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Archive: April 2007
30 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
I HATE dealing with the kids' cold weather paraphernalia while wearing my own gloves! Here's Jodi's great tip: I was surprised by the usefulness of these fingerless gloves. I am able to fiddle with zippers, buttons, car seat fastenings, keys,...
"Active resting" clears your parent brain 30 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
Clearing your mind doesn't necessarily require retreating from the world. Here's how hedra reboots her parent brain: Dancing along with the kids to some Motown on the CD player is one of my favorite ways to 'sweep' my brain. Dance...
links for 2007-04-3030 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Cool Mom Picks: Cute camera tote Speaking of gifts for Geek moms, CMP points to an adorable clip-on camera case. Available for purchase from our friends at Photojojo. (Lots of other great stuff there, too.) (tags: parenthacks photography shopping) Aquaphor...
Simplify general cleanup with bulk bar towels30 Apr 07 | Comments: 10
Elizabeth's cleanup tip: Kids of all ages are messy and the best thing I have found to help with the battle is a bulk package of white terry cloth towels, sometimes called bar towels. I usually get them at Costco...
Handy postpartum gadget: a reacher30 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Here's how Jennifer got the "third hand" we all wish for while nursing: when i was still pregnant, i had bad hip pain which made it difficult for me to bend down and climb stairs (let alone a ladder to...
Diaper cartoons as changing table entertainment29 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
Nic's hack, from the "we do what we must" file: One thing that I've started doing recently and found really useful is to use the nappy to entertain him on the changing table. We use a combination of disposables and...
Mealtime hacks for new eaters29 Apr 07 | Comments: 7
Amberlynn shares her tips for mealtimes with babies who are just starting to eat solid food: My little boy still loves nursing, so eating is still an entertaining novelty to him. However, so far (six months of solid foods, and...
links for 2007-04-2929 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
How to Install a Child Safety Seat That Won’t Budge @ raising4boys.com How to use that infernal metal locking clip. (tags: parenthacks baby) To Motherhood And Beyond...: Eat Those Veggies How to encourage sweet-loving babies to eat those peas! (tags:...
Rubber bands keep wooden puzzles in one piece29 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
From veteran Parenthacker Sara: We've reached the stage where toys start coming in many small pieces -- it's starting to drive me crazy! On fast fix to keep those wooden toddler puzzles together -- rubber bands. There's usually only a...
How to cook hard boiled eggs perfectly every time29 Apr 07 | Comments: 11
Sunday breakfast, courtesy of Duane: I love it when the kids want boiled eggs in the morning. Much more nutritious than a Pop Tart. But not exactly the speediest thing to cook on a school day. Here are my tricks...
Use Google Calendar to remind yourself to get a life28 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
Jessica's hack inspired me in two ways. First, "planned spontaneity" is often all we can do to harken back to those carefree days of, well, maybe not our youth, but our pre-parenthood. Second, I'm so impressed that she recognizes that...
Make your own decorated wall clock28 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Never underestimate the resourcefulness of a Parenthacker. From Marisa: I found an adorable "elephant stampede" clock online for $39.99, plus shipping and fell in love with it. I listed as a gift idea for my baby shower, updated the wishlist...
Schedule your kid's sick time!28 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
Smart advance planning advice from Laura: Babies have immunizations at 2, 4, 6, 12, 15, and 24 months (your doctor may vary). The shots may cause your baby to be feverish, cranky or tired. If you can, schedule these appointments...
Fearless Friday: Fear is my companion27 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Arianna Huffington's recent book, On Becoming Fearless...In Love, Work, and Life, is now out in paperback. To commemorate the occasion, Mother Talk is hosting Fearless Friday, and I'm happy to participate. I never really knew fear until I became a...
Clothes dryer as changing table27 Apr 07 | Comments: 12
Amy's dual-floor diaper-changing solution: We have a two-story house, and her changing table has always been upstairs in her bedroom (I figured that if I went upstairs for every change, I was getting much-needed exercise, a little at a time)....
links for 2007-04-2727 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Parentography Blog » What Makes a Great Playspace? Prompted by talking with folks at KaBoom!, Tim asks the question, gives his answers, and invites discussion on the topic. (tags: parenthacks kids) Strollerderby : Keeping Babies in Bubbles: Where Do You...
