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Category archive: saving money
07 May 08 | Comments: 6
Cris's tip for helping encourage a lifelong love of books: I was given a tip that kids need the opportunity to choose their own books, rather than always reading what we think they would like. For some reason, my daughter...
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....
Amazon diaper deal: $20 off with a $99 Pampers or Luvs order02 May 08 | Comments: 2
I've been waiting for the Amazon diaper promotion to return! Through May, if you spend $99 on select Pampers or Luvs products , you'll get $20 off a future purchase at Amazon. Read the fine print -- that $20 off...
Tissue-stuffed Dixie cup stops baby boys' "geyser" fun01 May 08 | Comments: 10
Hacker Daddy Dave offers a homemade alternative to the Pee Pee Teepee: When he was younger, my son loved peeing straight up into the air when I had him undressed on the changing table. Fun for him, not for me....
InfantSEE: Free Vision Screening for Infants01 May 08 | Comments: 10
In 2006, I took my 12 month old son for vision screening. My husband, despite a childhood of good pediatric health care, is one of the adults who wasn't diagnosed for lazy eye until after the age of treatment. Though...
Flip Ultra Camcorder $47 cheaper today only (another Amazon deal)30 Apr 08 | Comments: 6
I try to share only the most relevant Amazon deals here (this isn't Amazon Hacks after all) -- but I had to let you know about today's one-day deal: the adorable Flip Ultra Video Camcorder is 26% off ($132.99). The...
Amazon Kelty KIDS sale: 20% (or more) off child carriers and accessories29 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
Amazon's really wants to outfit you for your summertime adventures -- their annual Kelty KIDS sale is going on now. I see a good selection of backpack child carriers and accessories and some nice-looking diaper backpacks and duffels (some of...
Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's is tomorrow!28 Apr 08 | Comments: 4
They're handing out free ice cream cones at Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops tomorrow. It should be a national holiday.
Amazon Friday sale 4/25/08: Fitness ball, swim diapers, Victorinox25 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
Parenthacker-friendly picks in today's packed Amazon Friday sale : More Huggies Little Swimmers disposable swim diapers (size Small, 16-24 lbs, two 12-count packages) for $14.99 (25% off). Lots of Parenthackers have talked about how versatile a fitness ball can be...
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...
No-cook "tortilla chips" are a great toddler snack16 Apr 08 | Comments: 2
Rachel's come up with a way to turn those singleton tortillas into a relatively mess-free, portable toddler snack: I'm always having trouble coming up with enticing snacks for my 16 mo. old that aren't sugary and/or a choking hazard. A...
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...
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...
Reusable shopping bags make "green" gift bags07 Apr 08 | Comments: 14
Keep Monera's hack in mind the next time you shop for a birthday party gift: I hate buying bags for gifts to go in -- it seems like such a waste to buy a bag that will be thrown away...
Amazon Friday Sale: Huggies Overnites04 Apr 08 | Comments: 0
For the potty training among you, Huggies Overnites (Step 4, 22-37 lbs., pack of 31 diapers) have showed up in today's Amazon Friday sale for $10.49 per package.
Up to 50% off Kids and Family DVDs at Amazon01 Apr 08 | Comments: 2
Amazon's having a great Kids and Family DVD sale ...and not just the duds that you wouldn't consider buying! I found several favorites in the mix: Mrs. Doubtfire (PG-13 with some mature themes, but SO funny and a great conversation...
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...
Let new eaters sample foods from the salad bar24 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
Jill's found a great place to introduce her baby to new foods: the salad bar. If you have a picky eater, or even just a new eater, and you're sick of throwing away food because you don't know which fruits...
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...
Straightening iron flattens curly bangs so you can trim them at home20 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Rednexmama came up with an excellent haircut hack: I refuse to spend $10 just to get my daughter's bangs cut, but it can be more than a little challenging since she has naturally curly hair and it's next to impossible...
Free address labels are fun play stickers, too17 Mar 08 | Comments: 2
Why is it that anything self-adhesive is fun to play with? Lisa's found a good way to put junk mail to work: My two daughters (2 & 4) love stickers. They go through them faster than the grandparents can buy...
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).
Free bath toys await in your toybox, kitchen, and garage09 Mar 08 | Comments: 14
The ever-resourceful Heather has a great bath toy hack: New bath toys make bath time more fun for everyone, but how do you get them without spending a dime? Look around your house and you'll be surprised by all the...
Swiss Army knife sale at Amazon07 Mar 08 | Comments: 5
Nothing in today's Amazon Friday sale strikes me as particularly Parent Hackerish. But given that the Swiss Army knife was the inspiration for the Parent Hacks logo (and a good gadget to have in your Parenthacker arsensal), I thought you...
Puffy paints make socks non-slip06 Mar 08 | Comments: 6
Marie in Alaska deals with cold tootsies much of the year. She's found an economical way to make her son's socks slip-free: When my toddler started walking, the kitchen floor became a slipping danger. We live in Alaska and it...
Britax sale at Amazon ends today02 Mar 08 | Comments: 0
Amazon's Britax sale ends today -- up to 20% off "rarely discounted" car seats and strollers.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Tips for RV travel with kids? Talk amongst yourselves.30 Jan 08 | Comments: 8
Tiffany asks: We plan to rent an RV to travel with our 4 yr old and 7 yr old during Spring Break this year. Beyond your typical travel tips (we've traveled quite a bit in their little lives), I would...
Threadbanger shows you how to turn an old sweatshirt into a cozy baby bundler27 Jan 08 | Comments: 8
Dare I say it? Anyone with a sewing machine could make this nifty zip-uppable "pod."
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...
Best of Parent Hacks: Keeping warm during the winter17 Jan 08 | Comments: 2
The weather outside is still frightful, so I thought it might be nice to dig through the archives for some of our best cold weather tips: Polar fleece makes crib extra cozy Shoe organizer in the coat closet keeps gloves...
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...
Discount calendars make good art supplies15 Jan 08 | Comments: 0
Joe and Cathy say: grab up those clearance-priced calendars! My wife discovered a great parenting hack: By this time of January, novelty desk calendars are deeply discounted - like, $2 each. Some of these are a great source of inexpensive...
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...
Easy diluted juice: freeze juice into cubes first11 Jan 08 | Comments: 7
Emily's "juice cube" tip is a slight variation on a hack we published about a year ago, but I thought it was worth revisiting as Emily adds the dilution twist: My daughter is only 9 months-old and doesn't drink that...
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...
Make detangling more fun (less unfun?) by turning it into a game08 Jan 08 | Comments: 14
Ah, the joys of detangling long hair. Here's how Amy manages the tresses: Both my girls have long hair. One has long, blonde locks with an ultra-sensitive head, and the other has very curly, red hair and just doesn't like...
