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Category archive: habitat
12 May 08 | Comments: 2
IT CAN BE DONE. From Linda: Here's how I manage to load and unload the dishwasher with a toddler (18 months) who wants to be involved with EVERYTHING I do: while she is sitting in her toddler chair, I give...
Veggie scrubber doubles as high chair de-gunker09 May 08 | Comments: 0
Brooke's found a way to get the crusties off the high chair: I am in love with my veggie scrub. (I'm sure the mesh bags avocados come in would do the same thing.) Both are great at scrubbing potatoes and...
The magical, multifunctional properties of painter's tape08 May 08 | Comments: 17
Jen in Toronto loves her blue tape! For good reason: We use painter's tape a lot around our house, and we take a roll with us when we travel. It makes a great impromptu electrical outlet cover. We use it...
How to remember which plastics are recyclable08 May 08 | Comments: 2
See how a dead-simple idea can change your life? From Hazel: We like to recycle but our village will only let us recycle certain things. I can never remember what number plastics are supposed to have. The last time the...
One Binder to Rule Them All: Mom's Ultimate Family Organizer07 May 08 | Comments: 203
I'm an on-again-off-again Flylady member. If you're not familiar, Flylady is more than just an online community of women trying to get a handle on housework -- it's a movement. The basic idea is to create standing routines for everything...
Perfect gift for new moms: The Rookie Mom's Handbook06 May 08 | Comments: 61
Heather and Whitney (aka the Rookie Moms) are true blog friends. I think these are two of the warmest, smartest women around. We've bonded over the business of blogging and parenting and life. They've sent in bunches of great hacks....
Retired diaper changing pad works as Play Doh play surface01 May 08 | Comments: 7
Lindsay's found a better site than the kitchen floor for playdough play: Webster's Dictionary defines the word "frustration" as my attempt to find a suitable surface cover during my toddler's play-doh adventures. He prefers to play on the wooden floor...
Guest post at Savvy Source: Ten easy Parent Hacks for "greening" everyday life with kids28 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
In honor of their April theme, "It's Easy Being Green," I wrote a guest post for the Savvy Source blog, Being Savvy. In it, I point to ten Parent Hacks that focus on reusing household items in creative ways. Thank...
"Colorful" milk rewards kids for pre-mealtime cleanup28 Apr 08 | Comments: 11
Mari's colorful solution for getting the kids to the table: My daughter's preschool teacher came up with a fun way to encourage the children to clean up promptly for lunch. It made such an impression on our 3-year-old that we...
Amazon Home & Garden one-day sale today21 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
FYI, Amazon's having a one-day Home & Garden sale today, and I see several slow cookers represented (but alas, not that All-Clad one Hedra recommended).
Recycle Tyvek envelopes into sails for homemade boats19 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Beth's got a tip for floaty-boat building: It's spring here in New England and my 2.5yo is into making boats for all the muddy puddles. Usually our spur-of-the-moment boats are made out of something like packing peanuts or foam packing...
Amazon Friday sale 4/18/08: Magnifying desk lamp, prep bowls, diapers18 Apr 08 | Comments: 2
Here are my picks in today's Amazon Friday sale : If you've got any small-parts builders or modelmakers in your home, this desk lamp/magnifier would make their projects go a whole lot easier. Great for budding scientists, too. It's $29.99...
Old page-a-day calendars make great doodling paper18 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
Dana's found a great way to squeeze some utility out of page-a-day calendars: My toddler loves to color using any surface that she can find. I always need paper to hand to her while I'm trying to cook or clean...
Empty formula cans make perfect bedside table wastebaskets17 Apr 08 | Comments: 19
So smart! From Janette: Empty formula cans [Any cans, really. -- Ed.] are the perfect size to use as bedside/lazyboy side trash cans when you have a cold. In the morning, you can just throw it, and all your nasty...
KABOOST: Boost the chair instead of the kid16 Apr 08 | Comments: 16
Several Parenthackers have mentioned the KABOOST as a great hack, but for some reason I don't see a post about it in the archives! No longer! From Sharon: I recently purchased a KABOOST from Amazon. KABOOST is a amazing invention...
Childproofing a water cooler? Talk amongst yourselves.16 Apr 08 | Comments: 11
Kelly's got a good question: Recently a friend started looking for a way to childproof something that I hadn't thought of...a water cooler! There are many that have safety locks on the hot water tap, but that still leaves the...
The many uses of the reusable grocery bag12 Apr 08 | Comments: 18
Jamie shares why she loves reusable grocery bags: Our local grocery store is selling Earthwise simple reusable grocery bags for .99 cents. It took about a week to get used to remembering to bring it in to the grocery store...
Cut plastic "tube" popsicles in half for toddlers12 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Regina's found a way to make popsicles slightly less messy: My toddler likes to eat those popsicles that come in the long tubes that you put into the freezer and eat straight out of the plastic. However, the tubes are...
Thank you for the Crock Pot inspiration bonanza!11 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
Parenthackers are the best (as if that weren't already obvious). In response to my plea for Crock Pot help, so many of you offered advice, book suggestions, recipes...wonderful! Let me share the highlights: Check your crock pot's temperature. Apparently many...
Protect your coffee table-turned-play surface with a crib sheet11 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
Candie's great tip for coffee table play: I have found that the kids' favorite place to play is the family room coffee table. Usually I don’t like to allow this but I have found it is just the right height...
Amazon Friday Sale 4/11/08: Lots of good stuff!11 Apr 08 | Comments: 1
Lots of good stuff showed up in today's Amazon Friday sale ! (Sale prices last through today only.) Remember manual carpet sweepers? Little rotary brushes inside pick up debris just by getting pushed back and forth over the floor. I...
Tax.filer: Simple, beautiful organizer will make next year's tax prep a breeze09 Apr 08 | Comments: 80
This will be my one and only post about tax time because really? Who wants to think about it any more than one has to? But I just had to share this lovely product that appeared in my mailbox the...
Line the potty with paper to make it easier to clean08 Apr 08 | Comments: 7
Ah, yes. Cleaning out the potty chair. One of the greater joys of parenting, wouldn't you agree? Here's Preschool Mama's tip for speeding up the job: When I was training my son, I used to line the potty with a...
Drape an old sweatshirt over wooden chairs to protect them from booster scratches08 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
Sarah's tip for protecting wooden chairs from strap-on booster seats: My son uses the Fisher Price Healthy Care Booster Seat (recommended by parenthacks). We love the chair, but have two problems: (1) the back of the booster seat cuts into...
Clean the tub right before you clean yourself03 Apr 08 | Comments: 23
Shelley discovered it's easier to clean the tub when she's in it: I am 7+ months pregnant with my second child and simple chores seem to be, well, not so simple anymore. Cleaning the tub, for example. With the belly...
Best of Parent Hacks: Garden fever03 Apr 08 | Comments: 3
Sun! Warmth! Flowers! It's all happening around here, and I'm dancing a little jig in my back yard. Last year, the kids and I scattered a single packet of mixed seeds (encouragingly named "Children's Garden") and got a whole patch...
Cylindrical concrete form tubes double as tall toy storage01 Apr 08 | Comments: 8
There is much inspiration to be found at the home improvement warehouse. Check out Jenn's elegant toy storage solution: With three small children, I frequently find myself tripping over toys that the kids don't have a place for. We have...
