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Archive: February 2008
29 Feb 08 | Comments: 101
Most of us are still in for plenty more cool weather. But now that Spring is around the corner the on-and-off nature of kid jacket-wearing is already full swing. Too hot! Too cold! Take it off to buckle into the...
links for 2008-02-2929 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Postcards Traveling The World | Moewes.com A postcard pen pal network. Looks like fun. Decorate a room with paper and string » Rookie Moms So easy and cute.
Underbed box under the clip-on highchair catches dropped food29 Feb 08 | Comments: 9
Debbie's hack is sure to make us all slap our foreheads and wonder why we never came up with this ourselves: Our one year-old daughter eats in a clip-on chair attached to our kitchen island. We put a large plastic...
CD rack as board book shelf28 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
M's storage solution: A CD shelving unit is the perfect depth for board books. In a regular bookshelf, board books can get pushed back too far, are hard to see when mixed with regular books, are often too small for...
links for 2008-02-2828 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Alpha Mom™ - Zero to Forty Weekly Pregnancy Calendar Written by Amalah, here's a week-by-week coundown that will educate AND entertain AND make you so glad you're pregnant during the Internet era. (tags: pregnancy babies) DeliciousBaby Journal | Advantage Rent-A-Car's...
Tie a ribbon around the doornob to help out a forgetful Tooth Fairy28 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Suzy's come up with the perfect way to assist the Magical One with her dental "work": Is the tooth fairy sometimes forgetful in your home? We find that ours sometimes flies right by accidentally. To correct this problem, we've put...
Parenting: No amount of practice makes perfect, nor should it27 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
In response to my guest post on Zen Habits yesterday, Bee left the following fascinating comment: …just please, please, please leave gaps in your shiny optimised parenting to get wrong and messy. Teaching kids how to surf on the crest...
Baby washcloths as "green" mealtime napkins27 Feb 08 | Comments: 14
Susan's come up with yet another use for baby washcloths (they are surprisingly versatile): One of my New Year’s resolutions is to reduce our household waste, including paper products. We’ve started using our old baby washcloths as napkins for the...
links for 2008-02-2727 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
21 Tips on Keeping a Simple Home with Kids | Zen Habits We're on a Zen Habits roll! Thanks for the pointer, Sara! Thingamababy: Review: Revolving Toddler Shoe Tree Mmmmmm. Looks nice. (tags: toddlers, home organization) Baby Toolkit: Come on...
Lower the highchair so your toddler can play the electronic keyboard27 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Raven's going to have a two year-old maestro in the family: My 16 month-old loves to play around on our electronic keyboard . With all of the different instrument and style options available, who doesn't? Up until now, I've always...
Video game addiction. Talk amongst yourselves.26 Feb 08 | Comments: 40
We are the happy owners of a Nintendo Wii. We fit the demographic to a T; the kids play a bit in the afternoon, and then Rael and I fire up Guitar Hero after hours. (I made a full confession...
Parent Hacks: The Zen Habits Collection26 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
As part of our guest post swap, Leo Babauta asked me to choose twenty of my favorite tips and write them up as a post for Zen Habits. "Favorite" is impossible to capture because there's more wisdom and good will...
Rain pants work for cool-weather beach visits26 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Debbie's got a great tip for off-season beach visits (a wonderful time to go): We sometimes head to the beach when it's too cold for swimsuit (or when we're headed off somewhere else after). I pull the kids' rain pants...
When one twin gets medicine, the other gets apple juice26 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
Kristin's got the opposite "problem" many parents have -- her kids want to take medicine! When one of my 2-year-old twin boys are prescribed medicine, it's inevitable that the non-sick boy will pitch a fit for medicine too. So...I have...
Tie video game time "currency" to chores25 Feb 08 | Comments: 11
Rich is a man after my own heart: My kids were addicted to their video games and would give us attitudes when we asked them to do chores. So we fixed that right away: we put the kids on a...