Salvage batteries when weeding out old toys21 Dec 07 | Comments: 5
I had a DUH moment when reading Duane's hack and realizing how many perfectly good batteries I've thrown away: If you're like us, part of the approaching holiday season is weeding out the older toys to make room. Before you...
Huggies deals at Amazon17 Dec 07 | Comments: 1
If you're a Huggies devotee, Amazon's got some good deals going, including an even bigger discount if you sign up for Subscribe & Save . Through December 31, 2007, they're offering 20% off the everyday price (it's usually 15%, plus...
Amazon holiday ordering cutoffs for last-minute shoppers16 Dec 07 | Comments: 0
Ahhhh. My holiday gift-giving is all done -- we celebrate Hanukkah, which ended last week. So I have the pleasure of completely sidestepping the craziness that is brick-and-mortar shopping during the next ten days. If you're avoiding the crowds by...
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 --...
Scaling down holiday gift-giving14 Dec 07 | Comments: 14
Katrina shares how her family pared down the holiday gift exchange: We've simplified our holidays greatly by informing our kids that Santa only brings one present to them. They only ask for one present from Santa and it is well...
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...
"Cookie of the Month Club" makes a great holiday gift10 Dec 07 | Comments: 7
I love Heather's idea for simplifying holiday gift-giving: This year, we are trying to find the perfect gift to give those who have everything. It can't be too expensive, too hard to travel with, and we want it to somehow...
Britax Parkway booster seat 30% off at today's Amazon Friday sale07 Dec 07 | Comments: 4
I'm a big fan of Britax car seats -- they're well-made and comfortable, but they're also expensive. Nice to see the Britax Parkway booster seat pop up in today's Amazon Friday Sale . It's 30% off ($69.99) today only.
Extend the life of outgrown dresses as tops and tunics07 Dec 07 | Comments: 3
B said this about her thrifty, wardrobe-extending hack: "I thought this one was fairly obvious but I've gotten stopped by other mothers in stores recently so maybe I'm onto something..." I re-use my daughter's dresses as shirts or tunics or...
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...
Free art supplies: Paint color chips from the home improvement store28 Nov 07 | Comments: 16
[Note: When I first posted this hack, I mistakenly thought Andi was talking about actual paint samples, but several readers pointed out she was referring to paint chips, the colorful cards that display different paint colors. Sorry about the mixup....
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...
Amazon formula rebate ends this Friday27 Nov 07 | Comments: 5
Just a reminder that Amazon's deal on Similac, Isomil and PediaSure products ends Friday, 11/30. The deal: spend $119 on selected products, enter the code SIMNOV07 at checkout, and get an instant $20 rebate (and free shipping).
Uses for old mustard and ketchup bottles24 Nov 07 | Comments: 2
Ashley rescued the mustard and ketchup bottles from the recycling bin: If you wash them really well, empty mustard and ketchup bottles make great bathtub squirt toys. If you use powdered tempera paint, they also make great dispensers! Related: Don't...
Stockpile gift cards for the new baby's arrival15 Nov 07 | Comments: 3
Here's how Ana saved up for her baby's arrival: When we were expecting our first child, we knew we had to get prepared, but there's always that apprehension of getting too prepared in case something changes at the last minute....
Paint swimsuits on naked dress-up dolls12 Nov 07 | Comments: 7
Making old toys feel new again -- always a great hack. From Sarah: Some plastic dress-up dolls I bought for my daughter only came with one outfit, and there are no others available through the manufacturer. I get tired of...
Amazon deal: Half Century of Hits DVD sale12 Nov 07 | Comments: 0
Amazon's got a clever promotion going on now: the "Half century of hits" DVD sale . Movies from every decade from the 50s till now, including classics we grew up with (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Planet of the Apes --...
Use excess Halloween candy as cookie ingredients08 Nov 07 | Comments: 8
Excess Halloween candy. Is there any other kind? Jeff's hack won't exactly reduce the sugar consumption in your house, but perhaps you can bake up a few batches and freeze them for the holidays? Or foist them on your coworkers?...
Create a visual inventory of kid clothing purchases07 Nov 07 | Comments: 4
I was stunned by the Linda's smarts on this one: I like to shop online for great bargains on clothes for my kids at the end of each season and put things away for next year. However, in the thrill...
Amazon deal: $20 instant rebate on formula04 Nov 07 | Comments: 3
Amazon's got a new deal on for Similac, Isomil and PediaSure products : spend $119 on selected products, enter the code SIMNOV07 at checkout, and get an instant $20 rebate (and free shipping). As someone who used to buy PediaSure...
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...
Expand the dress-up wardrobe with discounted Halloween costumes01 Nov 07 | Comments: 0
Rather than raid the dress-up bin for Halloween, Wendy raids the after-Halloween sales for the dress-up bin! Great setup for future costume swaps, too. My 3 year-old daughter loves playing dress-up, but we only have a couple of items. I've...
$10 instant rebate on health bars ends today31 Oct 07 | Comments: 10
In case you're looking to offset the candy consumption (or are a bulk buyer of health bars), Amazon's offering a $10 instant rebate on selected Clif, Luna, Odwalla, Larabar, and Probar bars The deal ends today: buy $39 worth, and...
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...
Keep that maternity jacket! Fits perfectly when your baby's in a front carrier.23 Oct 07 | Comments: 7
Doesn't really matter if the baby's on the inside or the outside, does it? From Cathy of Chief Family Officer: This seems like a pretty obvious idea so it may have come up before, but it was new to me...
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...
Amazon Friday sale: Skip*Hop Stroller Saddle Bag12 Oct 07 | Comments: 13
This nifty saddle bag attaches to your stroller for extra storage. Note handy mesh bottle pocket on the side. It's on sale at Amazon today only for $12.99 (it's usually $34). Looks like something I would have used during my...
Elimination Communication: what's it like to go diaper-free? Talk amongst yourselves.10 Oct 07 | Comments: 29
Despite most of our basic parenting assumptions, diapers aren't a given. People all over the world have guided babies through the toilet learning process with nary a Huggie in sight. Call it what you will -- Elimination Communication (EC), the...
How to switch from disposable to cloth diapers? Talk amongst yourselves.09 Oct 07 | Comments: 63
My previous post about the impending Huggies price increase begs the question: why not just opt out of disposables altogether? Why not switch to cloth diapers? I have no bias toward a particular diaper choice; as with most parenting decisions,...