Clean sippy cup straws with pipe cleaners01 Apr 08 | Comments: 9
Pipe cleaners have showed up in so many craft projects in my life that I forget they actually can ...clean pipes. Hence Vicki's hack: My 2 year-old likes to use these drink bottles designed for babies that have a pop-up...
Cookie sheets keep the countertop clean during bulk sandwich-making31 Mar 08 | Comments: 11
KS found a clever way to further streamline lunch prep: I am learning to love mass production of packed lunches. One thing particularly pesky is the crumbs left on the counter after sandwich assembly. Enter the cookie sheet! Ahh –...
Nonslip shelf liner keeps the potty chair from sliding26 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
So smart. From Marta: I keep the potty chair from skidding around by cutting a little mat out of nonskid shelf liner! The mat goes under the potty and the kid stays upright. Related: Nonslip shelf liner keeps tablecloth from...
Decorate baby's room with discount wallpaper24 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Sable's nursery decorating on the cheap: We recently started to discuss themes for the baby's room (I'm pregnant). Again and again we realised that regardless of the theme, whatever we wanted to do would no doubt end up costing us...
Amazon Friday sale: My beloved DustBuster21 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
Of all my small appliances, my DustBuster is the most beloved. These mini-vacuum cleaners have improved in recent years -- they really do suck (in the best possible way). I have a DustBuster on each floor to motivate myself to...
Oft-forgotten germ spreader: lip balm!21 Mar 08 | Comments: 8
Lisa's on the germ hunt: My family has been passing the cold bug around to one another. So I've been trying to catch all the ways that our germs are spreading (buying new toothbrushes, careful with sharing cups etc). I...
Keep a quick-grab snack bag packed19 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
From Debbie: We keep a reusable lunch-type bag in our cupboard stocked with various nonperishable snacks (one of each type per child) so that we can grab it at a moments' notice; say for that trip to the ER after...
Create a mural outline by "tracing" a television character17 Mar 08 | Comments: 11
Wow. Look how John and Heather created a character-inspired mural: My wife wanted to create a Little Bear mural for our boys' bedroom when inspiration hit her. She paused the show on our big TV and used tracing paper to...
Amazon Kitchen and Home sale - today only17 Mar 08 | Comments: 0
I just got an enticing email from Amazon -- today (March 17) is a one-day Kitchen and Home sale with big discounts on all sorts of domestic goodies (especially good deals on cookware sets).
Little Steps Handrail mounts on (and hangs below) a standard stairway rail16 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
The folks from Little Steps found Parent Hacks due to Kathy's comment on last year's handrail hack (tie a length of soft rope to the rail which hangs down to toddler-grabbing height). Apparently, many of you have been clicking through...
"Virtually Indestructible Keyboard" goes nicely with baby- and toddler-friendly software11 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Ben is a smart, smart man. I recently read your post on Giggles Software for babies and toddlers. The idea seemed great, but I was reluctant to let my baby get his hands on my MacBook Pro. Nor did I...
Nonverbal "cues" and routines help adopted children settle into home life05 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
Deborah demonstrates how consistency can be comforting when words aren't an option (yet): When my husband and I brought our 3- and 4-year-olds home from Moscow, we had only rudimentary Russian and a very early trust relationship with the kids....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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: 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,...
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...
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...
Wash and store velcro bibs in a mesh lingerie bag30 Jan 08 | Comments: 10
Who among us hasn't had an article of clothing destroyed in the wash by the velcro from a bib? Misha has an answer: We use bibs for our baby that have velcro closures and darn it if that velcro doesn't...
Crib toy bag works well on the highchair, too29 Jan 08 | Comments: 4
Emily's got a great idea for keeping the baby toys from getting underfoot in the kitchen: Sometimes while doing the dishes, I try to keep my daughter occupied in her high chair with various toys and books. I found myself...
Organize kids' clothes into color-coordinated "capsules" so they can pick their own outfits28 Jan 08 | Comments: 16
Sara needs to dress my daughter, or at least help me pick out her clothes. I love clothes, and Miss J has so many clothes it's a tad embarrassing. Even worse, the daily question of what to wear was turning...
Sylvania power failure lights do double duty as night light and flashlight25 Jan 08 | Comments: 1
Regina has a great solution to "how do you find the flashlight when the power goes out and it's dark?": Recently, you were asking what we do when the power goes out. For Christmas, my folks gave us a package...
Keep bedside Pedialyte chilled in an ice bucket25 Jan 08 | Comments: 3
From the very resourceful Jess: Our 10 month-old daughter has a nasty bug ... a cough, accompanied by some flu symptoms. So we're giving her Pedialyte. But when she wakes up coughing in the middle of the night, she wants...
Storing girls' hair accessories? Talk amongst yourselves.23 Jan 08 | Comments: 33
Suzy wonders: Have you heard any good hacks for how to store girls' hairbands? They are a tangled mess in the drawers. You can't put up 20 hooks on the walls, right? What can be done? This seems like a...
Teaching kids to declutter their own toys22 Jan 08 | Comments: 5
Sara's hack would work as well now, while most of us are in declutter mode anyway: I want Miss J (2 1/2) to learn how to "declutter" things herself, so before Christmas I told her that since she'd be getting...
Use freebie magnets as photo backing21 Jan 08 | Comments: 7
Danny found a way to put freebie magnets to good use: Like most homeowners, real estate agents are flooding our house with magnetic calendars this time of the year with their picture and contact information on the magnet. As I...
Cloth diapers as marital aids19 Jan 08 | Comments: 36
Heh heh. May be TMI for some of you, but I love that Amberlynn sent this in: Our shelf that holds the cloth diapers is right next to our bed (we live in a small space, no nursery or changing...
Being prepared for a power outage18 Jan 08 | Comments: 19
From May: We just had a power outage the other day and we learned some lessons. 1. When you lose power you also lose heat. 2. Mocking the public service announcements telling you to have a "go bag" ready with...
Pack preschoolers' lunches in waxed paper bags17 Jan 08 | Comments: 16
While we're on the topic of school lunches...a little story for you. My daughter goes to the most wonderful preschool in the world. It's the same preschool my son went to, Waldorf-inspired, totally magical, very simple. The teachers there often...
Swaptree: Declutter and get free stuff at the same time15 Jan 08 | Comments: 3
Decluttering and reducing consumption are really two sides of the same coin. So it's nice when you come upon a service that helps you do both. Swaptree is a website that allows you to swap your books, CDs, DVDs, and...
Clementine crates as toy storage13 Jan 08 | Comments: 6
Reuse those clementine crates! From Mason: In the winter, my family of three goes through a crate of clementines about every two weeks. Instead of just throwing away the little crates, I have started using them for storing my two-year...
Store toys in the TV cabinet to protect the DVDs10 Jan 08 | Comments: 14
New year, new hopes for organization! Here's Marita's idea for keeping the TV room a little neater: Our television is in a big cabinet which also has storage on the side and below for DVDs. My girls (2yo and 4yo)...
Shot glass as baby food dish09 Jan 08 | Comments: 10
Get some use out of that old drinking paraphernalia! From Rebecca: My husband hit on a great way to serve food to our 6 month-old - we use shot glasses. [Pictured here: a measuring shot glass, so you can also...