How to organize your gift cards27 Apr 07 | Comments: 7
Rookie Mom Heather (who's not so much of a rookie anymore!) uses Sharpies in her gift card organizing scheme: oh, isn't it wonderful to get a $100 gift card at old navy or a $10 gift card at starbucks? yes,...
Seventh Generation diaper deal ends Monday26 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
If you're a fan of Seventh Generation diapers and wipes, stock up at Amazon -- their $20 instant rebate off $99 worth ends Monday.
Quick cleanup tips for paint-loving kids26 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
There was a time when I firmly believed that craft paint of any sort had no place in my house. It's not that I'm a neat freak or anything, but the potential chaos was just too intimidating. I've gotten over...
links for 2007-04-2626 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Parenthackers Rock! « The Road Less Traveled Just had to share this lovely post with y'all. Jen has beautiful things to say about the collective wisdom and generosity and honesty here. (tags: parenthacks parenting)
GeekDad: Gift ideas for Geek Moms25 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
When I saw Adrienne's latest post on Baby Toolkit -- "Woo Her with Insight: Gift Ideas for Geek Moms" -- I had to write about it on GeekDad (and here!). The perfect audience for such a resource, what with Mother's...
Label electrical cords to simplify plug-ins25 Apr 07 | Comments: 11
Heather has solved the too-many-cords-for-too-few-outlets problem: We live in an older home with less than conveniently placed electrical outlets in our son’s room. There are not enough outlets for all the electrical appliances and the outlets we do have are...
Video drawers as art supply storage24 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Another winning organizing hack from hedra: Those old video drawers you had before you started buying DVDs can be put to use as art supply drawers. They fit on deeper book shelves, they're just the right size for 8.5x11 paper,...
links for 2007-04-2424 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Computer/gaming advice for parents Chris Anderson's top ten computer/game parenting tips for geek dads and moms. (tags: parenthacks kids gaming) Z Recommends: Repurposing Old Household Items For Toddler Use: The Dish Drainer Kids love dem kitchen gadgets! (tags: parenthacks parenting...
Blogger's Choice Awards: We're nominated!23 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
Anna! Thank you so much for nominating Parent Hacks for Best Parenting Blog -- what an honor! If you're so inclined, pop on over and give us a vote. And Jason: your comment there was too sweet. Superpowers? Really? I...
TV Turnoff Week: What's your plan?23 Apr 07 | Comments: 25
It's TV Turnoff Week, and parents all over the country are shaking in their boots wondering what life without "screen time" will look, sound and feel like. I'm one of those parents. Compared to the national stats, we don't watch...
links for 2007-04-2222 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
The Juggle - WSJ.com : Chauffeuring Kids, Challenging for Working Parents Brainstorming on how working parents manage the after-school shuttle (tags: parenthacks parenting kids) Sneak Up on Freezer Cooking - OrganizedHome.Com A workable approach to making freezer meals. (tags: cooking...
CleanWell: All-natural hand sanitizer22 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
I'm a well-documented lover of hand sanitizer, but I can't say I'm fond of the alcohol smell or the sting that comes along with it (if you have a little scrape on your hand, and what kid doesn't). The folks...
How to organize product manuals21 Apr 07 | Comments: 8
Nicole, who blogs at Much More Than a Mom and Much More Opinionated, offers this advice about organizing product manuals: Almost every item, small and large, that we have ever received for our son has come with a manual. Some...
Review: Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club (CD)20 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Parker Bent is a preschool music teacher in Beverly Hills, CA who recently released his second CD: Charlie Davidson's Tricycle Club. Lovely songs, perfectly geared for a pipsqueak-and-parent audience, but what I enjoyed most was Parker's obvious glee while recording...