Huggies and Pull-Ups price increase in Q1 200809 Oct 07 | Comments: 8
Good timing on the money-saving post about using Amazon Subscriptions for diaper and wipes orders; turns out early next year Kimberly-Clark plans to increase prices by 4-7% on baby care items, including Huggies diapers, Pull-Ups , and Goodnites . So...
Never run out of diapers again: Amazon Subscriptions05 Oct 07 | Comments: 6
Michael uses Amazon Subscriptions to save money on diapers AND desperate last-minute trips to the store: I’m relatively new to Parent Hacks (and parenting for that matter)… but we have started using Amazon Subscriptions for ordering wipes and diapers….we have...
More good toy deals to be had at Amazon right now03 Oct 07 | Comments: 1
Amazon's got some good deals on toys right now, so if you're the stockpile-the-holiday-gifts type, it's worth a visit. A few of my favorites, all on sale for over 50% off: Brilliant Basics Ready Steady Rider: That thing isn't tipping...
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...
Kettler Supertrike on super sale28 Sep 07 | Comments: 1
Awesome Kettler Kiddi-o tricycle on sale at Amazon...for who knows how long? Via WantNot.
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
Arrange groceries in the cart so cold and frozen items get bagged together21 Sep 07 | Comments: 20
Teri's good-thinking grocery hack: When I go grocery shopping with my toddler, I keep the cold or frozen items together in the cart and at checkout. That way, I end up with nicely sorted "cold" bags. (The items keep each...
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...
Cheapass Games: For the true cheapass, they're free19 Sep 07 | Comments: 6
Another Rael find! Cheapass Games -- imaginative, simply-produced board, dice, and card games (and even a few computer games). From the site: Cheapass Games come with the bare essentials: boards, cards, and rulebooks. If you need anything else, we'll tell...
LibraryLookup makes searching your local library easier than ever18 Sep 07 | Comments: 4
My bookshelves and wallet have begun to groan under the weight of our book buying habit, so I'm making a point of using the library. I'm fortunate that my county's library has a wonderful online lookup system, but my smart...
Britax car seats on sale (and free shipping) at Amazon14 Sep 07 | Comments: 7
I just noticed that Britax car seats (the brand I've sworn by for years) are on sale at BabyUniverse through Amazon. 12% off regular prices, and shipping is free. They're expensive, but in my experience they're studier and more stable...
Use bread bags for diaper disposal14 Sep 07 | Comments: 6
Nicole says: I use old bread bags for putting dirty diapers in. They're the perfect size. I used to use (note past tense! HOORAY!) the plastic bags that covered my morning newspaper. Related: Diaper pail management
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...
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...
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...
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...
Special for Parenthackers: Swap stuff at Zwaggle23 Jul 07 | Comments: 10
Ryan very thoughtfully included all us Parenthackers in an invitation to use Zwaggle! I haven't tried it myself, but it looks fascinating, especially during summer clear-out mode. Thank you, Ryan! There's a cool website, zwaggle.com, and using points instead of...
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...
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...
Takeout containers as small bits organizers03 Jul 07 | Comments: 7
Mary's found a good use for empty takeout containers: I don't know when Chinese restaurants became my "Tupperware" hookup, but takeout has been coming in much better containers lately. My favorites are these rectangular plastic containers with clear lids that...
Free entertainment: the pet store02 Jul 07 | Comments: 21
Sherry's easy toddler outing: Perhaps others might not think this idea rocks quite as much as I do, but I have 19 month-old twins and finding fun and reasonably-priced things to do with two curious toddlers is tough. Some places,...
Telephone books as scribble material02 Jul 07 | Comments: 9
Irene's found a great use for all those unused copies of the Yellow Pages: I'm always amazed at the number of phone books that get delivered to my door. I have a nice place in my kitchen to store them...
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...
Use Lunapads postpartum to save money and resources24 Jun 07 | Comments: 14
Lunapads are washable, reusable menstrual products -- the feminine hygiene equivalent of cloth diapers. I've had several friends tell me how wonderful they are in terms of comfort and value, and then Kelly wrote in saying how useful they'd be...
Styrofoam castle hack in this month's Parents Magazine21 Jun 07 | Comments: 4
My styrofoam castle hack appears in a blurb in this month's Parents magazine! (That's a package insert, toothpicks, and some Post-It notes, by the way.)
Underwear packaging makes ideal flash card storage21 Jun 07 | Comments: 6
So many products come with promising outer packaging -- I'm thinking sheets and larger bed linens. Sharon came up with a good use for the thick plastic packaging in which underwear is sold: I love to find new uses for...
Maxi pad as disposable diaper "extender"19 Jun 07 | Comments: 20
Brilliant. From Shauna: My son wakes up soaked - jammies, sheets and all - EVERY morning. We've tried all sorts of ideas, but nothing worked. Finally, I lined his diaper with a heavy absorbency maxi-pad - and it works! I...
Replacing car headphones less expensively18 Jun 07 | Comments: 5
Craig's money-saving tip: This maybe a premature tip (and I don't know if this is a 'hack' per se), but you know those wireless headphones used in minivans and SUVs and such? Well, when our boys broke a couple of...
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...
Preview family movies without sitting through (or paying for) them twice23 May 07 | Comments: 5
Just in time for the summer movie season, inconsequentia's hack for checking out movies before taking the kiddies: We've long been looking for a way to check out some aspects of certain films before deciding whether to take the children...
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...
Strawberry basket as bubble blower17 May 07 | Comments: 3
It's strawberry AND bubble season! From Serrina: New hack, courtesy of Pat in my office. Pat just gave me a bunch of old green strawberry baskets. Dip them into a plate of bubble solution and swing them in the air...
Newborn diapers: more economical than doll diapers17 May 07 | Comments: 3
For all the little parents-in-training, from Amanda: If your kid wants doll diapers (6 for $5 at Target), buy a 40-pack of newborn diapers for just a dollar more. They fit stuffed animals and baby dolls just fine (and are...
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...
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...
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...
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...
How to organize your gift cards27 Apr 07 | Comments: 7
Rookie Mom Heather (who's not so much of a rookie anymore!) uses Sharpies in her gift card organizing scheme: oh, isn't it wonderful to get a $100 gift card at old navy or a $10 gift card at starbucks? yes,...
Seventh Generation diaper deal ends Monday26 Apr 07 | Comments: 0
If you're a fan of Seventh Generation diapers and wipes, stock up at Amazon -- their $20 instant rebate off $99 worth ends Monday.
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...
Today is Ben and Jerry's Free Cone Day!17 Apr 07 | Comments: 2
Your taxes are wending their way to the IRS, and you deserve a reward. Scoop up the kids and take them to the local Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop for a free cone between noon and 8pm. You've earned...
