up...

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A trick for getting medicine into babies

Via Sara: The nurse at our pediatrian's office taught us a trick to get infants to swallow medicine: blow in their face. It surprises them so much they swallow as a reflex. We also used this, with moderate success, to surprise our little girl out of a crying loop. We...

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Solar-powered rainbow maker

Dang, that's cool. [Via Babygadget]

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MetroDad's Jedi parenting tricks

Pierre, AKA MetroDad, is leaning on the ways of the Jedi as he raises his kid. What he's discovered so far: when Peanut wouldn't eat, he put her food in a dog bowl with good results. I don't recall Obi-Wan training Anakin this way, but then, Anakin ended up as...

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Wool diaper covers prevent nighttime leaks

More soft, wooly advice from Tiffany: Another nighttime leaky diaper tip: Diapers do not fit all kids all the time, add the nighttime shuffling and leg bending and, well... even the best fitting diapers can leak. A wool diaper cover (sometimes called a soaker) could be the answer! Imagine a...

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Another reason to take Ziplocs on your road trips

...because they make the best barf bags. Lisa provides the gory details, in case you're not convinced. Read on if you must. On a recent car trip, we found yet another use for the omnipresent Ziploc bags. The gallon size makes a great container for small children to vomit into...

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Creating a kid-friendly garden

Portland, Oregon springtime, with its explosion of color after months of gray drizzle, gets me in a digging mood. I'm a gardening lover and a plant geek, and I have found it difficult to balance my craving for a backyard paradise with my kids' desire for a play structure. I've...

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Today is Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Every year, the fourth Thursday in April is Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day. If you're a parent who works outside the home, it's a great opportunity to show your kids what the rest of your day looks like, what kinds of problems you solve, and who you...

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Zinc oxide "highlights" where to trim tiny fingernails

Another brilliant hack from Andi: If you have difficulty seeing where to cut when trimming your baby or toddler's nails (They're so thin that they can be almost transparent) you can spread a little zinc oxide diaper rash cream on your palm and then "scratch" with the baby's fingers to...

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How to make a cool chair for your kids

Eirik's a handy guy: Two years ago I made a chair for my son that has been very popular. It works fine for years and is quite safe even for kids that can't walk or sit properly. Because of the way it is made your kid will not easily fall...

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Target's prescription bottles simplify measuring and dispensing medicine

Sara puts in a vote for Target's innovative prescription medication bottles: Target's pharmacy puts inserts into their liquid medicine bottles that let you get the medicine out by inserting a needleless syringe and turning the bottle over -- no mess, exact measurements, it's wonderful. Even cooler, when you are done...

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