'Toy library' promotes cleanup AND creativity20 Apr 07 | Comments: 8
Hedra's amazing system of toy organization is so...so...amazing, it's a wonder we don't all do this. To contend with the overflow of toys, without violating the principle of ownership (that is, the toys belong to them, not us), we instituted...
Parent Hacks community roundup: 4/20/0720 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Thanks to all of you who are tagging your blog posts, photos and links with parenthacks. What an incredible collection! Here are some recent highlights: Gretchen of Mind Flush shares some Aqua Doodle hacks (a favorite toy around here) Jen...
How to get toddlers to spit out the toothpaste? Talk amongst yourselves.20 Apr 07 | Comments: 19
Kristen asks: Can anyone suggest how to get a toddler to spit out the toothpaste? I use such a small amount of toothpaste that it's not much of an issue around here. Any ideas?
links for 2007-04-2020 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
In The Motherhood "A series of comedic Webisodes" sponsored by Suave/Sprint. I'm skeptical, but curious enough to pass it on. Moms are the hot demographic, yes? [Via Ann Douglas] (tags: motherhood parenting) Top 20 Kids Albums for Parents Who Can't...
Plastic shower tote as wet washcloth "hamper"20 Apr 07 | Comments: 11
In his post about the Baby FreshFace Drying Caddy, AJ of Thingamababy reminded me just how I hate the wet baby washcloths we use for post-meal face-wiping. They're too damp to throw directly into the hamper (I do it anyway),...
GeekDad: Build construction toys out of hardware parts19 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
In my first guest post for GeekDad, I highlighted one of my favorite GeekMoms: Dana at Mombian. Her PVC pipe construction set is brilliant, and I knew GeekDad readers would enjoy it as much as I did.
Avoid overdue fines with a library basket19 Apr 07 | Comments: 15
Megin of GNMParents on keeping track of library books: We go to the library almost weekly. Between the 3 kids and myself our library bag is overflowing when we leave. For a long time it was common to lose track...
links for 2007-04-1919 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Baby Toolkit: Barf-a-rama: Coming Too Soon to a Home Near You Another must-read from Adrienne and Jim. (tags: parenthacks baby parenting) Create a custom word search puzzle Awesome road trip and waiting room diversion. [Via Want Not] (tags: parenthacks kids...
Turn office printouts into school scratch paper19 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
A recycling reminder from Karen: My work generates a lot of printouts that are only used for a day, are non-confidential, and are single-sided. When we're done with them, I take the paper to my son's day care and they...
Pacifier encourages babies to swallow medicine18 Apr 07 | Comments: 5
They don't call it "The Plug" for nothing. From Ashley: My two month old has bad gas and we have been giving her gas drops, but as soon as we put them in her mouth she spits them out. So...
links for 2007-04-1818 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Photojojo » Turn an Etch-a-Sketch into a Kitschy Picture Frame in Just a Few Minutes Photojojo never disappoints! (tags: parenthacks crafts photography)
Dog bed as staircase landing pad18 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
Michele of I Got Two, Babe came up with this answer for the baby + stairs problem: We have almost 2-year old twin boys who have been fascinated with the stairs since they could crawl to them. We have them...
Stroller shopping: a checklist17 Apr 07 | Comments: 19
I ignored plenty of good advice when I was pregnant with my first child. One tip I ignored at my peril: "Wait till after your baby arrives to buy the stroller." In my haste to get everything ready (and to...
Homemade finger puppet stand17 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Amber of Kids Craft Weekly offers this tip for organizing finger puppets: Get yourself an old shoe box and some wooden laundry pegs and use them to get more play out of finger puppets. Slip the pegs onto the side...
links for 2007-04-1717 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Rainy Day Traveler A site devoted to rainy day fun in cities all over the world. Thanks, Marilyn! (tags: parenthacks travel kids) Kids’ Toys from the Hardware Store: PVC Pipe Construction Set From ever-resourceful Dana at Mombian. (tags: parenthacks kids)...