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...
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...
Smart sizing saves money on toddler clothes01 Apr 07 | Comments: 9
From Kittenpie, just in time for springtime clothes shopping: A money-saver if you're not too much the fashionista: Last year I was looking at cute skorts at Gap when a sales associate pointed something out to me - the waistband...
Make an ice pack out of hair gel or corn syrup31 Mar 07 | Comments: 4
Kara's first-aid hack: Use frozen hair gel as an ice pack (I’m fond of bright pink Dippity Do). Squeeze some into a quart- or snack-size Ziploc bag and toss it in the freezer. You should use corn syrup instead of...
Up to 70% off selected toys at Amazon28 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
Amazon's having a spring toy sale -- if you've got birthday presents to buy, now may be a good time to do it. Up to 70% off selected toys . [Thanks for the pointer, David!]
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...
DIY cookbook for families with food allergies22 Mar 07 | Comments: 7
Here's how Amber's keeping track of the recipes that fit her family's dietary needs: My family has a lot of food sensitivities, so I work really hard at trying to find as many varied (but not too strange) recipes that...
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...
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?
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...
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...
Five rules that can save you hundreds on diapers08 Mar 07 | Comments: 3
Pregnant Parenthackers take note! Angie of Baby Cheapskate has written up five rules that can save you hundreds of dollars on premium disposable diapers. Of course, washing your own cloth diapers is the cheapest way to go, but if you're...
The Bargainist tips you off to hot deals, freebies and coupons06 Mar 07 | Comments: 1
Cool mom, amazing writer and whip-cracker Kristen pointed me toward the Bargainist...great place to keep on top of the latest hot deals.
Color 'n Kids: cards that turn writing thank you notes into a fun activity06 Mar 07 | Comments: 28
Portland mama Kate Rosenthal is the creator of Color 'n Kids notecards -- simple, bold designs that give kids a boost in the homemade card department. I love them because, for less than the price of a pre-fab piece of...
Massive collection of free software for kids05 Mar 07 | Comments: 12
KidsDomain has compiled an incredible list of PC and Mac freeware for kids of all ages, including the "keyboard bangers." [Via Lifehacker]
Diaper Valet: New changing pad option27 Feb 07 | Comments: 1
I recently profiled Adrienne's lovely handmade diaper pouch, the Diaper Valet. Just in: matching changing pads! If you've been on the fence about buying one, free shipping ends tomorrow, and you can also get a $15 rebate if you purchase...
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...
Airborne: Does it help your family avoid colds?25 Feb 07 | Comments: 32
We're battling the round-robin rhinovirus around here...the cold that infects one kid, then another, then me. It seems that no amount of hand washing, Purell, or general voodoo is keeping us healthy. All except for one of us...my husband. He...
Time's running out on the Amazon Pampers discount22 Feb 07 | Comments: 0
You've still got a few days to get in on Amazon's $25 instant discount on $99-worth of Pampers, Luvs and Kandoo products. Few things make you feel as secure as a pantry stocked with diapers. Offer ends 2/28. Tags: Baby,...
Old tube socks protect exposed wrists from snow22 Feb 07 | Comments: 6
I wish I had heard CJ's snow-play hack about six years ago: Even in the heart of winter, we spend a lot of time outside, following my mother's wisdom that "there is no bad weather, just bad clothing." One problem...
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...
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,...
Make a last minute Valentine t-shirt13 Feb 07 | Comments: 2
Pam to the rescue! The activity center at www.hp.com has 2 free Valentine’s iron-ons available to print. Because we don’t need any chocolate, and because money for flowers is better spent on diapers these days, I printed one that my...
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,...
Send a Tabblo valentine today!09 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Awesome. With a few clicks, you can turn your digital photos into Tabblo valentines. For $1 each, Tabblo transforms them into paper cards which it prints and mails to the recipient of your choice. (They even arrive sealed with a...
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 organize your rewards cards07 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
LifeClever posted a handy suggestion for streamlining your wallet -- with a hole punch and a carabiner key chain. Finally, a way to deal with all of those rewards cards, frequent buyer cards, "buy 50 get one free" cards, and...
Discount stores sell re-labeled versions of name-brand kids clothing05 Feb 07 | Comments: 4
Latia uncovered some surprises on a recent trip to a discount store: With a little research, I've discovered that name brand kid's clothing labels will sell their overstocked or slightly defective outfits to cheaper stores, which then replace the tags...
Amazon Pampers deal: $25 off $99-worth of Pampers products02 Feb 07 | Comments: 3
Right on the heels of the Huggies extravaganza, Amazon is now offering Pampers loyalists a special deal: $25 off $99-worth of Pampers, Luvs and Kandoo products through February 28. Enter the promotional code PAMPERS2 during checkout for an instant discount....
Homemade macaroni and cheese -- easy as boxed (redux)01 Feb 07 | Comments: 18
Now that Annie's Homegrown macaroni and cheese has been outed by Salon as just as bad for you as its blue-box nemesis, I thought the time was right to resurrect a post that appeared here some time ago: my "recipe"...
What to do when matzo ball soup lacks balls31 Jan 07 | Comments: 11
I'm vegetarian, so my "Jewish penicillin" isn't chicken soup. It's Manischewitz matzo ball soup, straight out of the box. Ahhhh, warm comfort for sick kids. Problem is, the matzo balls are gone long before the soup. In my best thrifty-housewife...
Juice keeps longer when frozen into cubes30 Jan 07 | Comments: 3
Ice cube trays can be a parent's best friend. From Gladys: My baby never finished up a jar of juice in a reasonable time, so I found myself throwing out a lot of it -- and it was organic and...
Amazon's Huggies deal ends Wednesday29 Jan 07 | Comments: 6
You still have a few days to get in on Amazon's Huggies diaper promotion: get $30 off $99 worth of Huggies diapers till January 31. Baby Cheapskate says this is a good deal, AND SHE KNOWS THESE THINGS. Tags: Baby,...
Fruit slime as baby hair gel29 Jan 07 | Comments: 12
If that title didn't grab you, you're a stronger parent than I. Erin's hack requires no preamble: My 11 month-old daughter's hair is just long enough to get in her eyes, but not long enough to tuck behind an ear....
Free printable folded paper toys25 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
Print, fold and play! That's the idea behind the beautifully designed paper figures at Readymech. [Via Babygadget] Tags: Parenting, Printables, Readymech, Toys
Fixing bleach stains with Sharpies24 Jan 07 | Comments: 8
In a brilliant reverse hack, Donna actually wants to draw on her clothes with colorful Sharpie permanent markers: We have bleach problems. We can't figure out which one of us ("Mom" or "Dad") keeps using bleach in the laundry but...
