Although people differ in how they view various kinds of work, many of them will agree that nothing seems more difficult than being a parent. It is undoubtedly a huge mountain of a task to take care of and raise a small human being. One thing we can do is to try and make that work easier somehow. We collected hacks, tips, and tricks from parents that they apply as they raise their children. Although some of them may sound strange, some recommendations will amaze you. If you want to know how gluing pennies under children’s shoes make a parent’s life easier, then read on.
Make-shift Sweeper
Babies start to crawl around sooner than you think. Since they love to do it anyway, why not use it to your advantage? Stick a duster on their onesies, and you’ll have a faster time cleaning the floor with the baby’s help. Now there’s a win-win situation.
Make-Shift Sweeper
Drink Up
Giving children their medicine can sometimes be a huge pain. But it doesn’t have to be. Use their pacifier when you want to give them a dose. Cut off the tip and place the dropper through the hole. How clever is that?
Drink Up
No More Tears
It’s hard for a parent when they see their children cry while giving them a bath. But what if there was a contraption to help solve the problem? The umbrella band will make sure that water stays out of your kid’s eyes so that you can have a stress-free bath time.
No More Tears
DIY Play Pen
It doesn’t have to be impossible to go the beach when you have a toddler. Whether it’s just a one-day visit or a weekend vacation, there’s a way for you to stop being anxious when you step foot on the sand. Just use a fitted sheet to set up a DIY playpen for your baby and secure it with your bags. Voila!
DIY Play Pen
Bye-Bye Boogeyman
Children really do have the most creative minds. And sometimes they get scared when they let their imagination run wild and come up with monsters hiding in the dark. Give them their own “monster spray” to repel these monsters and make them feel less scared at night.
Bye Bye Boogeyman
No Better Time
The best years to teach your kids good habits are when they are still young. If they like playing with a lot of toys like racecars, give them a box where they can place their toys into. If you start them young, they’ll surely make it a habit and carry it when they grow older.
No Better Time
Divide and Conquer
Going on long car trips is harder than ever when you have small children with you. Give each one of them personal space by putting up dividers between them. They won’t disturb each other, and you can hope that they would finally fall asleep.
Divide and Conquer
Trojan Juice
Although we don’t recommend lying to your children, we have to exempt this hack from the rule. If you want to make it easy to give kids their medicine, just give them their favorite drink but have the straw plugged into the medicine bottle. Don’t let them discover it, or just give them the drink if they start making tantrums.
Trojan Juice
Time to Clean
Play time and clean up time don’t always have to be different. Use some tape to mark a square on the floor and let your kids sweep the mess into that space. They will clean up the mess in no time while also having fun.
Time to Clean
Hands-On
Young children find comfort in their parents’ embrace even as they fall asleep. However, parents are sometimes too busy and do not have enough time to wait for their child to doze off to dreamland. If you have to put your baby to sleep, you can use a glove filled with rice or dried beans and put it on your baby’s back. You’ll find that they will fall asleep in record time.
Hands-On
Colored Clocks
Setting up your kids’ schedule can sometimes be tough. Besides having to deal with naughty children, parents also have a routine to follow. Try to use different colors and assign one to each task then stick it on the clock. When your kids check for the time, they will see what they’re supposed to do.
Colored Clocks
Not Just for the Shower
A shower caddy is not only useful in the bathroom. It can also store food and snacks when you’re on the move. If you ever take a long car trip with your kids, it will help you reduce the mess the make with their food.
Not Just for the Shower
Toothspins
Stop keeping your toothbrushes in a drawer or cups to prevent spreading bacteria and viruses. Grab a couple of clothespins from the laundry room and use these as a holder or stand. You can assign a different color for each of your kids to avoid accidentally swapping toothbrushes.
Toothspins
Left and Right
A simple way to make it easy for children to know which is left and right is to place a label on their shoes. Use a sticker and place one on each corresponding shoe. It’s going to be tricky at first, but it will help them make sure that their shoes are on the correct foot.
Left and Right
Goodbye Glitter
Although it looks nice, glitter is one of the most frustrating things to clean up. If you start spotting glitter around your house, just grab a lint roller and let the pieces of glitter to it.
Goodbye Glitter
Cover It Up
Don’t worry if your kid gets scratches on their shoes very easily. It’s also very simple to cover it up. Just get a crayon the same color as their shoe and start coloring over the scratches.
Cover It Up
Sticker Fun
Many children get scared of riding a plane. If you ever need to travel with your little one, don’t forget to bring along some stickers to distract them and calm their nerves. As long as they’re easy to peel off, your child can be entertained for a while.
Sticker Fun
Drip and Catch
Popsicles are a nice treat for everyone, but kids somehow manage to eat them in the messiest possible ways. Try using a coffee lid to catch the melted pieces falling off prevent them from making a mess.
Drip and Catch
Treating Minor Burns
Burns are dreadful especially for young children. If this happens to your kid, just soak a cloth or paper towel in vinegar and press it onto the affected area. This will cool off the burning feeling, lessen the pain, and avoid forming blisters.
Treating Minor Burns
Stuck No More
It’s quite scary when you find your kid locked in the bathroom alone. Prevent tricky incidents from happening with a few rubber bands. Place it like so to make sure your little one can get out with no trouble.