Pencil cup as toothbrush holder25 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
The Hengsts have a solution for those fat, character toothbrush handles that don't fit into the holes of a regular countertop toothbrush holder: We have the problem in our house that kids' toothbrushes don't fit in the traditional toothbrush holders...
Britax sale at Amazon - one week only24 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
Just got a note from the Amazon folks: turns out a week-long Britax sale is underway -- up to 20% off "rarely discounted" car seats and strollers. I've been a Britax user of convertible car seats for years and love...
links for 2008-02-2323 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Organizing With Kids: Time Management | GNMParents Some nice ideas here.
Toothbrush holder keeps used spoons contained in the diaper bag23 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
Megan's answer to sticky spoons: This may be obvious but I have found it the most brilliant of any of my parenting ideas! Whenever we feed the little man when we are out and about, I find myself grossed out...
Pets as social skills "teachers"22 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
I've got so much to say about this hack (sent in anonymously), but I'll save my comments till after you've read it: I'm a single (widowed) mom to one daughter. We live in a very rural area so my daughter's...
links for 2008-02-2222 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
The castle of my 4-year-old One dad goes nuts with cardboard boxes. (Hey, James, how 'bout a picture?) Broomhuggers » Never say “Go clean your room” Age-appropriate guidelines for cleaning your room. Thanks for the link, dampscribbler!
Amazon Friday Sale: Brita Filters, Pull-Ups22 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Another Friday, another Friday Sale ! I found a couple deals Parenthackers might appreciate: Brita Pitcher Replacement Filters: Oh, how I love my Brita. I have found that keeping a full pitcher of water on the counter makes it so...
Diapers fit nicely in the plastic wipes box22 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Lisa V.'s diapers-to-go hack: If you have a child in diapers, use the refillable wipes packs (the smaller travel size in the soft package). Put the package of wipes into the original box (the regular full-size box). Then add a...
Play "Marco Polo" in public to keep track of out-of-sight kids21 Feb 08 | Comments: 12
Remember "Marco Polo," that classic call-and-respond swimming pool game? Mari and her husband use it as a way to keep tabs on their kids in public places: Okay, I know it sounds crazy. We always call out 'Marco' when we're...
Ten ways to find time for your family -- no matter how busy you are21 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
I'm excited to share a guest post by Leo Babauta, father of six and author of the inspiring productivity blog, Zen Habits. His simple-yet-powerful tips always remind me that slowing down -- not cramming more in -- is a busy...
White noise between radio stations helps kids nap in the car21 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Here's how Mama D gracefully handled an awkward snatch of time that was too big for an activity, but too small for a nap: This hack had a 50% success rate on its maiden voyage, enough to make me think...
links for 2008-02-2121 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
12 Hours to Better Time Management - Lifehack.org Automate, automate, automate.
Park your car near the grocery shopping cart return area20 Feb 08 | Comments: 15
Lydia thought to write in with a hack that I only discovered after my second child was almost too big to ride in the cart: When going shopping various places with the little one, I always park next to a...
Ice cube tray as kids' paint palette20 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
Red Lotus Mama's smart art hack: My daughter got an art easel for Christmas, so I bought her some Crayola washable paint to go along with it. She is only 2.5 years old, so holding a palette isn't about to...
Use the coffeemaker to heat water for quick oats19 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Stephanie's found a safer way for her son to cook his own breakfast: My 9 1/2 year-old son loves oatmeal for breakfast every morning. He's old enough to want to do things on his own but not old enough to...
Old socks as arm dribble-catchers19 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
Beth has solved a problem I was NEVER able to solve myself! I had just resigned myself to sticky elbows for years! I have a 2.5yo who loves fruit -- watery, dribbly, messy fruit. It used to roll down his...
links for 2008-02-1919 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
The Dots That Saved My Sanity (a belated post on organization) | Largerfamilies.com AWESOME laundry and clothing-sorting hack. Thanks, Tami!