Reasonably-priced winter socks for kids? Talk amongst yourselves.22 Jan 07 | Comments: 21
Thin cotton socks + winter weather = cold tootsies. But I'm having a hard time finding decent wool socks for my kids (especially my 3YO daughter). I'm looking for non-scratchy and reasonably-priced. The only kids' wool socks I can find...
Schedule when to use your freezer leftovers20 Jan 07 | Comments: 6
I have an allergy to cooking on the weekend. We scrounge and manage just fine as long as "cooking" is limited to "heating." Hence why I love Chris's hack: Here's a hack to help you remember to use all those...
Vincent: Kid shoes a parent can love...especially on sale12 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
I'm not a high-fashion kid's clothing shopper. I dress my kids in the best quality clothing I can afford, I peruse the second-hand shops, and I generally try to keep them seasonally comfy and relatively color coordinated. Given the mud,...
Wrap-n-Mat: reusable sandwich wrapper and placemat12 Jan 07 | Comments: 7
I was loitering in the offices of Values of n the other day when friend and code wizard David produced from his backpack, with great pomp and flourish, a tidy little fabric packet. He was obviously excited about it, although...
Embellish your kid's Crocs10 Jan 07 | Comments: 8
I can't say I'm a fan of Crocs -- those brightly-colored plastic clogs that seem to have taken over the footwear universe. Obviously I'm in the minority, however, because I see them year-round here in sloshy Portland. They are undeniably...
How to teach your kid to use a sewing machine08 Jan 07 | Comments: 4
Andi passed along this link at One Hour Craft on how to teach a child to use a sewing machine. Perfect motivation for sewing those holiday gift bags! Are Australians just extra-crafty, or what? Tags: Parenting, Sewing
A scrapbooker votes for Costco's digital photo printing07 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
For those of you dealing with the holiday photo backlog, Ashley's hack may come in handy: Here's a hack I stumbled across while getting my digital pictures set up to print at my local Costco. I like to use Costco's...
$30 off $99 worth of Huggies at Amazon now05 Jan 07 | Comments: 6
Amazon often runs good diaper promotions, and one's on now through the end of January. Get $30 off $99 worth of Huggies ...could save you money and middle-of-the-night desperation runs to the store. Tags: Diapers
Sew simple gift bags out of sale fabric, and lose the wrapping paper for good05 Jan 07 | Comments: 13
No doubt you're holiday'd out, but this hack will save sanity and trees later this year. I'm no seamstress, but, from what I can tell, this is easy enough for anyone to do (although a sewing machine would certainly speed...
DIY Easy-Bake Oven cake05 Jan 07 | Comments: 5
I'm sure my household is not the only that acquired an Easy-Bake Oven over the holidays. For those of you who have fond memories of the oven, it now comes with an actual heating element inside instead of the famous...
Clearance ornaments make good craft supplies03 Jan 07 | Comments: 2
I was just at Cost Plus yesterday, and I noticed a decent selection of clearance-priced (75% off) Christmas ornaments that had nothing to do with Christmas. Most of them were hand-sewn Indian fabrics or beaded decorations -- perfect for use...
Adrienne gets creative with a swim noodle20 Dec 06 | Comments: 3
Through a series of circumstances, hacker-extraordinaire Adrienne of Baby Toolkit was left with "half a noodle to contemplate." The result? Some inspired babyproofing. Tags: Baby, Babyproofing, Parenting, Swim noodles
Free, homemade baby and toddler toys20 Dec 06 | Comments: 0
TS passed along this link to The Simple Dollar, in which the author lists some ideas for free, homemade toddler toys, including the always-popular dead cell phone. Tags: Parenting, Toddler, Toys
Homemade tabletop "sandbox" kits20 Dec 06 | Comments: 4
Dana posted her most recent brilliant hack at Mombian: creating indoor "sandboxes" filled with cornmeal or matzo meal. Tags: Parenting
Tape the gift receipt to the present before you wrap it18 Dec 06 | Comments: 1
Your friends will thank you. Tags: Birthdays, Gift-giving, Holidays
Kid art as wrapping paper18 Dec 06 | Comments: 1
Maggie has found an ideal use for her daughter's painting projects: Every week, my daughter comes home from daycare with lots of artwork - including two or three big sheets of newsprint covered with tempera. I can't keep all of...
Spreading out the holiday gifts15 Dec 06 | Comments: 7
Consider using all twelve days of Christmas (eight days of Hanukkah, seven days of Kwanzaa...) to open gifts. The season will last longer, each gift will receive the attention and play it deserves, and the piles of wrapping can be...
DIY microwave popcorn14 Dec 06 | Comments: 6
I've always wondered if it's possible, but never Googled for the answer. Now I don't have to -- J. D. (Get Rich Slowly) to the rescue with Alton Brown's homemade microwave popcorn recipe. My only question: aren't metal staples a...
MyGroceryDeals.com lets you search weekly grocery flyers online10 Dec 06 | Comments: 6
Ed of MyGroceryDeals.com recently got in touch to let me (and you) know about his new money-and-time-saving service. From Ed's note to me: Mygrocerydeals.com is a free service that allows consumers to go online, do their grocery "pre-shopping" based on...
Gift idea: Make framed prints out of your kid's art09 Dec 06 | Comments: 1
Laura passed along her tutorial for making (easy, cheap) framed prints out of kid art...lovely gift idea for grandparents and others who think everything your kid creates is gold. Tags: Art projects, Holidays, Parenting
Homemade instant oatmeal packets08 Dec 06 | Comments: 4
Instructables illustrates how to make your own instant oatmeal packets. Less expensive, better for you, and tastier than the prepackaged stuff. With a little tutoring on hot water safety, this is a wonderful way to encourage older kids to make...
Gift guides you can trust07 Dec 06 | Comments: 6
Some of us are knee-deep in holiday gift-buying at the moment, so to narrow the prospects a bit and hopefully save you a trip to the dreaded Big Box, allow me to share a few gift guides from some of...
Save money with reciprocal museum memberships04 Dec 06 | Comments: 1
Dana's hack came up in my queue right when many of us have plans to travel out of town -- an ideal opportunity to visit museums you may be able to get into for free: Buy a Reciprocal Membership at...
Refilling bulk spices29 Nov 06 | Comments: 6
I always buy my spices from the bulk containers at my favorite grocery store. Problem is, I squander much of the money I save by overshooting my spice jars as I try to refill them -- a decent percentage of...