Indoor snow play03 Jan 08 | Comments: 4
It rarely snows in Portland, so it's always a delightful event. Not neccesarily so in a reliably snowy winter climate. Here's Melissa's hack for when she doesn't feel like going through the whole dressing/undressing drama: It's been snowy here in...
Use a bottle brush to clean champagne flutes01 Jan 08 | Comments: 8
A timely New Year's tip from Jessica: It would never have occurred to me pre-baby, but this morning when I was doing the dishes, I reached for our bottle brush to clean the champagne flutes, and it was the *perfect*...
Working at home while the kids are on holiday break20 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
Guest post by our friends at Work It, Mom!, a wonderful community site for working moms. School vacation is fast approaching and daycares are getting ready for their holiday break -- which means that if you have to get some...
Movie-inspired dinners: Ratatouille19 Dec 07 | Comments: 4
Rosemary's story gives us eggplant-lovers hope: With all this talk about sneaking healthy food into our children's meals, the Disney/Pixar movie Ratatouille provides us a wonderful opportunity to get our kids eating healthy without all the trickery. I started making...
Christmas tree light switch delights kids AND protects the tree19 Dec 07 | Comments: 7
Christmas tree light switches are yet another way toddlers can get safely (well, relatively safely) involved with the tree. Your mileage may vary given the activity level of your toddler, but both Christy and Carly have had good luck: From...
Aquadoodle water pen doubles as envelope sealer17 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
A tongue-saving hack from Kate, one of the co-founders of aftertheyhatch.com: We didn't want to lick 100 holiday card envelopes, so we used my son's Aquadoodle pen. [It's basically a felt-tipped pen filled with water. -- Ed.] It worked like...
How to administer eyedrops and take the temperature of a squirmy toddler? Talk amongst yourselves.14 Dec 07 | Comments: 23
We've been felled by illness around here, too, so I feel Jenna's pain: We've just had two rounds of ear infections and pinkeye with our 14 month old. Any suggestions for how to take a squirmy toddler's temperature or how...
Amazon Friday Sale 12/14/07: iTouchless hands-free trash can14 Dec 07 | Comments: 0
I wrote about my infatuation with my hands-free trash can some time ago. FYI, it's on sale for 30% off as part of today's Amazon Friday sale . Lots of good deals to be had for gift-giving as well --...
Super Woobee winner!12 Dec 07 | Comments: 1
Congratulations, Jessie! You win the Super Woobee! I guess the rest of us are going to have to return a few gifts so we can buy our own. Because who can resist a product that can do all these things?...
Craft paper makes cheap, recyclable wrapping paper11 Dec 07 | Comments: 21
I've finally accepted that I just can't deal with wrapping paper. As much as I love beautifully-wrapped gifts, I can't abide buying paper that's meant simply to be ripped up and thrown away. I've used newspaper in the past, but...
The most luscious baby blanket you get to keep for yourself10 Dec 07 | Comments: 170
Parents deserve blankies, too. We're out there, fending for our kids, trying to keep all the plates spinning and the tummies full, getting pulled in opposite directions, all on little sleep and less recognition. Sometimes we just need to curl...
Laundry room pegboard holds missing socks05 Dec 07 | Comments: 2
Gisela's answer to the Riddle of the Missing Sock: I can't take credit for this hack; I read it somewhere, but I've forgotten where. I used to keep a drawer full of socks missing their partners after doing the laundry--I...
Baby wipe box doubles as kitchen cabinet organizer04 Dec 07 | Comments: 7
Danielle found a simple way to corral all the small parts that come with baby bottles (and, later, sippy cups): For a couple of months after our son was born I had a messy cup cabinet. There were so many...
Play BAM! to get the kids to clean up quick (and have fun doing it)04 Dec 07 | Comments: 6
Bill's got the trick for getting kids to clean up their toys: This hack is aimed mainly at small children, since their toys are designed to take a beating. Also, not for the noise-intolerant. :-) To get my kids (3...
A little planning cuts dishwashing chores03 Dec 07 | Comments: 13
Kris's hack inspired me to put a bit of thought into my own dish-and-silverware habits. It's amazing how much work one can avoid with a little planning. If you're like me you hate doing dishes. I usually find myself 10:00...
Amazon Friday sale: Kitchen gadgets galore30 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
If you've got cooks on your holiday gift list, check out the Amazon's Friday sale . I noticed a bunch of great deals on kitchen stuff today, including my favorite gadget, the KitchenAid hand mixer. I use my hand mixer...
Plastic soap holder as crayon container30 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Tracy's smart hack works at home or on the road: We use a plastic bar soap holder (the kind that has a top and a bottom that you could use for travel or in your shower). Take crayons out of...
Motion-sensing switch takes over when kids forget to turn off the lights28 Nov 07 | Comments: 13
We are huge fans of the motion-sensing light switch in our house! From Ellen: My kids seem unable to remember to turn off the bathroom light. We use compact fluorescent bulbs, so the power usage is trivial, but it's a...
Bar cookies save trips to the oven (and burned cookies)26 Nov 07 | Comments: 3
Jill from Atlanta shares the practical realities of baking cookies with little kids in the house -- worth keeping in mind given that holiday cookie-baking season is right around the corner: I love baking cookies with my kids. But the...
"Bachelor chow" egg muffin makes a fine daddy breakfast23 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
Surprise a tired-out Thanksgiving hostess or host with breakfast, "bachelor style." From the very clever Steve: Want an Egg McMuffin without the greasy overpriced “Mc” part? Here’s my method - bachelor style. 1 english Muffin or Bagel 1 egg 1-2...
Parent Hacks Store Featured Find: Yellow pages-shaped booster seat! Hilarious!13 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Rael and I found ourselves with three kid-free hours at Powell's City of Books over the weekend. Pure heaven. Besides all the lovely reading I got done, I stumbled onto this clever phonebook-shaped booster seat in the kid section. It's...
DadLabs: Nothing this funny has ever been so useful12 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
You've seen the hilarious videos at DadLabs, right? Of course you have. These are the guys who tested breast pumps ON THEMSELVES and dramatized the disaster that is poop in the tub (you may never eat canned chili again). They...
Deceptively Delicious: A Parenthacker sneaks and tells12 Nov 07 | Comments: 25
We recently talked about all the controversy surrounding the release of Deceptively Delicious, the cookbook that advocates hiding vegetables in kid-friendly food. When I asked for Parenthackers' first-hand tales, JT wrote this gem of a sum-up: My guess is, if...
"Build your own" dinners simplify meals for folks with allergies12 Nov 07 | Comments: 4
Shauna's DIY dinner hack: My son and I have several food allergies while my husband and daughter do not, so to avoid making three different dinners every night, we've implemented one or two "Create Your Own" nights. We use pita...
Serve hot chocolate with a straw06 Nov 07 | Comments: 10
Here's how Kirsten cuts down on the cocoa mess: I used to hate giving my kids hot chocolate because they'd make such a mess with it. Then, I figured out that it was the spoons (which they always want to...
Store the Halloween books with the decorations01 Nov 07 | Comments: 4
Now's a good time to recall a very smart hack from last year: pack the seasonal books away with the decorations. Works as well for Halloween as it does for other decor-heavy holidays.