Toward less perfectionist parenting17 Apr 07 | Comments: 11
Take a moment to ponder Cathy's assertion: My philosophy is, if you don't set the standard too high in the beginning, you can really save yourself some trouble later on. Examples: from the time that they were babies, I didn’t...
Today is Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day!17 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Your taxes are wending their way to the IRS, and you deserve a reward. Scoop up the kids and take them to the local Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop for a free cone between noon and 8pm. You've earned...
Track medical history with Excel16 Apr 07 | Comments: 7
Kelly's hack makes me realize that I'm doing a better job tracking my car's maintenance records than our own health history: I started taking note of my kids' medical histories when my oldest was a wee guy, but in notebook...
Cooking for a family during a kitchen remodel? Talk amongst yourselves.16 Apr 07 | Comments: 16
Lisa asks: Any ideas for cooking for a family of five during a kitchen remodel? We've never undergone a kitchen remodel, but friends who have set up a card table in the basement and relied on a Crock Pot, a...
Tie toys to the diaper bag for in-flight toddler entertainment16 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
Here's how Emmie kept her toddlers busy on the plane: When our twin boys were 18 months old, we took a 3 hour plane trip. Both boys are very attached to their bunny lovies, which they need in order to...
links for 2007-04-1515 Apr 07 | Comments: 3
YouTube - How to tie an Ian shoe knot We've covered Ian's Shoelace Site, but Barb just pointed out this great video tutorial for Ian's Fast Shoelace Knot. Try it! (tags: parenthacks kids shoelaces) Techmamas Speaking of GeekMoms check out...
I'm a GeekMom!13 Apr 07 | Comments: 8
I'm proud to announce that I'll be a regular guest at GeekDad -- the new Wired blog devoted to geeky fun with kids. I'll be injecting a GeekMom perspective, which is sort of funny given that I'm a geek more...
Submit your favorite recipes to the MothersClick cookbook12 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
I've always loved home-grown cookbooks -- the photocopied, construction-paper-covered ones put together by schools and community groups. I love to see what other families actually eat night after night. Social networking site MothersClick is organizing just such a cookbook online:...
links for 2007-04-1212 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Cool Mom Picks: Self-closing pacifiers There was a time, many years ago, when I would have traded an eye tooth for one of these. Someone else's eye tooth, but still. (tags: parenthacks baby pacifiers) Cool Mom Picks Mother's Day Guide...
When does parenting get easier?11 Apr 07 | Comments: 10
Fascinating discussion going on at The Juggle about which parenting years are the hardest. I find myself crawling toward the end of my day, bone tired, and when I finally make it to bed, I'm asleep in minutes (my kids...
Homeschooling: How to start11 Apr 07 | Comments: 31
I admit: I've had my biases and prejudices against homeschooling, but I've come to see that my attitude has more to do with my lack of knowledge than any real, rational data. Just about every homeschooler I've met, locally or...
links for 2007-04-1111 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Cribs-style kid's kitchen from an old entertainment center Thanks for the link, STL Mom! (tags: parenthacks kids)
Wash breast pump parts in the dishwasher11 Apr 07 | Comments: 19
I've mentioned before the calm that comes with starting the day with an empty dishwasher. What I didn't mention was that I grew up in a conservationist household, where we only ran the dishwasher every 2-3 nights or so. I...
Polar fleece makes crib extra cozy10 Apr 07 | Comments: 4
Kittenpie's suggestion for a soft, warm crib: I was making my daughter's bed when I realized I was tucking in a hack! No, not her... A yard of cheap polar fleece fabric tucked in over a crib sheet makes a...
links for 2007-04-1010 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
The Baby Bug: new Digg-like site for parents From owner Csara: "My husband and I got frustrated that there were no categories (at Digg, for example) to submit our posts so we took it into our own hands and created...
Swiffer Carpet Flick puts your toddler to work10 Apr 07 | Comments: 5
All this talk about how toddlers love to clean! It just so happens that Craig's hack on this very topic just popped up in my queue (and he's the third Parenthacker to mention the Swiffer Carpet Flick): My two year...