Carry mini-Yellow Pages in your car to save on 411 cell phone calls29 Nov 06 | Comments: 10
Melinna's hack falls into the "Duhhhhh" category, as in, "Duhhhh. Why didn't I think of this myself?" To save myself the $1+ per 411 directory assistance call I make from the car, I've started carrying around the small version of...
Use newspaper bags for diaper disposal17 Nov 06 | Comments: 15
Here's Rachel's hack, which happens to describe exactly how I've used those newspaper bags for the last couple of years: If your newspaper comes in a plastic bag to keep it dry, don’t throw it away. We save ours and...
Smaller dose of "children's" medication can stand in for the more expensive "infant" version16 Nov 06 | Comments: 15
A big money-saver (one you'll appreciate if you've ever dropped several bucks on a miniscule bottle of Infant Motrin), from Jeff: Okay, here's my hack. But you gotta be extra careful because it deals with administering medications to infants. The...
Refill foam hand soap dispenser with diluted regular soap16 Nov 06 | Comments: 3
We are great appreciators of those new pumps that produce foamy hand soap. So much easier for kids to rinse off, and fun to use. Kirsten informs us that refills are no big deal: The foam-y handsoaps (like Kandoo and...
Nifty hat-plus-scarf at Land's End12 Nov 06 | Comments: 3
Six years in the Pacific Northwest, and you'd think I'd be a little better at outfitting myself (and my kids) for cold weather and snow. I grew up in California. It doesn't come naturally. This year, rather than cobbling together...
Kitchen utility cart as changing table11 Nov 06 | Comments: 5
Erin shared this practical changing table alternative: I thought I'd share the changing table solution that we're using in our nursery. We struggled to find a piece of furniture that was the right height and not completely useless after two...
GRS on teaching kids to save08 Nov 06 | Comments: 0
Jay pointed me to a wonderful post on Get Rich Slowly about teaching kids to save. I love GRS, and came across the post later that day in my own feed reader! Tags: Parenting, Saving money
No Halloween costume yet? Swap!28 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
I'd bet there's a fair percentage of us who are still scrambling for Halloween costumes. Here's Jill's solution: If you don't want to spend much and don't have time or creativity to make a costume, consider staging a costume swap...
Send teacher notes to school in junk mail envelopes26 Oct 06 | Comments: 4
My son's first grade teacher suggested that we send notes to her in envelopes -- they're more likely to make it onto her desk (and less likely to end up in a dirty wad at the bottom of the backpack)....
Bake your own energy bars26 Oct 06 | Comments: 8
It's not often that a hack comes out of getting to know a Parent Hacks advertiser, but that's exactly what happened here. A small button ad from Matisse and Jack's, makers of TrailBlaze Homemade Energy Bar mix, came through recently,...
Build-a-Bear Workshop outfits as baby Halloween costumes23 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
If you're still recovering from the sticker shock at Build-A-Bear Workshop, follow Ken's suggestion: reuse the bear's outfit as a Halloween costume for your baby. (Check out those cute pix!) Warning: unless dressing the baby for a quick photo-op, make...
Baby gear deals at Returnsforsale.com22 Oct 06 | Comments: 0
Stollers! Getcher strollers here! (Among other things.) [Via daddytypes] Tags: Baby gear, Parenting, Returnsforsale.com, Strollers
No-sew modular Halloween costumes20 Oct 06 | Comments: 6
Hedra just sent this Halloween costume hack, and it's so good I had to post it right away so you can make a fabric store run this weekend! Over time, my costume-making has evolved into a fairly simple hack. I...
Random objects stand in for a crib mobile12 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
Kris came up with a novel alternative to a crib mobile: I didn't want a traditional crib mobile for our son because they seemed so tacky, gaudy and loud. We had decorated his room in a very soothing, natural manner...
Make photo displays out of tin cans10 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
Amit of Photojojo passed this along: Thought you might like this recent tutorial we did on using tin cans and bottles to show off your photos. It's a super simple project anyone can do, they make cool gifts, and it's...
Inexpensive melamine dishes look grownup but don't break06 Oct 06 | Comments: 3
Sara, on dishes: If, like me, you like to give your children "real" dishes to eat off of, but don't want to have to worry about the dishes being broken when they are inevitably tossed off the tabletop or dropped...
Make extra $ at the resale shop05 Oct 06 | Comments: 1
If you like to buy and sell kids' clothes at the resale shop (something I recommend highly), you must, I repeat, must read Mir's Want Not post on maximizing thrift store thriftiness. She buys low at Goodwill and sells high...
Turn broken crayons into "cookie crayons"02 Oct 06 | Comments: 3
Dumb Little Man posted this classic broken crayon hack a while back. I seem to recall doing this when I was a kid... Tags: Art projects, Crayons, Parenting
Tomorrow is Museum Day!29 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
On September 30, 2006, museums across the country will be offering free admission as part of an event organized by the Smithsonian. More details on Mombian, and the event site. Thanks for the heads-up, Dana! Tags: Family travel, Museums, Smithsonian
Print your own photo calendar27 Sep 06 | Comments: 3
Amy, author of the wonderful babies-and-digital-photography blog Shooting the Kids, wrote up her experience creating a free photo calendar with the help of FD's Flickr Toys. (Blogger trivia: "FD" is none other than John Watson, the blogger behind Flagrant Disregard.)...
GoGo Kidz Travelmate on sale today only at Onebabygoodie.com27 Sep 06 | Comments: 2
New woot!-like site for parents, Onebabygoodie.com, is offering the GoGo Kidz Travelmate on sale, today only. I saw this car seat cart in use in an airport once, and was fascinated (here's my review). A great time- and back-saver, and...
Free coffee shop diversions27 Sep 06 | Comments: 4
Ben sent me this coffee shop hack long before I wrote up my little 5ives tribute on the same topic. Leave it to you people to be more clever than me. Apologies to Ben for the order of the posts....
Amazon diaper deal on now26 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
Stock up on $99-worth of Pampers or Luvs at Amazon by 9/30 and get a $30 Amazon gift certificate good for holiday shopping. Details at Amazon. [Via Want Not] Tags: Diapers, Parenting
Diluted dish soap: good for all sorts of things25 Sep 06 | Comments: 5
The subject line of Kip's email to me was "Dilute! Dilute! OK!" -- a quote from the bizarre treatise-label on bottles of Dr. Bronner's soap: I keep a squeeze bottle of diluted dish soap by the sink. I used to...
Pimento jar as toddler drinking glass23 Sep 06 | Comments: 6
Back in July (she says sheepishly, revealing the length of her queue...), AJ of Thingamababy pointed out the utility of a Kraft Pimento Spread jar as a toddler drinking glass. What he didn't reveal was whether he actually ate the...