Turn old bras into potpourri sachets01 Nov 07 | Comments: 10
Abel of ParentWonder has sent in many pointers over the last few months, but this one just had to go front and center: how to turn old bras into potpourri holders. Most of us moms (especially those who are nursing...
Halloween hack: Storing vinyl cling decorations30 Oct 07 | Comments: 6
Cheri figured out a way to keep Halloween cling decorations in good working order for the following year: My kids love those vinyl clings that stick to the doors and windows, but once I take them off of the sheet...
Amazon Friday Sale for 10/26: Huggies Overnites, Mr. Clean Magic Erasers26 Oct 07 | Comments: 1
On sale at Amazon, today only: Huggies Overnites size 5: $19.99 for two 27-count packs (that's about .37 per diaper if you keep track of these things). Keep in mind that Huggies are on their way to a price increase...
Household chores meet online gaming: Chore Wars26 Oct 07 | Comments: 2
This takes the advice to "turn work into game!" to new heights. From Sarah: I wanted to let you know of a cool website I found that helps my husband and I get work done around the house without arguing...
Halloween hack: Prolong the life of cut pumpkins with petroleum jelly25 Oct 07 | Comments: 8
Kieransma passes along another jack-o'-lantern tip: I haven't tried this (yet) but recently read that a jack-o-lantern will last much longer if you coat the cut edges with petroleum jelly. Oh, and thanks to the costume swap hack, my almost...
DIY art display23 Oct 07 | Comments: 13
WG's hack will help you make sense of the incoming avalanche of art: My kitchen had a fridge that was covered in paper and some blank walls that were crying out for decoration. I like the idea of framing kid...
Squid Soap: good idea, poor execution22 Oct 07 | Comments: 19
I was recently sent a review sample of Squid Soap by the makers of Airborne. The parent hack potential was high: the idea is that kids "ink" their hands with the built-in stamp, then wash with the soap for 20...
Keeping Lego sets organized: Ziplocs and cookie sheets12 Oct 07 | Comments: 26
It was my son's birthday last week, and he got two wonderful Lego building sets. Of course, his first inclination was to rip open the boxes, dump the contents on the floor and start building -- which was fine, except...
Dry erase marker on the bathroom mirror: an all-purpose noteboard09 Oct 07 | Comments: 9
It's cold season again and, right on schedule, we're all sniffling around here. So was Tiffany and her family, and here's how she kept track of all the medicine doses: My entire family was sick last week (me, my husband...
Chinese soup spoons help toddlers feed themselves09 Oct 07 | Comments: 3
Anything that helps toddlers feed themselves -- and not their laps or the floor -- is a good thing. From Laura: Tis the season for soup! While recently eating soup at a japanese restaurant with our toddler, we discovered that...
Cookie sheets rescue food dropped from the high chair04 Oct 07 | Comments: 17
Rob's good-sense feeding hack: Our little guy is just starting to self-feed things like peas, etc. that we spread before him at meal time. However, most of his food ends up on the floor. So to reduce this waste we...
Use old mattresses as jumping pads03 Oct 07 | Comments: 24
Debbie's response to a recent IKEA mention: My three-year-old son wet his inexpensive toddler mattress (SULTAN BLUNDA) all the way through (yeah, he's got talent--as does my husband for forgetting to put a pad on it that day). We replaced...
Tie-down straps make dining room chairs unclimbable02 Oct 07 | Comments: 14
John's "foil the climbing toddler" babyproofing: My first son was very tall as a toddler and an excellent climber. Whenever he was being 'too quiet' we would find him climbing onto the dining room table and often spinning the hanging...
Rubber bracelets as sippy cup ID label30 Sep 07 | Comments: 9
Meghan's found yet another use for those stretchy rubber/silicone bracelets: I stumbled upon this hack last year while visiting Disney World. The hotel we stayed at had a deal where you could buy a cup for a set price, and...
FM Fall Shopping Guide: Little Hands Help Around the House28 Sep 07 | Comments: 0
My next post is up at the FM Fall Shopping Guide: Little Hands Help Around the House. Inspired by a recent thumb-through a Montessori catalog, the post follows a theme we've discussed at length: giving kids the tools and opportunity...
Automotive microfiber cleaning towels as cheap spitup rags28 Sep 07 | Comments: 9
Joshua discovered ideal burp cloths in the automotive section: Our son, now two months old, goes through an inordinate number of small towels. Between burping and spitting up, breast milk misfires, and daddy knocking things over at 2AM, it seems...
Use baby wipes to clean DVDs27 Sep 07 | Comments: 2
Violet's tip may salvage your too-well-loved copy of Finding Nemo: If you have a DVD that is smudgy or lightly scratched, use a baby wipe to clean it. It'll play again. Related: Uses for baby wipes
Store extra diapers and wipes on a media shelf25 Sep 07 | Comments: 9
Mama J's organizing hack: Like many parents I know, we buy wipes and dipes in bulk, but storing them was always a challenge. I got an inexpensive media storage shelf, and now they are all stacked and tucked away in...
IKEA: Real furniture kids can build24 Sep 07 | Comments: 4
From the Obvious department: IKEA recently came to Portland. Cause for city-wide celebration! Free child care! Swedish meatballs for less than a buck! And (oh yeah) cool, cheap furniture! But there's more. My almost eight year-old son is always looking...
Keeping delicate fruits unbruised in lunchboxes22 Sep 07 | Comments: 2
We're making the most of late summer fruit with a peach or nectarine going to school in someone's lunch almost every day. Problem: ripe fruit often gets mushy and bruised from the inevitable roll around the lunch box. Solution: place...
FM Fall Shopping Guide: Smart Homes20 Sep 07 | Comments: 0
My next FM Fall Shopping Guide post is up: Smart Homes, about labor-saving gadgets that eliminated some of the hassle of getting in and around my house. Also: Sweetney demonstrates how to turn kid art into home decor, and the...
Intercoms as baby monitors20 Sep 07 | Comments: 2
Nothing like multi-use gadgets. From Jason: When I had an office in the basement, my wife and I bought a pair of intercoms at Radio Shack so we didn't have to shout back and forth. It turns out that these...
FM Fall Shopping Guide: Coffee Gear for Drowsy Parents17 Sep 07 | Comments: 1
I, along with a number of my Federated Media brethren and sistren (I made that word up), am participating in a nifty collaboration: the FM Fall Shopping Guide. Each week for the next six I'll be posting there on the...
Keeping sliced apples from browning14 Sep 07 | Comments: 12
Andrea's hack would work as well for lunchbox-toting schoolkids: My 17 month old, always a good eater, finally showed an interest in eating fresh apples, peel and all. Since it's much easier for her to hold a slice, I've been...
Turn old baby bottles into mess-free paintbrush holders12 Sep 07 | Comments: 5
Carrie's sister is an extremely smart woman. (Thanks for thinking to send this hack in, Carrie.) Here's a hack my sister taught me. All of her kids are well past the nursing/bottle stage, and they all love to do various...
Simplify toddler's food choices with magnetized pictures12 Sep 07 | Comments: 5
I so admire Fautina's willingness to adjust her communication with her son (a post in and of itself!): My two year old son is a little behind in his speech. Someone suggested I take photos of his favorite foods and...