Do you improvise upon lullabies? Talk amongst yourselves.19 Feb 08 | Comments: 45
Tim's "hack" is really more of a sweet example of how our kids can inspire us: Part of my toddler's bedtime routine is a song. Somewhere along the line, I forgot the actual lyrics to "Hush, Little Baby". This led...
links for 2008-02-1818 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
THE ACME SHARING COMPANY: History Lesson Throw a birthday party for Washington and Lincoln today! 7 Ways to Compliment a Child | GNMParents Only two involve saying anything to the kid in question. Baby Toolkit: Cleft in Twain: Recycled Shower...
Computer desk as changing table18 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Jill found an ideal reuse for an old computer desk: When our son was born, we basically put a crib into the room that had been our office. With company coming, we were forced to convert the baby's room into...
Turn a laundry detergent bottle into a toddler toolbox17 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Looking for a long weekend craft project? How about Steve's brilliant laundry detergent bottle toolbox? A couple of nights ago I was watching my son, Evan, playing with an empty detergent container. I was impressed with how easy it was...
For a toddler, catching a ball is easier with a hat17 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
Kelly sent this hack in while watching her father play catch with her daughter: It can be frustrating to play catch with the little ones. They really want to but it's hard for them to catch a ball. Next time...
links for 2008-02-1616 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
What does Pertussis (whooping cough) sound like? Listen to this sound clip if you suspect your child has whooping cough. (Thanks for the link, Charlie!)
Clear Valentine clutter by making a collage15 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Jill from Atlanta is really on the ball if this project is already done by February 15! It wasn't until my house became littered with little Valentines that I remembered this trick. I had my kids gather up all the...
A simple rule for getting toddlers to hold hands crossing the street15 Feb 08 | Comments: 25
Kim's idea is so simple and smart: Here's my tip for keeping toddlers from walking out onto the street or parking lot unsupervised. It relies on the good old "neutral third party" idea. Just tell them it's a universal rule...
Makeshift Ziploc bag "snow boots" for babies15 Feb 08 | Comments: 12
No snow boots for your baby? Here's Ashley's inventive solution: We live in the Midwest and usually get a few pretty good snows each winter. We got a few inches of snow the other night, so I decided to take...
How to organize photo cards14 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
Michelle has solved a problem we all have: guilt about throwing away photo cards! Every year we get photo cards of our friends and their children. I have never wanted to throw them away but didn't really have a place...
links for 2008-02-1414 Feb 08 | Comments: 2
entrepreMusings » 15 Tips For Traveling With Baby Maryam Scoble's travel-with-baby tips.Thanks for the link, Aruni! Dabbled: Play Stove from an old side table That is just gorgeous. Cuter than just about anything you could buy premade.
Parent Hacks featured in Real Simple13 Feb 08 | Comments: 11
Several folks have written in to me noting that Parent Hacks is featured in the March 2008 issue of Real Simple! This is a huge thrill...if there were ever a magazine that laid out my fantasy life, that one is...
Valentine hack: Valentine's Day "mistletoe"13 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
What a cute idea -- from Katy: Valentine's Day is all about showing love. So don't forget giving an extra dose of hugs and kisses at home. Cut 2-3 hearts out of construction paper, string them up anyway you like,...
Valentine hack: Celebrate with your spouse the weekend after13 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
Actually, Ellen, I think any occasion for a night out together is romantic! It's not terribly romantic, but my husband and I have a tradition of celebrating Valentine's Day on a different day-- typically the weekend before or after, preferably...
links for 2008-02-1313 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Heart-shaped recycled crayons Thanks for this, kittenpie!
Valentine hack: How to make heart-shaped cupcakes without a special pan12 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
12 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Fran's got a fantastic twist on handmade cards: Type Valentine's Day phrases and symbols in a Word document in various colors - with the line-spacing set at 2-3 inches apart. Add images of the kids' faces and crop or size...