Parent Hacks admin: Back from Spring Break09 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
I'm back from Spring Break (now physically and mentally -- those two things don't always correspond) and will get back to posting at my regular frequency. For those of you who have emailed or sent me hacks recently, I'll be...
Amazon One-day Kitchen sale today!09 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Amazon is having a one-day Kitchen and Home sale today, and there are some excellent bargains to be had. (Think Mother's and Father's Day.) My favorites: KitchenAid hand blender (over 50% off plus a $5 rebate) George Foreman grill (My...
links for 2007-04-0909 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Baby socks as hand mittens Chief Family Officer shares a great hack on her blog. (tags: parenthacks baby) Postage stamps as wall art Jennifer turned a sheet of superhero stamps into decoration for her son's room. (tags: parenthacks decorating) What...
What to do with empty plastic Easter eggs08 Apr 07 | Comments: 22
Don't throw away those plastic Easter eggs! Save up a couple of egg cartons and store them for refilling next year. Or use them as part of your kid's play kitchen, grocery store or farm. I'm sure you've got more...
links for 2007-04-0808 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Couponlooker Search all the coupon and promotion code sites from one spot. (tags: parenthacks shopping) Find More Teachable Moments With Your Kids Mommy Poppins doesn't homeschool, but uses a homeschool curriculum to give her ideas for incorporating "teachable moments" into...
Tips for dyeing Easter eggs with toddlers07 Apr 07 | Comments: 12
We've come to rely on Sara for sharing her best hacks on just about anything -- today, it's dyeing Easter eggs: I just got finished dyeing Easter eggs with my almost-two-year-old, and we both had a blast! Here are some...
links for 2007-04-0707 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Want Not » What to wear that’s not Mom Jeans (tags: parenthacks fashion parenting)
Relocating with a toddler? Talk amongst yourselves.05 Apr 07 | Comments: 13
Sean just got a new job, and he, his wife, and their two year-old son have moved to a new town. The going is rough. Says Sean: The poor little guy just will not stop acting out and crying at...
links for 2007-04-0505 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
Thingamababy: Part 2: How to Make a Reusable Tracing Book for Toddlers (tags: parenthacks kids parenting) Report puts a pacifier on 'smarter baby' debate Says Jeff: "Looks like all the parent hacks around making up fun activities rather than just...
Nosefrida nasal aspirator: A Parenthacker tells all04 Apr 07 | Comments: 12
Heather was the lucky winner of the Nosefrida nasal aspirator we gave away back in February. She's since had a chance to try it out, and here's what she had to say: First, the good: easy to use, easy to...
Seventh Generation diaper deal at Amazon04 Apr 07 | Comments: 1
Angie of Baby Cheapskate kindly pointed out that Amazon is running one of its famous promotions for Seventh Generation diapers and other products -- $20 off $99 worth. The deal applies to more than just diapers and wipes -- you...
Getting marks off of Easter shoes04 Apr 07 | Comments: 6
Here's how Rachel keeps the Easter outfit bright and shiny: My two year old daughter wore her new Easter shoes to church yesterday. They are adorable white leather Mary Janes that cost a pretty penny and are supposed to last...
Mighty Tite keeps car seats secure03 Apr 07 | Comments: 18
[UPDATE: Be sure to read the comments on this post; several parents suggest the Mighty Tite can actually overtighten the seat belt and be unsafe. -- Ed.] There was a time when I could never seem to get my son's...
Let your toddler "help" clean the bathroom02 Apr 07 | Comments: 25
Kristi's hack reminds us never to underestimate what a toddler can find fun: Whenever it’s time to clean the bathroom, I give my 2 1/2 year-old daughter a squirt bottle and a washcloth and stick her in the shower. She...
Smart sizing saves money on toddler clothes01 Apr 07 | Comments: 9
From Kittenpie, just in time for springtime clothes shopping: A money-saver if you're not too much the fashionista: Last year I was looking at cute skorts at Gap when a sales associate pointed something out to me - the waistband...