How to make homemade Febreze-like odor remover22 Sep 06 | Comments: 5
Who knew you could recycle fragrance? Lisa, apparently: Let’s face it, kids create stink! I love Febreze, but it can get quite expensive. I have been using the lavender/ vanilla scented liquid fabric softener (which, by the way, has a...
Trezr: It's Digg for cheapskates like me21 Sep 06 | Comments: 4
Shopping used to be a lazy Saturday afternoon activity. My pre-kid free time was spent perusing the neighborhood shops for good deals, whether on clothes or furniture or groceries or whatever else. Once the kids arrived, though, my browsing days...
IKEA instructions as coloring books20 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
As if IKEA weren't already kid-friendly! Mei came across a post at IKEA Hacker (!) that came across a post at sowbug.org suggesting one reuse the assembly instructions that come with some IKEA products as coloring books. Tags: IKEA, Parenting
Turn a baby bathtub into a ball pit18 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
Erica came up with an easy way to create a miniature version of the ball pits one finds in those horrendous, overstimulating indoor playgrounds: Don't throw a perfectly good baby bath away once it is used (usually for only a...
Used library books as party favors12 Sep 06 | Comments: 4
My family and I recently attended the birthday party of a good six year-old buddy. Great end-of-summer shindig: there was swimming, a picnic in the park, and super-delicious chocolate cake. At least 30 kids and their siblings ran around having...
What to do with the bread crusts your kids won't eat11 Sep 06 | Comments: 4
A while back we chatted about the problem of uneaten sandwich crusts. Krista chooses not to fight that battle with her kids, and, instead, puts the crusts to good use elsewhere: I cut off and save the crusts BEFORE I...
Kid-sized ice cream sandwiches10 Sep 06 | Comments: 3
Summer's not over yet -- there's still time for ice cream! Laura cuts packaged ice cream sandwiches into smaller portions with a cookie cutter. Less messy and a more reasonable size for her little boy. A money-saver, too. Tags: Feeding...
Recycle a plastic jug into a play "shower"02 Sep 06 | Comments: 1
Leanne of Momcast (subvert the dominant motherhood!) came up with a homemade alternative to the watering-can-in-the-bathtub hack: Take a large plastic jar or jug, and with a small drill (or even a knife if you want) drill a number of...
The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood01 Sep 06 | Comments: 31
An embarrassingly long time ago, the publisher of The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood sent me a review copy, asking if it might be of interest to Parent Hacks readers. "Absolutely," I said with good intention, and then proceeded to...
Plastic clamp as quick babyproofing tool01 Sep 06 | Comments: 0
Mark found a great tool for low-tech babyproofing: We discovered a great way to block off Zen from areas like the TV and the steps, places that standard baby gates just can do the job. We got some all-purpose plastic...
Gmail as recipe organizer30 Aug 06 | Comments: 13
Gmail to the rescue again! This time, as Ashley's recipe organizer: I use the Internet to find almost all of my recipes [Fridge Googling! -- Ed.] . Now, I email myself the recipes to my Gmail account and I have...
Fabric panel as DIY artwork for a kid's room29 Aug 06 | Comments: 0
Rob made some beautiful fabric-panel art for his son's room: Your post about DIY artwork for a kid's room inspired us to do something creative (and easy for us craft-challenged folks) with a cool panel of fabric that we had...
Even babies can hand-paint terra cotta planters as gifts29 Aug 06 | Comments: 1
Here's Emily's great idea for a teacher gift, or possibly, for Grandparents' Day (Hallmark holiday that it is, but grandparents deserve every bit of appreciation they can get): A few months ago we decided to get creative with the birthday...
KidSmart Vocal Smoke Alarms on sale -- 1 day only28 Aug 06 | Comments: 3
http://woot.com is selling two KidSmart Vocal Smoke Alarms for $14.99 + $5 shipping. If you aren't familiar with woot, they sell one item per day with limited supplies of that item. I thought other parenthackers might want to know. They...
TiVo price slashed at Amazon27 Aug 06 | Comments: 3
I'm not sure how long this is going on, but the TiVo unit we have (TiVo Series 2 80-hour Digital Video Recorder) is on a BIG sale at Amazon. List price $299.99, now on sale, and after a mail-in rebate,...
Baking soda as bathroom cleaner24 Aug 06 | Comments: 0
Amberlynn reeeeealy loves her baking soda. So much so that she wrote up an entire post (complete with vocal effects) extolling its virtues as a cheap, non-toxic bathroom cleaner. Tags: Baking soda, Cleaning
Back-to-school clothes: Money-saving and money-making ideas23 Aug 06 | Comments: 4
My kids have grown like weeds over the summer. It's not so noticeable while they're wearing shorts and sundresses, but as soon as they wiggle into last Fall's pants and long-sleeved t-shirts, it's obvious we need to do some back-to-school...
I am a Charlie's Soap convert08 Aug 06 | Comments: 10
Like most families, we produce a gargantuan amount of dirty clothing, so laundry is a major part of every week. I'm up for anything that makes the process easier without filling the environment with more chemicals and phosphates. So, I...
Check out audiobooks from the library before your road trip05 Aug 06 | Comments: 6
Moxie's suggestion for road trip relief: Travel hack (not nearly as creative as the one from the guy telling people how to make their own CDs for road trips): Most public libraries have a decent selection of books on CD....
Make your own water playset04 Aug 06 | Comments: 2
Leanne of Momcast is doing her best to deal with the heat. Check out the simple water play set she put together for her 3 year-old son. Tags: Parenting, Toys
Turn your car into a birthday limo02 Aug 06 | Comments: 1
I love when people notice others' hacks while out and about, and think to send them here. This, from Woody: Saw this the other day: a guy driving his kid around in a car, a regular sedan, with a blue...
Extend the shelf-life of blocks of cheese30 Jul 06 | Comments: 10
Jennifer got this from a grandma in the grocery store -- they are an excellent source of hacks! As our kids got older, we started buying the economy-sized cheese blocks. One day, a grandmother shopping with her grandkids gave me...
Consider Netflix for kid's shows27 Jul 06 | Comments: 4
Loraine left this comment on the post about the Amazon kid's DVD sale, but it was so hack-worthy I thought a promotion to the front page was in order. I don't buy kid's DVDs - instead, I subscribe to Netflix...
Amazon kid's DVD sale23 Jul 06 | Comments: 3
If your kids are anything like mine, despite firm encouragement to the contrary, they are mesmerized into a stupor by Barney, The Wiggles, Bob the Builder, and/or Thomas the Tank Engine. Yes? Yes. Well. Amazon's having an up-to-50%-off kid's DVD...