Valentine hack: Heart-shaped pasta bracelets12 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Marita came up with a fun and simple project any toddler would love: My girls and I are making bracelets using some heart-shaped pasta we found at ALDI. Was $2 for a big bag of heart shaped pasta and I've...
Valentine hack: Sweet and simple gift wrapping12 Feb 08 | Comments: 2
Not only is Mary's gift-wrapping idea nice and simple, it's "green," too. Skip the expensive wrapping paper and wrap your gift in a brown paper bag. Tape a doily on top and then apply a heart sticker. Finish off with...
Parent Hacks admin: Minor technical problems11 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
I've run into some minor glitches switching laptops, hence the light posting. I expect to get everything fixed today (fingers crossed). More hacks coming up!
links for 2008-02-1111 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Baby Cheapskate: Five Ways To Deal With the Diaper Price Hike As usual, Angie's advice is gold.
Valentine hack: Pancakes with powdered sugar hearts10 Feb 08 | Comments: 2
Pamela's sweet Valentine's breakfast is a treat for the whole family: I like to do something special for my family first thing in the morning, so I make pancakes and then put a heart template on top of one before...
links for 2008-02-1010 Feb 08 | Comments: 2
Valentine's Day Projects for Kids and more Martha's got some great craft ideas... BusinessWeek Management IQ: Ad pros share working mother moments Ha! Read Carol's "anti-hack." Great find, Patrick! Hey Mommies, May I Pick Your Brains? Karen's running a little...
Valentine hack: Cut out magazine "lipstick lips" to make a kissy collage09 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Jennifer's hack makes the sociologist and media critic in me jump for joy: I like to gather all those beauty mags (that now gather dust since having kids) and cut out all those fabulous shiny lips on all the make-up...
Valentine hack: Homemade chocolate roses are easier than you might think08 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
What a lovely idea -- great for older kids who get a kick out of using the stove. From Leah: My students do a fundraiser every year for Valentine's Day by making candy roses and selling them. It's actually a...
Valentine hack: Gift cards for teachers07 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
Michelle's adapted a popular holiday teacher gift for Valentine's Day: My newest favorite thing to do (for teachers and camp counselors and bus drivers and all of those people you want to recognize but don't want to spend too much...
Valentine hack: Fingerprint heart prints07 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Carrie's girls took "handmade" to a new level: We usually do something easy - since we also find the day creeps up on us. Last year we made cards using two fingerprints to look like a heart. We also sent...
links for 2008-02-0707 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
The Juggle - WSJ.com : How Much Should Parents Meddle in Kids' Social Lives? A fascinating issue -- one that reminds us that social skills are yet another type of aptitude kids have in varying degrees. To some it may...
Valentine hack: Lighthearted, inexpensive valentines will still do the trick for your sweetheart06 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
The lovey-dovey part of Valentine's Day should never be lost on your sweetheart. No matter how cheesy and Hallmark-y you think this holiday is, your partner will be disappointed if you don't recognize it in some small way (even if...
Valentine hack: Collective valentine-making, and a great photo card idea06 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Adrienne of Baby Toolkit fame shares two great Valentine hacks: 1) My playgroup mommas are having a toddler-free pitch-in decorating party where we'll make Valentine's cards and decorate sweet treats for our families. [Always more fun with company, and with...
Color 'n Kids Valentines winners!05 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Thank you for the wonderful Valentine's Day hacks! I'm not usually the crafty sort (much as I wish I were), but somehow valentines bring out the sentimentalist in me. Before I was a mother, Valentine's Day seemed like yet another...
Valentine hack: Torn paper valentines05 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Another simple card-making activity for toddlers on up. From Rose: Yesterday my daughter and I made Valentine's Day cards. We folded a piece of red construction paper into quarters and then cut it in half to make two cards. To...
links for 2008-02-0505 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Baby Toolkit: A Few Grains of Sanity: Rice as Kitchen Distractor Rice. It's fun. Falling through fatherhood | flagrantdisregard Mmm hmmm. Make a conversation heart » Rookie Moms Heh! Boy, Valentine's Day brings out the sap in me. Craftzine.com blog:...