Real Simple Family: full of good hacks04 Sep 07 | Comments: 11
I couldn't resist -- Real Simple Family -- a special issue of the lifestyle mag Real Simple -- found its way into my shopping cart this afternoon. It's full of good hacks, including taping a few unused board games together...
Set up a homework station to make afterschool assignments easier01 Sep 07 | Comments: 4
Melanie's tips for setting off on the right foot with homework: I’m a teacher as well as a mom. A good homework hack is to have a place or station set up where your child can do homework. Have pencils,...
DIY Learning Tower to encourage pint-sized kitchen help? Talk amongst yourselves.26 Aug 07 | Comments: 32
In the comments of the kid-friendly kitchens post, Marta asked: Anyone have a hack for improvising one of those Learning Tower things? They cost a lot. I agree -- a lovely product, but the price is prohibitive. When I was...
Serve food to new self-feeders in a measuring cup25 Aug 07 | Comments: 8
Liz said, "I am not sure if this is a hack or just a lightbulb moment..." Isn't it funny how some Parent Hacks come on like a flash, and others are just the unconventional way we've always done things? My...
Nonslip shelf liner keeps tablecloth from slipping21 Aug 07 | Comments: 19
Leah's hack would simplify craft time at our house considerably: Oilcloth tablecloths are excellent - they're durable, bright and wipe clean when the kids inevitably spill on them - but they slide around a lot. I put rubberized shelf liner...
Color code hot and cold water taps with nail polish21 Aug 07 | Comments: 14
Amazing how a little change can help kids get what they need on their own. Here's kittenpie's great idea: My girl understand that red=stop and green=go, so in the bathroom, I have painted (in nail polish for durability) a large...
Working with a one year-old's light switch obsession20 Aug 07 | Comments: 7
Kris's light switch hack keeps her son happy (for a while at least!): My one year old son is enthralled with being helpful by turning on and off the lights in every room when we enter or exit. The only...
Kid-friendly kitchens help even the youngest pitch in19 Aug 07 | Comments: 17
Heather wrote up a fantastic post on her blog, Oh My Stinkin Heck, about encouraging kids to help in the kitchen by making it more accessible to them. Really, the topic is much bigger than that -- it's about honoring...
Alarm clocks work for early-waking babies, too10 Aug 07 | Comments: 11
Lisa's hack is fascinating -- an incredible reminder that babies are capable of a lot more learning than we think: I read a hack not too long ago about a toddler (about 3 yrs., I think) that used to wake...
Clean the bathroom while your kid's in the tub09 Aug 07 | Comments: 5
Leslie's practical "get it all clean at once" hack: My hack came about as we were supposed to have someone come over for dinner and I really needed to clean the guest bathroom. But with two kids (18 months and...
Shower curtain as changing pad04 Aug 07 | Comments: 7
Another reason to never buy a changing table! From Sarah: When my first child was born, we had no changing table, or even a changing pad. So I sent my husband to the store for a changing pad, but they...
Martha Stewart (and staff): Parenthackers?04 Aug 07 | Comments: 7
There's a fine line between the hacker-ish DIYers and the stylish crafters. Case in point: the Martha Stewart Omnimedia folks got in touch to tell me about Good Things For Kids, a new special issue of on newsstands now. It's...
Presto Printing Mailbox: Send email and digital photos to offline relatives03 Aug 07 | Comments: 50
Grandpa wants regular updates and photos of the kids but doesn't have (or want) a computer or an Internet connection. How to bridge the generation/technology gap? Presto's solution is delightfully simple: plug a Presto Printing Mailbox in at Grandpa's house,...
Extra shower curtain rod as swimsuit drip-dryer03 Aug 07 | Comments: 11
A timely hack from the Hengst family: Put an extra shower curtain rod in your shower to hang wet towels and swimsuits from in the summertime. The water drips right into the shower and not on the floor. If you...
Can you clean a computer keyboard in the dishwasher? Talk amongst yourselves.01 Aug 07 | Comments: 27
Sally wonders (as do I): Slashdot had a story about a successful dishwasher sanitizing method for keyboards. Apparently, they have more bacteria than a toilet!!??!! But I’m not sending this to fuel the fears of the germ-o-phobic – I’m more...
How to keep kids in bed till wakeup time01 Aug 07 | Comments: 15
Father-to-be Keith has already started filing away parent hacks for future use! This one is sure to come in handy for these crazily early summer sunrises: To keep their little ones in bed until an appropriate time, some friends of...
Turn a large plastic storage container into a splashing pool31 Jul 07 | Comments: 12
Fun in the sun, with prolific blogger Sherry: Based on the hack for the water play set, I got inspired and went one step further. I live in an apartment building and though we have a courtyard, we don't have...
Easy cooking project: Homemade tortillas27 Jul 07 | Comments: 8
My kids both have an attraction to anything squishy. They love all of those stretchy, gel-like trinkets flooding the market, and all manner of playdough. When I can muster the patience, I pull out the flour, water, salt, baking soda,...
Snug-fitting foam plugs the gap between bed and wall19 Jul 07 | Comments: 7
Jonathan solved a the bed gap problem like this: After our 2 1/2 year old transitioned from a crib to a real bed, my wife and I started were woken up several times in the middle of the night with...
Egg coddler as baby food storage19 Jul 07 | Comments: 2
Erin's stylish and practical kitchen hack: We found our clear glass egg coddlers work well to store, heat and serve tiny portions of homemade baby food. Just pop them in a pan of hot water with mashed veggies instead of...
Getting your toddler to drink water17 Jul 07 | Comments: 18
Abel's found a clever way to encourage his son to drink water: My wife and I always have problems getting our 1.5 year-old son to drink water, especially from a sipper. But I have a method that has never failed...
Kids learn, work, and have fun at "Camp Mom"14 Jul 07 | Comments: 6
Look what veteran Parenthacker Jill and her kids are up to this summer: We've implemented "Camp Mom" here and I'm putting them thru the paces every morning. After breakfast they both do a work paper at the table (if I...
Fish tank net makes short work of cleaning debris out of wading pools12 Jul 07 | Comments: 8
Here's how Pam keeps the baby pool clean! I just purchased a fish net at my local dollar store - works great for cleaning out leaves and dead bugs from the babe's wading pool. Not as cheap as what you'd...
Mow "pathways" in the lawn12 Jul 07 | Comments: 10
Katherine's (neighbor's mother's) practical hack simplifies a relentless summertime garden chore: My neighbor told me that her mother used to keep the kids occupied while she was cutting the grass by first cutting some fun pathways and rooms in the...
Cut grapes into mini-bunches08 Jul 07 | Comments: 17
Discovered while preparing for my daughter's 4th birthday party (which I'm doing RIGHT NOW): When serving a bunch of grapes to a group of kids, cut it into "mini-bunches" of 5-8 grapes each, then pile them in a bowl. The...
Homemade stairway gate? Talk amongst yourselves.04 Jul 07 | Comments: 24
Katherine needs some Parenthacker ingenuity! I need help with a bottom of the stairs gate....and not just any stairs; these have a (thin!) metal banister (there is a wall along the other side). Ideally, we'd keep the gate open when...
