Parent Hacks

Amazon deal: 40% off Trunki ride-on kids' suitcases

The Trunki appeared here as an airport entertainment hack a couple years ago (see: Trunki suitcase keeps toddlers entertained during flight delays). Adorable hard-sided suitcase designed to be ridden around, which kids do with regular wheeled luggage anyway. Amazon has put a selection of Trunkis on sale at 40% off...

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Save money at amusement parks by giving kids a purchase "allowance"

Paula's ingenious travel money hack works for any vacation, not just a visit to the amusement park! A few years ago, we decided to designate a certain amount of money for special purchases whenever our family went to an amusement park. We figured out what we could afford ($25, but...

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Collapsible baby wipe packages work better than travel wipe containers

Lisa says lose the travel wipe container! When I was a new mom and carried a big diaper bag with every possible baby supply, I used a plastic, portable-sized and refillable baby wipe container. The problem was that I was always worried that I would run out of wipes, and...

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Getting kids outdoors: listen to the podcast today at 10am PST/1pm EST

Join me today at 10am PST/1pm EST for the LifeStyle Mom Radio Cafe podcast -- I'll be talking with host Dana Kilmer and guests Emily McKhann of The Motherhood and Jaime Matyas of the National Wildlife Federation about getting kids outdoors. Great stuff -- hope you'll be there!

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Dental floss container as yarn cutter

Are you or your kid into knitting or crochet? Fantastic hobby that's creative, calming, inexpensive, portable, quiet, productive, and requires no batteries or headphones. I could go on and on about what crochet has done for me lately (maybe I will in another post), but for now, a hack I...

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Socks in the pool cut down on slipping and scrapes

Tracy Hengst, originator of many fantastic hacks, sends this one for those of you fantacising about warm afternoons spent at the swimming pool: We were at a local hotel with a group of people. There were several kids running around in socks as they got in and out of the...

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My Carry Potty: for potty-trainers on the go

via www.parenting.com Sasha at Parenting's Show & Tell asks: what do you think of the My Carry Potty: brilliant or gross? No parent of a potty-training young-un has time to worry about the gross factor (didn't we get over that when they were newborns?). If you've experienced cleaning your kid...

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Amazon today only: Rayovac head-mounted flashlight 73% off

This hands-free lighting contraption comes in handy at our house several times a week. Great for crafters and model-builders Great for mechanics Great for campers Great for backyard spies and treasure hunters Great for sneaky bedtime reading Not the most attractive tool around, but VERY handy. And, today only, it's...

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Footed pajamas for snow play

Carrie's get-'em-to-the-snow-quick hack: My three year-old wanted to go outside to play in the snow and was still in his footed pajamas. I'm certainly not going to squabble over wearing PJs on a snow day, so I let him. Turns out, they work GREAT for keeping snow out of little...

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Preparing your kids for a TSA airline security patdown

via www.deliciousbaby.com As usual, Debbie of the fantastic travel-with-kids site Delicious Baby is on top of the latest news. This post gives advice about how to talk to your kids about TSA airport security checks. More: Family travel tips

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Stash quick-prep meal ingredients in the freezer before you travel

L just solved a problem I seem to face after every family trip: the post-trip meal. I hate coming home from a trip and having nothing in the fridge for dinner that night. The kids are cranky from traveling all day, we need to unpack, and often get ready for...

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In a pinch, wrap soiled clothes in a clean diaper

Tami left this tip on the Parent Hacks Facebook page: I was out and about with my one-year-old and he had a diaper blow-out. I had a change of clothes, but I didn't have a bag for the soiled clothes. What did I do? I wrapped up the soiled clothes...

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Bandaids as temporary outlet covers

Ah, the creativity that comes from necessity. Amy's travel babyproofing hack: We rented a little cabin in very rural South Dakota over the holiday. Because it was so far away from any town we packed our food and most every thing else that we needed except...outlet covers for little fingers!...

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Five ways gadgets encourage school-age kids to participate in a road trip -- instead of tuning out

"When I was young, if I got bored on a road trip, I read a book." "When I was young, I had to listen to whatever music my parents played on the radio." "When I was young, we entertained ourselves on car trips by playing games, singing songs, and telling...

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DIY Clipping Toy: Road Trip Sanity with a Toddler

via quirkymomma.com Stitch this up before your next trip-with-toddlers! Rachel says: "We made this toy out of buckles after watching my daughter play more with the stroller buckles than the slide on a park play date. It was a lifesaver on our last 28-hour (one-way) road trip." Step-by-step directions and...

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