Parent Hacks

Parent Hacks admin: Sponsor love

I'm not sure where my manners have been, but up till now I've failed to recognize the sponsors who have advertised on Parent Hacks. FM has brought me some lovely sponsors, so I'd like to take a moment to thank them for supporting Parent Hacks. OurStory.com: A great service for...

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Homemade, healthy "Lunchables"

This from Andi: Lunchables are a favorite snack for many kids these days. Unfortunately, they can be expensive and are very high in sodium and preservatives. You can pack a healthier, and less expensive, version using whole wheat or multi-grain crackers, low-fat part-skim cheeses, and low-sodium luncheon meats. You can...

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Ziploc Big Bags good for seasonal clothing storage

Kirsten passed along yet another good use for Ziplocs: A great new product for storing outgrown or off season kids' clothes: Ziploc big bags. All the convenience and quality of a Ziploc bag, but big! You can write on them with a Sharpie and the best thing is (unlike the...

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Bring the high chair in the bathroom

Melissa says: I have found a remedy to when I need to take a shower when the baby is awake. I take the high chair into the bathroom with me, give him a snack and shower in peace. It's been a lifesaver. Tags: Baby, Parenting

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Turn to YouTube for toddler entertainment

Dutch of Sweet Juniper has put together a tour de force roundup of kid-pleasing YouTube videos. (Try this one if you need a little cheering up.) Tags: Parenting, YouTube, Toddler

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Spray bottle as portable air conditioning

Here's how Kirsten keeps the kids cool on summer outings: I've gotten in the habit of taking a spray bottle filled with water with us whenever we go on hikes, to the zoo, or the park. Babies can't regulate their temperature well, and it helps to mist them off occasionally...

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Leapfrog store discount expires in two days

Last chance to get your Parent Hacks 15% discount on merch at the Leapfrog Store! Deal ends July 1. Tags: LeapFrog, Toys

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A dab of lavender dulls diaper fumes

Lauren picks up parenting ideas from movies about psycho killers: Believe it or not, my hack was inspired by "Silence of the Lambs." [I'll refrain from making a tasteless joke about "hacks." -- Ed.] My muscle-bound, black-belt of a husband has recently been felled by foul diapers. So foul, he...

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Talk amongst yourselves: Kid-safe NYC?

From Matt: My family is traveling to New York for a week this summer with the first 3 days in New York City. We have a 4 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. I'm looking for tips and suggestions on safely traveling in the city with the kids....

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Simple birthday party theme for young 'uns

I'm allergic to overly elaborate birthday parties. So I love Sara's idea: I didn't want to go overboard for J.'s first birthday, but I did want to make it special, so I decided on a very simple theme: Red. (Her favorite color.) We all wore red, ate strawberry shortcake off...

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Forget the spoonful of sugar. Stickers make the medicine go down!

Here's how KS gets the medicine to go down: My four-year-old has just been prescribed 10 days of antibiotics. With twenty doses that need to go down the hatch, I anticipated much begging, bargaining, and other tricks to get her to take her medicine as the novelty and pleasant bubble...

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Make cute toddler lounge pants out of an old t-shirt

Look what Whitney did! She made adorable pants for her little cuteness out of her husband's old t-shirt! Here's how. Tags: Kids' clothes, Parenting, Toddler

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"Beefing up" reading aloud to your kids

Duane passed along some smart, simple twists on reading aloud: Maybe this is what everybody's doing anyway, maybe not. But when reading (or singing) to your kids, especially the younger ones, pause periodically on the meaningful words and see what happens. Chances are very good that they can complete the...

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Talk amongst yourselves: favorite sunscreen?

What's your favorite sunscreen for kids? Do you use lotion, spray, pump, cream, stick, what? Do you have a favorite brand?

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Dr. Parker on why parents should obsess about sun protection

Dr. Parker at WebMD (who I heart) explains why it's so important to put enough sunscreen on our kids, and to reapply it throughout the day. He even used the word "obsessive," which, coming from him, says a lot. I've been known to "forget" the sunscreen when we'll only be...

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