Parent Hacks

Halloween hack: Baby lotion takes the face paint off

Kelly's hack saves us all from laborious, uncomfortable scrubbing: I bought my daughter some of the face paint "markers" they have at the grocery store this time of year. She had fun getting her face painted and then painting my face (and hands, and arms, and . . .). On...

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$10 instant rebate on health bars ends today

In case you're looking to offset the candy consumption (or are a bulk buyer of health bars), Amazon's offering a $10 instant rebate on selected Clif, Luna, Odwalla, Larabar, and Probar bars The deal ends today: buy $39 worth, and use the checkout code GOODBARS to get your discount (shipping's...

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Soothe a fever with a damp washcloth kept bedside

kittenpie's bring-down-the-fever hack: To help comfort a kid with a fever, one of the great things is of course to run a damp cloth over their forehead, neck, and limbs. My child's bedroom is not near the bathroom, though, so if I know she's sick and may wake up hot,...

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links for 2007-10-31

WebGoonies.com - Review: Bob - The Screen time Controller Get in the running for the giveaway! Deadline: Nov 3.

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Halloween hack: A "trick" to help kids remember to say 'thank you'

Julie's hack is tough, but it works for her family. Last year I got so tired of having to remind my kids to say "thank you" at every house that this year I told them every time I had to remind them to say thank you after getting their treat,...

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Make your own polar fleece diaper liner

From Katharine: If you use cloth diapers, try putting a strip of polar fleece (any old cut-up sweater will do - it doesn't even need to be hemmed) between the diaper and your baby's bottom. It's especially good for sensitive bottoms, because the fleece lets liquids run through, leaving your...

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links for 2007-10-30

Apartment Therapy - Picket Fence Cord Management Lovely, as usual. Thanks for the link, SE! Extend the life of a favorite (but outgrown) t-shirt Great idea. Also good for turning summer Ts into cool-weather playshirts. Requires basic sewing, but I think even I could attempt this. Thanks for the link,...

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Halloween hack: Storing vinyl cling decorations

Cheri figured out a way to keep Halloween cling decorations in good working order for the following year.

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Halloween hack: No-prep costume: Baby Einstein

Priceless.

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Creative ways to present unfamiliar foods

Dren of DrenNotes offers her take on the creative presentation of food: I've been reading a lot of buzz on the interweb about Deceptively Delicious, mostly dealing with the ethics of "sneaking" in fruits and veggies into a child's diet. My child is a picky eater (and yes, I know...

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Is hiding vegetables in food deceptive?

I've been mildly amused by the debate swirling around Jessica Seinfeld's new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious, which is built on the premise of getting vegetables into kids by hiding them in kid-friendly foods. The book is a popular hit (no doubt helped along by a visit with Oprah), but there's plenty...

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No-effort entertainment: Glow sticks

"To all you parents who haven't tried these yet (or lately). Glow sticks are fun!! I know it seems like a big "duh," but every time we get them out, my husband and I wonder why we don't do it more often."

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links for 2007-10-27

Mind Flush: Easiest. Pumpkin. Ever. Mr. Pumpkin Head! Friday Fun: Print Your Own Halloween Mask Baby Toolkit: Raid the Recycling: There may be a cool kitchen in there! Make your own TasteBook » Rookie Moms Personalized cookbooks! Get in the running for a freebie. Thanks for the link, Heather! Tux...

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Take a vacation toy inventory

When it's time to go home, rather than uttering "Now, are you SURE you've got all your toys?" 57 times, you can go through the list and make sure everything's accounted for.

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Breastmilk in a medicine-dispensing pacifier helps regulate baby's ear pressure

Amy's hack may come in handy for road trips, or for babies who simply scream while in cars (I had one of those): Recently I drove through the mountains with my exclusively-breastfed 5 month-old. She has never taken a pacifier, so I didn't know what to do to help her...

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