Valentine hack: Heart-shaped cookie cutters are useful for more than cookies05 Feb 08 | Comments: 1
Zed's shares the versatility of the humble cookie cutter: Nothing is a better investment for Valentine's Day than heart-shaped cookie cutters in various sizes. Aside from the many craft possibilities, they instantly make boring food seem like Fancy Valentine's Food,...
Summer camp fairs help kids AND parents make smart choices04 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Suzy (friend of Sara!) is getting an informed jump on summer camp: I have a five year-old who's not very clear on what he DOES like to do (as opposed to what he DOESN'T like to do). This weekend was...
links for 2008-02-0404 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
There's more than one way to be a crafty mom Lovely musing on the "crafty mom" -- before "crafty" was cool. From local Portland writer Chelsea Cain.
Valentine hack: Turn fabric scraps into window decorations04 Feb 08 | Comments: 6
By now, we expect brilliance from Rookie Mom Whitney, and she doesn't disappoint: My husband says they are hideous, but we already have window decorations up for Valentine's day, and my three- year old BOY says, "I love them. They...
Bake a personal mini-cake for your kid's first birthday03 Feb 08 | Comments: 14
Kristen's first birthday tip: Don't give the kid the whole cake to destroy, or even an entire one of his very own. Bake a mini-cake in a foil pot pie tin. Less mess and less wasted food. I think this...
Oatmeal bath soothes diaper rash02 Feb 08 | Comments: 8
A reminder that we don't always need fancy solutions..simple ones work just fine. From Sara: My mother-in-law bought some fancy Aveeno bath soak for Miss J once, and it was basically oatmeal. Now, when she has irritated skin (diaper rash...
Valentine hack: Free-form painted hearts02 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Kittenpie demonstrates that a) toddlers aren't too young to make Valentines, and b) "handmade" doesn't have to equal "fussy." Last year, I cut up large-ish squares of thick paper, put them two at a time on the easel, and gave...
links for 2008-02-0202 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
It's not a bug, it's kung fu. | 43 Folders Reframing your kids' desire to "help" you in the kitchen. Healthy Children: Internet Safety: Growing Up Online Kids + social networking sites. Discuss. BabyCenter: MOMformation » Making my life easier:...
Amazon Friday Sale: Pinzon Stainless Steel Mandoline01 Feb 08 | Comments: 4
Have you ever used a mandoline? It's a slicing, grating and shredding powerhouse -- makes fast work of these tasks without the cleanup hassle of a food processor. Plus, I have found that my kids prefer to eat the thinly-sliced...
Super Bowl Sunday: No crowds at the usual weekend family hot spots01 Feb 08 | Comments: 7
I trot this Super Bowl hack out every year, but it's such a good one! From Jay: I've noticed that a lot of people are into this whole "football" thing, which means they'll be at home (or a bar) watching...
Valentine hack: Add a little "homemade" to boxed character Valentines01 Feb 08 | Comments: 3
Jill's subverting the dominant Valentine Character Paradigm! (Any mom that hacks @#$% SpongeBob is tops in my book.) I'm one of those moms that doesn't allow characters to seep into my house very often. But since the kids' friends really...
links for 2008-02-0101 Feb 08 | Comments: 0
Love You To Pieces Elephant Puzzle, downloadable - It's Free! : HeavenlyHomeMakers.com, Our Online Shop Cute print-and-cut Valentine's puzzle. Thanks for the link, Laura! Etsy :: Valentine's Showcase Shiny, happy, lovely. Handmade stuff for Valentine's Day. Great Invention Idea? 3...
Put a rubber band around push toy wheels to slow them down01 Feb 08 | Comments: 5
Regina's got a smart hack for early walkers: When kids are first learning to walk, their push toys generally go too fast. To slow my daughter down I put rubber bands around the front two wheels and now she is...