Cut broom handles down for toddlers30 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
From uber-Parenthackers Sara and Ben: I was looking for a child size broom for J, but not having a lot of luck finding one that was affordable. Ben went to the grocery store, bought a cheap wisk broom with a...
Leave the glass out of a fancy wall frame for easy kid art swapping29 Jun 07 | Comments: 2
So simple, so smart. From Shannon of Babies Online: We hung a glassless fancy picture frame on the wall and swap artwork as it's brought home from school. It's a big hit with both kids and adults!
Where to stick the alphabet magnets with a stainless steel refrigerator?28 Jun 07 | Comments: 17
Whitney's tip: For those who have magnetic letters or other magnets, but have a stainless steel fridge to which no magnets stick, use the magnets on your washer/dryer, trash can, or oven, depending on if these things have exposed sides...
Uses for clothespins28 Jun 07 | Comments: 13
Paul says: Use spring clothespins to close up any bag you like (chips, cereal, etc.) Right! Why do we spend money on big plastic "chip clips" than never stay closed? We've used wooden clothespins for some cute craft projects. Amber...
Brush toddlers' teeth with two toothbrushes26 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
Here's how Becky avoids toothbrushing battles: I use two toothbrushes. One I give to my son so he can brush his teeth while I take the other one and brush his teeth at the same time. I used to let...
Use a dimmer switch in the nursery22 Jun 07 | Comments: 13
Rachel shares her love of light dimmers (a love I share): In our attempt to decorate the nursery on a budget, I kept fussing over the lamp decision. No lamp under $40 looked appropriate for a nursery. Finally, my father-in-law...
Reuse infant incline pillow when your toddler has a stuffy nose22 Jun 07 | Comments: 6
Kris found a good use for her baby's old crib wedge: When my son was an infant he had a major spitup problem, so we bought one of those foam incline pillows for the crib (they go under the sheet),...
Fun toilet cleaning? Use baking soda and vinegar!18 Jun 07 | Comments: 7
Proving once again that a Parenthacker can make anything interesting, Beth came up with some toilet-cleaning entertainment: Not quite a super trendy hack, but something I thought was pretty fun even for adults! I was researching some more earth friendly...
Ideas for reusing mini yogurt cups16 Jun 07 | Comments: 4
Reuse ideas from Amy (who must be a very busy mom with 1, 2, and 3 year-old kids!): I used to buy countless small paper cups to hold my kids' dry snacks since the portion size was perfect for their...
Modified paper cups as paint holders13 Jun 07 | Comments: 8
Liz's tip: I’ve found a great hack to keep our painting projects easy to clean up and manageable. When we get out the liquid paints for my 2 year old, I pour each color into a Dixie cup. The cups...
Let toddlers pour beverages over the open dishwasher door12 Jun 07 | Comments: 10
Rebecca prefaced this hack with, "I swear someone must have already sent this in, but just in case..." Yet again, a tip one parent figures everyone else knows and I find myself slapping my forehead at her brilliance! When kidlets...
Clothespin keeps onesie flaps from dropping into the toilet11 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
Barbara shares a "very tiny" hack that solves a very big problem: Here is a very tiny hack: My two-year old son wants to sit on the toilet a lot and he still wears those onesies that button between the...
Essential "dangerous" skills for boys and girls? Talk amongst yourselves.11 Jun 07 | Comments: 69
Silly me! I've got a perfectly lovely copy of The Dangerous Book For Boys sitting here waiting to fly into the hands of one lucky Parenthacker! My intention was to give it away in conjunction with my interview with author...
How to tie knots in balloons without sacrificing your fingers09 Jun 07 | Comments: 3
Here's how Lisa kept her digits intact during a marathon balloon-knotting session: Our children’s elementary school puts on a BBQ Fun Day that uses 1,000 air balloons. I volunteered to blow up 200 balloons. I knew that my fingers would...
Interview with "Dangerous Boys" author Conn Iggulden06 Jun 07 | Comments: 7
By all accounts, The Dangerous Book for Boys is a hit. The book has been all over the Internet (there's even a YouTube "preview"!), and made a showing on The Colbert Report. I reviewed the book last month, and, from...
Preventing kids from locking interior doors05 Jun 07 | Comments: 17
Melanie's simple-but-powerful hack for keeping doors unlocked: When we moved into our new apartment, the doors all had those knobs that lock from the inside by pushing in and turning. Envisioning our children locking themselves into the bathroom or their...
Store small bath toys in suction cup shower baskets04 Jun 07 | Comments: 7
Michelle's solution for bath toy storage: I don't know if I'm the only one, but I find those mesh bags for bath toy storage really annoying. Yes, they let the toys drip dry, but the toys get all caught up...
Meta-scrapbooking: Save pictures of your kids doing art projects23 May 07 | Comments: 3
Katharine's hack is space-saving and wise: My 7 month-old son is in daycare and they have been sending home a few little arts and crafts things as of late. I love to scrapbook and make commemorative things for my son...
Via Toy Box: Toy storage they won't outgrow22 May 07 | Comments: 3
Just yesterday, a company I'd never heard of, Via Toy Box, booked a small ad on Parent Hacks (see it right there in the right-hand sidebar?). I always visit potential advertisers before I accept their ads, and I was immediately...
The "random play" button makes kiddie music more bearable20 May 07 | Comments: 5
Kathy's found the best use I can think of for the "Random Play" button on the CD player: have a fourteen month-old who loves music and has just begun to dance, and prefers a few of the children's nursery rhymes...
Kid-friendly chilled water dispenser19 May 07 | Comments: 7
Loraine's helping her daughter help herself to a drink of water: Our fridge doesn't have a water dispenser built in. As our baby grew into a preschooler, I soon realized our folly when I saw how easy it was for...
Movie adaptation of children's books? Talk amongst yourselves.19 May 07 | Comments: 11
Margaret says: Sarah and I watched this great adaptation of The Secret Garden (directed by Albert Grint with a Colin Firth cameo at the end!). I'm sure there's lots of other adaptations of children's books out there that are done...
Send your used toys to children in Iraq17 May 07 | Comments: 6
Updated 8/07: The toy drive is back on! Two of Edmay's comrades have taken over her role, and are accepting toy donations. send your donations to: Michael Fellenz or Natalie Sudman USACE-GRS APO-AE 09331 7/30/07 update: Edmay's toy drive is...
Just moved? Double-check the screws on self-assembled furniture16 May 07 | Comments: 3
Gretchen offers extremely important advice for families who've just relocated: We've finally dug out from the mountain of boxes from our move, and have found that the screws on a lot of our furniture managed to back themselves loose during...
Gardening hack: Pay kids a penny per weed14 May 07 | Comments: 15
Future Parenthacker Adam (that's how he signed the email!) brought back childhood memories of hot afternoons spent weeding: We don't have kids yet, but my wife and I both experienced this hack as children and intend to use it ourselves...
Plastic clothes hangers prevent door slamming12 May 07 | Comments: 3
More low-tech babyproofing, this time from Erika: Our kids - 3yrs and 16 months - love to slam and close doors. This often was resulting in pinching, banging and little ones locked in rooms they didn't want to be in....
