Parent Hacks

Inflatable wading pool converts shower stall into a toddler "bathtub"

Kirsten's ingenuity is fantastic: I live in a place without a bathtub, so I've had to hack one for my toddler. I used a plastic storage bin until it became too small. Then, I picked up an inflatable wading pool. It's great because it's a little bit bigger than the...

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Post a cleaning agenda in each room

Clancy's simple, visual housecleaning tip would work so well for me and my family: One hack I do that I like is this: I survey a room in my house and figure out all the cleaning tasks that need to be done in that room. Then I make a list...

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Old-fashioned ice crusher makes a perfect hot weather distraction

Here's how Eugenie keeps her toddler busy and cool at the same time: I'm always desperate for things to keep my very active 20-month-old boy busy in the kitchen while I'm cooking dinner. I recently pulled out our old-timey, crank-style ice crusher, and voilá! He and I carefully fill the...

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Too-small stretch pants make fine capri pants

I love that Jamie's daughter's wearing "hand-me-ups"! I know everyone is looking for ways to save money, especially families with kids. I have to give credit for this hack to my three year old daughter. She is really expressing her independence by choosing her own clothes and dressing herself each...

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How to make healthy, layered freezer pops

Jennifer's fun, healthy popsicle alternative: I make freezer pops with organic juice, organic yogurt and frozen blueberries all added into each pop holder- YUMMY and good for you! They come out layered and spotted! Does anyone else have good freezer pop "recipes"? Mine never turn out as delicious as I...

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Tape combination to padlock so it won't be forgotten over the summer

Stu sent this to me a long time ago, and I've been hanging on to it till the end of the school year! Great tip for students, and for the rest of us who tend to throw padlocks into drawers without noting the combination: If your kid uses a combination...

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Colander + plate = secure basket for washing small toys

Andi's hack will bring joy to the parents of the Lego/K'nex obsessed: My daughter has become obsessed with building toys. In her case, specifically with Bionicles, K'nex and Legos. I'm not a neat freak by any stretch of the imagination but I do want to wash these toys once in...

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Turn the Pack n' Play into a shady hangout for baby

Rachael's solution for combining yardwork + crawling baby: I needed a shady, safe area to have my baby in the yard so I could get some weeding done. My husband suggested a beach umbrella, but I didn't like the idea of letting my little one crawl all over, so I...

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Let toddlers finger paint inside a wading pool

Before you fill the kiddie pool with water, here's another idea, from Isabel: My kid likes to paint himself and any nearby surface during finger painting (he's two). Indoor finger painting in the wading pool makes clean-up easy. I put the pool in a different room during my kid's post-painting...

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Do your kids wear shoes without socks? Put antiperspirant on their feet to prevent blisters

Sharon's hack comes just in time for the switch to warm weather shoes: My 4 year-old daughter likes to wear shoes without socks, which often causes blisters. I spray a little antiperspirant on the area likely to blister...then when she wears her favorite flip flops, sandals, or ballet flats, she...

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Lansinoh nipple ointment is the perfect antidote for saliva rash

Chris has a great use for the tube of nipple cream that will NEVER get used up any other way: I've found the perfect solution for those rashes around the mouth: Lansinoh ointment (the stuff you use for breastfeeding). We'd been using Vaseline, Desitin, and Eucerin - whichever was the...

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links for 2009-05-12

Create a visual poster to help kids with their morning routine So simple, SUCH a potential improvement. Many (perhaps most) kids do better following sequences of steps when they have a visual prompt...this is perfect. Thank you, Mary!

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Baby food rotation happens automatically when the bottles are stored in alphabetical order

Mike's tip for making sure his baby gets something different to eat at each meal: We've started feeding our five month-old baby solid food. We have six varieties of Stage 1 food (Earth's Best) and after trying them to ensure he had no reaction, we thought of how to make...

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Give kids liquid medicine during their baths

Eric, I'm wondering why this hack never occurred to me even after I threw out several permanently-Tylenol-stained shirts: Give your children liquid medicine while they are taking a bath. That way, if they spit any out it is not on their clothes or the carpet, and if they get some...

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Momversation: Does the media stereotype moms?

OOOOOH. Media portrayals of moms...a favorite topic I could go on and on about for hours (I was a Sociology major after all). Alice (Finslippy) wonders why does the media stereotype moms? Dana (Mamalogues), Giyen (Bacon is my Enemy) and I respond. Find out what other viewers think! Leave your...

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