Parent Hacks

Balloon as leg support for a kid sleeping in an umbrella stroller

Elizabeth's super-smart travel stroller hack: We have an umbrella stroller that we use for travelling when we don't feel like lugging along our larger, more comfortable stroller. One drawback to the umbrella stroller is that it has no leg rest -- our son's legs dangle off the edge of the...

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Oral syringe helps kids "sip" water without completely waking up

Melanie's doing what she must to help her toddler sleep through his cough: My little guy (22 months) has been hacking and coughing at night for some time now. I find that one way to calm the cough is to let him drink a bit of water. But, if he...

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If you want a little more sleep on Christmas morning, make stockings "fair game"

Another great Christmas tip from Liz: My brother and I, as kids, were always up well before dawn on Christmas morning, as early as 5! Here's how Mom kept us quiet until a more reasonable hour: Stockings were free game; we didn't have to wait for everyone else to wake...

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Digital clock "cure" for kids who can't fall asleep

I love Karen's gentle hack for encouraging little ones to stay in bed.

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Blow dryer handles bedtime water spills

Oh, yeah, Molly! Few things are more onerous than late-night bedding changes (especially when they involve washing and drying): After having JUST washed the sheets on my daughter's bed, her (supposedly spill-proof) sippy cup of bedtime water leaked right where she sleeps. After considering letting her sleep in a wet...

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Ice cube alarm clock gets sleepy kids and parents out of bed

My husband needs to be awakened with a sledgehammer every morning. I am SO doing this. From John of MyFamilyLovesIt.com: Our oldest started kingergarten this Fall and I was worried about getting myself up in time rather than hitting the snooze alarm like I normally do. To jumpstart our mornings...

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Tips for avoiding catching colds

Kristin's passed along some cold season tips I've never heard before (and wish I had years ago): These are all from our pediatrician, and have helped lower the number and severity of colds that the kids get. Immediately wipe down their faces (especially under the nose) and hands whenever you...

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Vaporub-covered panty liner under the crib sheet eases nighttime congestion

Is this a hack or what? Nancy's found a creative way to help her little ones sleep better while stuffed up: My twins are 14 months old, and one of them is fighting off the tail end of a cold with plenty of congestion. You're not supposed to apply Vaporub...

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Record yourself telling stories to calm bedtime fears

We've published a variant of this hack before, but I thought Sara's take was worth sharing as it has helped her calm her daughter's bedtime fears: I know I was one of the lucky ones. After a colicky start, I was blessed with an easy-to-put-to-bed toddler; however, inexplicably at 20...

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During night terrors, suggest a "replacement dream"

Jill in Atlanta's loving, creative response to her son's night terrors: One of my boys often wakes us in the night screaming. ("No! No!") Sometimes he's awake but usually he's still asleep. I've tried all sorts of things but the best solution I've found is to "replace" his dream with...

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Family camping hack: For babies sleeping in tents, Peapod travel bed is more compact than a portacrib

Melissa's brilliant travel bed tip: I ran across a Kidco Peapod (think mini tent with air mattress) that folds up as a small as a small throw cushion. You can zip the baby into it so that she won't crawl away in the night and it's easier to fit in...

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Boxer shorts and cotton undershirts make cheaper summer PJs

Susan's saving money on summer sleepwear: This is probably a “duh” moment for some Parenthackers, but I thought I’d write just in case. I was in the store (Target) the other day bemoaning the idea of having to buy summer pajamas for my kiddos. They’re not cheap, and here in...

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Wind-up LED flashlight needs no batteries...so is perfect for kids

Kirsten's flashlight recommendation is perfect for summer campouts, fort play, and persistent bogeymen: My kids love flashlights, and tend to forget to turn them off, thus using up lots of batteries. I received a pocket-sized LED wind-up flashlight as a gift. My 4 y/o son promptly took it over, and...

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Mini trampoline as baby bouncer

Dana found another bit of fitness equipment that doubles as a baby soother: I work from a home office with a small baby. I keep a mini trampoline and an exercise ball in my office on the off chance that I might actually exercise during his naptime while I watch...

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Amazon Friday sale 4/25/08: Fitness ball, swim diapers, Victorinox

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 -- for exercise, playtime, and bouncing restless babies. Natural Fitness,...

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