Pre-portion ice cream into paper muffin cups09 May 07 | Comments: 7
Atlanta Jill made quick work of the ice cream service at a recent birthday party: We had a birthday party, and I remembered my neighbor's ice cream hack. She scoops it out into muffin cups the day before the party. ...
Baby furniture tip: will toys roll underneath?08 May 07 | Comments: 8
Elizabeth thought to write down a piece of advice that every parent should hear about nursery and kid's furniture: I just have to warn parents to be if they are going furniture shopping before the baby is born to look...
Protect your floors with birthday party tablecloths06 May 07 | Comments: 1
Latia's found a use for those throwaway birthday party tablecloths: I save the thin, cheap, plastic character tablecloths from my kid's birthday party to protect the floor and other areas. I cut one tablecloth into three different sizes: one to...
Shoe organizer in the coat closet keeps gloves and accessories within reach04 May 07 | Comments: 8
Tracy's hack works just as well for warm weather accessories: sunglasses, caps, swim goggles... How to keep gloves, scarves, hats, dog leashes easy to find? Hang a shoe organizer on the inside of your coat closet door. Assign a row...
Less laundry detergent still gets clothes clean04 May 07 | Comments: 15
Michael's sensible laundry tip: This one helps the budget and the planet all in one. The recommended scoop (or squirt) size for laundry detergent is far too much. Identical cleaning results can be obtained with 1/3 the suggested amount. You'd...
Bathroom faucet-turned-drinking fountain works as an eye wash03 May 07 | Comments: 0
Kip's hackworthy home improvement tip: Seeing a similar item in BoingBoing reminded me that we got a little gizmo from Bed Bath & Beyond that turns a sink tap into a drinking fountain (while still letting you use it as...
No highchair? Belt 'em in!02 May 07 | Comments: 1
Here's Jodi's makeshift highchair stand-in: We were at a childless friend's for dinner and we needed a way to keep him in one spot while we ate (without the blitz-eating-parent-tradeoff). We didn't have our pack 'n' play, or his booster...
Get paper under control with 3-ring binders01 May 07 | Comments: 3
Louise's paper organizing secret: View binders (3-ring binders with a clear vinyl overlay on the covers) are an organizing favorite. I use them for organizing everything from my Christmas information, notes and ideas, to the appliance manuals and receipts, to...
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...
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...
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...
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)....
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,...
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...
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,...
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...
'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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Teach babies to drink out of a Dixie cup31 Mar 07 | Comments: 8
SourPatch's cup-learning hack: I’ve been teaching my 14 month-old to drink with a cup all by himself (crazy me, didn’t think to introduce him to a cup until he was past one year old). He’s adept at drinking without spilling...
Use a dry erase board for the family grocery list29 Mar 07 | Comments: 14
Stu (who's now one of the editors of GNM Parents -- did you know that?), took some of the guesswork out of grocery shopping for older kids: I was having trouble getting my kids to go to the market with...
Kiddio audio "adventures" a good complement to audiobooks29 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
We're so busy playing music around here that I often forget just how much my kids love other types of audio entertainment. We've listened to several StoryNory stories and enjoyed them immensely, but I've never searched out any other options....
Home decorating for real people: HomeAndTell24 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Christine, co-founder of HomeAndTell, wrote to me in response to Megan's and Leah's wonderful habitat hacks. I like the site because it extends the same "real world" approach we celebrate on Parent Hacks to home decorating. Who hasn't flipped through...
Vinyl placemat as sticker repository22 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
From my SXSW buddy Sara (such luck that she lives in Austin!): So my husband Ben and I are prolific ParentHackers, but it seems our daughter J. (almost 2) has also inherited the gene. Unprompted by either of us she...
GeekDad launches as part of Wired Blogs22 Mar 07 | Comments: 0
GeekDad -- Wired Editor in Chief Chris Anderson's group blog devoted to "nerdy stuff you can do with your kids" -- is the newest addition to Wired Blogs. A year ago today I posted about Chris's plans for GeekDad, so...
Quickly reheat cold noodles with hot water21 Mar 07 | Comments: 8
Pour hot water over refrigerated noodles to quickly de-stick them and warm them up to kid temperature. Works better and faster than the microwave. Also works well to "de-sauce" pasta for picky eaters. Related: Cool down hot pasta with cold...
Add a homemade "alarm" to your bedroom door20 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
An interesting twist on babyproofing (kid-proofing, really), from Leah: I am a parent of a five year-old who is blind and nonverbal, but much sneakier than you might think. As we live in an apartment, we needed a cheap and...
Fashion a no-build "closet" out of a curtain rod and a bookshelf19 Mar 07 | Comments: 6
Megan's brilliant space-saving clothing storage hack, which I may put to use in my daughter's room: My bedroom serves as the nursery and is also quite low on dresser space. I use a bookshelf with one of the shelves removed...
LED faucet light "changes water color" when too hot18 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Stormy, Shelley, and Michael all wrote to me about this water temperature gadget at ThinkGeek: I'm not sure how much of a hack this is as it requires buying a gadget - but for us gadget lovers, that's never a...
Turn a styrofoam package insert into a make-believe castle17 Mar 07 | Comments: 0
A few toothpicks and Post-it notes turn the styrofoam insulation from a computer carton into a fanciful castle wall. Can't you imagine the archers stationed, ready to fire, and a fire-breathing dragon patrolling the moat?
Alphabet cookie cutters create delicious learning opportunities14 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
It's all about the alphabet this week. Here's Rosemary's twist on literacy fun: In a recent attempt to get my son interested in reading (he is a super busy rough & tumble boy) I have found a great tool. Alphabet...
Double-wrapped diapers help the Diaper Champ do its job13 Mar 07 | Comments: 28
Emily valiantly attempts to fight the battle of the diaper pail: We've been using the Diaper Champ since my daughter was born 18 months ago. We chose this diaper pail over the Diaper Genie because it uses regular garbage bags...
Use fridge magnets to boost your kid's vocabulary13 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Michelle at Scribbit uses fridge magnets for a higher purpose: When my oldest was five I used our refrigerator magnets to showcase a Word of the Week. With the definition nearby on an index card the idea was to reward...
Chore systems for kids who can't yet read? Talk amongst yourselves.12 Mar 07 | Comments: 11
Leanne of Momcast wonders: My son is four and he's getting very helpful. I want to formalize some chores for him with a reward system to introduce concepts like family responsibility, work for remuneration, money and savings. But, he's pre-literate,...
Pool noodle as lightweight toddler bed rail11 Mar 07 | Comments: 5
kittenpie came up with another use for swim noodles: If you have a kid who might roll a bit in bed at night, but is not too active a sleeper, you can skip the guardrail and tuck a pool noodle...
Use blue painter's tape to babyproof a hotel room10 Mar 07 | Comments: 7
Kristin's eminently practical travel babyproofing hack: Not quite sure why I didn't send this in when I first had the brain spark, but we realized too late that our trip to China to pick up our son would have been...
iTouchless deal at Amazon nets you a free flashlight08 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
If you've been eyeing the hands-free trash can in my "Things We like" sidebar (review here), it's on sale now at Amazon. Amazon's also running a special on other iTouchless products including the Forever Last Flashlight that uses no batteries...you...