$10 rebate at Amazon Grocery19 Jul 06 | Comments: 6
Speaking of which, Amazon.com now sells groceries (aisle-free!). In fact, they're running a special: $10 off a $49 order of groceries and household products (including diapers) in the grocery store. Enter the code GROCERY2 to get your instant rebate. If...
Smarter grocery shopping19 Jul 06 | Comments: 1
Dave Cheong has hacked together Grocery Shopping Helper, a little app that sorts your grocery list by aisle, allowing you to speed-shop at peak efficiency. You'll need to do a little work upfront (Dave's written out simple directions), but you'll...
Turn your loose change into lattes (or iTunes tunes, or Amazon purchases) for free18 Jul 06 | Comments: 11
I've always passed up the Coinstar change machines in the grocery store; I don't feel like paying for the privilege of having to lug all my loose change with me (approximately nine cents on the dollar -- almost 10 cents...
Turn digital pictures into massive wall art for free17 Jul 06 | Comments: 4
Rebecca T. in Santa Rosa, CA passed along this cool room-decorating idea: If your kids like having art in their rooms, have them pick one of their favorite pictures (in digital format) and you can print them out on your...
Swap paperbacks (including children's books) for free16 Jul 06 | Comments: 7
A while back we suggested Zunafish as a good place for swapping used books, video games, CDs, and DVDs. Christa pointed out that, unlike Zunafish, which charges $1 per transaction, Paperbackswap.com is totally free (books only, though, not other types...
Freebie Finder gets a facelift14 Jul 06 | Comments: 1
A while back I wrote about AbsurdlyCool Freebie Finder -- a nifty aggregator of freebies and giveaways. Andrew -- the creator of Freebie Finder -- let me know that he's recently made quite a lot of improvements, including adding user...
Recent dollar store scores07 Jul 06 | Comments: 5
Nine inflatable beach balls as birthday party entertainment (my daughter's turning 3, and the big "entertainment" is going to be a bunch of beach balls on the back lawn that the kids can kick, throw, and roll, and then take...
Childproofing on the cheap07 Jul 06 | Comments: 2
Sara's friend had some good ideas for cheap babyproofing: Visiting a friend who's had to childproof quickly (adopting a 1-year-old would do that, wouldn't it?) he shared a couple a tricks: You can buy mesh strap material in bulk (like...
Free coupon codes for online purchases03 Jul 06 | Comments: 3
Currentcodes.com lists promotional and coupon codes for hundreds of well-known retailers, potentially saving you money each time you shop online. From the home page: Currentcodes.com has a full-time staff of trained individuals whose only job is to find new coupon...
Diaper pail management03 Jul 06 | Comments: 14
Here's how Sara's friends conserve diaper pail real estate: If you find yourself emptying the diaper pail much more often than you'd like, some friends had a strategy I thought was a good idea. Dirty diapers go into the diaper...
InfantExchange.com: eBay alternative for baby stuff02 Jul 06 | Comments: 0
InfantExchange.com is a new eBay-type auction and classified ad site specifically for baby and kid gear. Buy, sell or swap, if you're so inclined! Listings are free with for-fee "upgrades," but founder Marlon Montgomery got in touch to let me...
Homemade, healthy "Lunchables"30 Jun 06 | Comments: 1
This from Andi: Lunchables are a favorite snack for many kids these days. Unfortunately, they can be expensive and are very high in sodium and preservatives. You can pack a healthier, and less expensive, version using whole wheat or multi-grain...
Turn to YouTube for toddler entertainment29 Jun 06 | Comments: 2
Dutch of Sweet Juniper has put together a tour de force roundup of kid-pleasing YouTube videos. (Try this one if you need a little cheering up.) Tags: Parenting, YouTube, Toddler
Leapfrog store discount expires in two days28 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
Last chance to get your Parent Hacks 15% discount on merch at the Leapfrog Store! Deal ends July 1. Tags: LeapFrog, Toys
Simple birthday party theme for young 'uns28 Jun 06 | Comments: 3
I'm allergic to overly elaborate birthday parties. So I love Sara's idea: I didn't want to go overboard for J.'s first birthday, but I did want to make it special, so I decided on a very simple theme: Red. (Her...
Make cute toddler lounge pants out of an old t-shirt27 Jun 06 | Comments: 2
Look what Whitney did! She made adorable pants for her little cuteness out of her husband's old t-shirt! Here's how. Tags: Kids' clothes, Parenting, Toddler
Dr. Parker on why parents should obsess about sun protection26 Jun 06 | Comments: 4
Dr. Parker at WebMD (who I heart) explains why it's so important to put enough sunscreen on our kids, and to reapply it throughout the day. He even used the word "obsessive," which, coming from him, says a lot. I've...
DIY artwork for your kids' bedrooms26 Jun 06 | Comments: 2
Betty adorned her children's rooms on a budget: I'm a SAMH and a hacker myself, but didn't know it until I visited your website. I'm a proud mother of three rambunctious, feisty and VERY energetic children under the age of...
Free for Parent Hackers! Send personalized video e-cards with Jalapenyo26 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
I've sent my share of e-cards, but they feel a bit, oh, I don't know, lame. Like I couldn't get it together to send a real card in time, so I dashed off an electronic version as an afterthought (this...
Small-footed moms: buy Keens in kid sizes25 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
Olivia nabbed a bargain on Keen sandals (super-popular with Portland feet): I went to REI and snagged some Keen sandals....in a kids' size 6. I usually wear a Women's size 8. Instead of paying $70, I bought them for $36!...
Snacksby: Fridge googling, only prettier23 Jun 06 | Comments: 4
Snacksby lets you input ingredients you have onhand and then spits out an appropriate recipe, not unlike fridge googling. Should be a great service, as long as users bootstrap it by contributing recipes. A Lifehacker commenter said as much, only...
Talk amongst yourselves: How to make a sand and water table23 Jun 06 | Comments: 6
My kids love sand and water tables, but good ones are so expensive. There must be a way for a non-carpenter such as myself to make one. Any suggestions? Tags: Parenting
Best float trip toy: a bucket o' river rocks22 Jun 06 | Comments: 0
Steven has this excellent tip for river-lovers: We take frequent canoe float trips here in the Ozarks (especially on the Buffalo National River), and we've discovered a great way to entertain kids while on the river. Don't bring toys from...
Primo money-saving tips for diaper buyers22 Jun 06 | Comments: 3
Mir at WantNot tackles diaper buying habits, and has lots of good, common-sense advice for saving money. (I should just create a template post, because I'm going to be repeating this sentence a lot. "Mir tackles [insert topic here] and...
How to dry out a drooled-on cell phone18 Jun 06 | Comments: 8