Zipsheets simplify changing crib sheets08 Mar 07 | Comments: 18
One piece of newborn nursery advice I'm glad I ignored was the suggestion to buy an innerspring crib mattress as opposed to a firm foam mattress. Have you ever tried to lift an innerspring mattress? Foam is much lighter making...
"Chore board" helps postpartum visitors help you07 Mar 07 | Comments: 6
During those first few weeks with a new baby, here's how Mieke helped her visitors help her: Notice how everybody wants to come by and offers to help but you end up having to do *more* rather than *less* because...
Art for the non-crafty01 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Over at In the Trenches of Motherhood, Chris is talking about the difference between "arts" and "crafts," and why both have a place in her family. Her post reminded me that my non-crafty gene need not discourage artistic exploration in...
Browse Craigslist photos with Listpic27 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
Craigslist addicts rejoice! Ryan Sit has hacked together Listpic, a Craigslist photo viewer that lets you visually browse your city's listings. You can browse an entire category (here's how Portland's Baby + kids category looks) or you can search by...
OXO Good Grips hacks the mango27 Feb 07 | Comments: 20
We're mango lovers around here, but I often end up wasting half the fruit trying to properly cut it into slabs for my kids to eat. I discovered this clever gadget at the grocery store yesterday: the Oxo Good Grips...
Birthday party keepsake: an autographed photo mat26 Feb 07 | Comments: 5
Liz, of Mom-101 and Cool Mom Picks fame, made this simple keepsake for her daughter's first birthday party: Buy a cheap photo mat, put photo of the birthday girl or boy inside, and leave a felt pen or marker for...
Sheepskin as cozy stroller liner25 Feb 07 | Comments: 5
STL Mom has lots of good ideas, but this one popped up in the comments of Hot water bottle as stroller warmer, and I wanted to be sure everyone saw it: I received a sheepskin at a baby shower, but...
Water houseplants with leftover bottled water24 Feb 07 | Comments: 19
From the So Obvious I Can't Believe I'm Writing This Down file: I'm fine with tap water (especially with the help of my beloved Brita filter pitcher), but my husband is a devoted bottled water drinker. The kids, too, like...
Win a YoonKid from Cool Mom Picks21 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
Discovered today at the lovely and talented Cool Mom Picks: YoonKids -- adorable, customized wall art depicting girls in all sorts of cool roles such as astronomer, reader, and and guitarist. Get over there today for a chance to win...
Clean your wood floor with disposable diapers21 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Here's how Farah of shopping site SheFindsMom used up extra disposables: I have a great way to clean up wooden floors. I use diapers--clean ones, of course. (I still get a bunch in the mail from Huggies for some reason...
"Scrub" toothbrushes and toys with denture cleanser tablets21 Feb 07 | Comments: 8
Soni ("A devoted, albeit child-free, reader") offers this cleaning advice: To clean toothbrushes, I put them in a clean pasta sauce jar or some other container where I can cover them with hot water, drop in a denture cleaning tablet...
What are your "secret ingredients" for a quick, home-cooked dinner? Talk amongst yourselves.20 Feb 07 | Comments: 31
Sara's meat soup recipe caused her to wonder what other people's "secret ingredients" are. Hers are: Muir Glen Fire Roasted Tomatoes, bagged fresh spinach, frozen half-baked bread (La Brea makes some, but I've started seeing generic brands in the grocery...
Clock radio hack encourages kids to sleep later17 Feb 07 | Comments: 6
Here's how Susanne conditioned her early-riser to stay in bed a little longer: This worked wonders with our early-rising son, though your mileage may vary. When our son was two or three, he had the maddening habit of awakening between...
Getting kids cooking17 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
We've got the kids' cookbooks covered...what next? Dori Young of Kids Cooking offers this advice if you're not sure where to begin: I feel that your kitchen is the ideal setting to teach and learn. Kids respond to learning through...
Playing in the snow...in the bathtub15 Feb 07 | Comments: 7
Snow play! Without all the bundling! From Colleen: There is something to be said for playing in the snow. From the mouth of my mom, “Kids need fresh air every day”. But thinking about dressing the kids to go play...
Mrs. Meyer's Dish Soap: all natural and prevents "dishpan hands"15 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
Rebecca's hack reminded me of an old commercial for dishwashing liquid that fascinated me as a kid. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what "dishpan hands" might look like. As parents of a 4 month-old who is...
Gardening with kids: getting started15 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
The crocuses are just starting to peek out of the soil, and suddenly my kids are dying to get their hands in the dirt. The timing couldn't be better for the great post at Z Recommends about how to cultivate...
Your picks for the best cookbooks for kids14 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
I never knew there was such an array of kids' cookbooks out there! Thank you for sharing your favorites, along with some great stories and memories of your own childhood cooking experiences. I also appreciated that several of you forgo...
Baby food jars as hardware containers14 Feb 07 | Comments: 15
Speaking of reusing food containers...Ted's hack reminded me of the million-odd bottles of random hardware bits scattered across my dad's garage. My dad is well-known for NEVER throwing anything away. He's even got a few baby food jars in there,...
Soft-close toilet seat prevents slamming13 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
Did you know there is such a thing as a soft-close toilet seat? No more SLAM SLAM SLAM (especially in a house with a few kids), and little fingers are safer, too. Great for those who are potty training, when...
Favorite kids' cookbook? Talk amongst yourselves.13 Feb 07 | Comments: 44
My daughter is expressing a keen interest in cooking, and I'm finding myself rifling though my cookbooks looking for simple recipes she and I can follow together. I'm a big fan of Mollie Katzen's cookbooks for kids: Pretend Soup, Salad...
Turn valentines into placemats13 Feb 07 | Comments: 9
From Heather: As kids, my brother and I would take our stacks of valentines from our school parties and turn them into a holiday placemat by arranging them between two sheets of clear contact paper. We did the same thing...
Make your own foaming dishwashing detergent12 Feb 07 | Comments: 7
Lisa extended Kirsten's foaming hand soap hack to include dishwashing: I recently saw a TV ad for Dawn Direct Foam -- it seems to be the exact same thing as foaming hand soap only with dishwashing detergent [Are you sure,...
Soft rope "lowers" stairway banister for toddlers10 Feb 07 | Comments: 11
My friends are getting used to me prowling around their houses with my camera phone exclaiming, "Hey! That's a parent hack!" This time, it was some low-tech babyproofing in the form of a length of soft rope tied to the...
Single-serve Danino yogurt cups as toddler bowls09 Feb 07 | Comments: 17
From what I can tell, Danino yogurt is only available in Canada. If so, Canadian readers: this one's for you! (But I've got a universal "Talk amongst yourselves: at the end of this post.) From Jeff: My hack is a...
How to color rice07 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Chris (In the Trenches of Motherhood) explains how to color dry, white rice. Why? To transform it into playstuff for tactile indoor fun. Tags: Crafts, Parenting
Glade Scented Oil Light Show makes a good nightlight06 Feb 07 | Comments: 8
Kristine found that a little nighttime entertainment prompted her son to stay in bed: Glade Scented Oil Light Show is a great night light - especially if you leave the scented oil container off. Simply plug it in, and it'll...
Nursing pads make good glass and granite cleaners31 Jan 07 | Comments: 13
Jodi found a use for her