Stuck No More
Spritz It Off
Hot days are no fun at all especially when the scorching heat gets trapped in the car. You can use a spray bottle to spritz some water on seat belt buckles to cool it down.
Spritz It Off
Pool Noodles
You’ll find a lot of use for your old pool noodles in this list. Cut up the pool noodles into appropriate lengths and use them to cover trampoline springs. This will keep children’s hands and feet safe when they’re playing on the trampoline.
Pool Noodles
Clip-Clop
When trimming your nails, keep a role of tape beside you. Place pieces of tape in strategic spots where the nail clippings can cling to before it scatters all over the place.
Clip-Clop
Scavenger Hunt
Is it always difficult to make your teenager keep their room tidy? Sometimes all they need is a small incentive to encourage them, and you will find the room will be spotless in no time at all.
Scavenger Hunt
To Each His Own
Try this tip if your kids always leave their cups around and use new ones whenever they need a drink. Give them each a cup and attach a magnet to it so they can stick it on the fridge. They’ll no longer lose their drinking cups.
To Each His Own
Painless Painting
It’s never a bad idea to bring out your child’s creativity but sometimes it can be messy and difficult to clean up. But there is a way to avoid making a huge mess. Get a huge Ziploc bag and drop a few different paint colors. Tape it on a flat surface and let your child’s creativity flow.
Painless Painting
Not Too Much
Use this trick if your dispenser runs out of soap too fast. Place some rubber bands around the nozzle of the container to reduce the amount of soap dispensed when your kids reach for some soap.
Not Too Much
Sticker Saves the Day
Do you always find you kid struggling to put on their shoes? If you do, maybe some stickers could help do the trick. Put one in each shoe and let the kids would figure it out. It would be better if the sticker is something they love.
Sticker Saves the Day
Fresh Apples
Do you find your apples turning brown too fast? Slice the apples, toss them in a lunch bag, sprinkle some salt. Afterwards, rinse the apples with water. This will get rid of the salt and help prolong the freshness of your apples for the whole day.
Fresh Apples
Easy Does It
Kids don’t have to go through so much pain when trying to remove splinters. Grab some water and baking soda to make it tolerable for your kids. Apply the water and baking soda mixture and let it sit for a few minutes. The baking soda will push the splinter out, and your kids will feel less discomfort.
Easy Does It
Recycling Pizza Boxes
Do you want to know how to reuse those pizza boxes from last night’s delivery? Make them your kid’s own giant canvases. Who knows? You might be raising the next Picasso or Vincent van Gogh.
Recycling Pizza Boxes
Spray It On
Did your kids make a canvas out of your wall for the tenth time? Don’t stress too much since WD-40 will help you get rid of crayon marks and return your wall to its pristine shape.
Spray It On
Wedge It In
A small ball of tissue is all you need. If your kid is starting to learn how to write, you can use this trick to help them hold a pencil properly. Make sure they pinch the wad of tissue with their pinky and ring finger and they should be good to go.
Wedge It In
Grippy Socks
Apply any puffy fabric paint on the soles of your kid’s socks to add some grip to them. This hack will prevent them from sliding on the floor and help avoid any future mishaps.
Grippy Socks
Sneaky Shoes
Don’t worry if your kid gets scratches on their shoes very easily. It’s also very simple to cover it up. Just get a crayon the same color as their shoe and start coloring over the scratches.
Sneaky Shoes
Not Permanent After All
Most parents would agree that it’s best to keep permanent markers from your kids’ reach although there are times when they somehow discover them. If you find scribbles with permanent markers, grab some toothpaste and use it to rub the ink off.
Not Permanent After All
Cleanup Time Quick
Turn cleanup time into a game and watch as your kids work faster and enjoy at the same time. You can get any timer and set a certain amount of time for them to win the game.
Cleanup Time Quick
Bye Back Pain
Use toy links to fasten toys on the highchair or stroller. The toys will stay put and keep your baby entertained, so you don’t have to bend down and pick up toys every now and then.
Bye Back Pain
Closet Coordination
Try giving your family matching t-shirts when you go out for date. The matching clothes will help you keep track of your kids and easily recognize them from huge crowds of people if they ever wander off.
Closet Coordination
Nipple No More
It’s inevitable but there will be a time when you just have to stop using the pacifier. If you’re trying to wean your baby off the pacifier, cut a small piece off the nipple when they ask for it. They will soon grow to dislike it especially when there’s nothing to suck on. If you’re lucky, they might get rid of it themselves.
Nipple No More
Versatile Baby Furniture
There’ll be a time when it seems like all there is at home are baby furniture. Don’t worry since you can always repurpose them when not in use. Place an oilcloth over a play table to make it a water-resistant outdoor table.
Versatile Baby Furniture
Proper Storage
Don’t forget to always wash and sanitize your kid’s pacifiers. You don’t want to have bacteria accumulating in there. When you go out with your toddler, place the pacifiers in sauce containers to keep them clean.
Proper Storage
Kiddie Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards can be great when you have a lot of reminders for your kids, so why not set up specifically for them? You can put up reminders for chores, studying, and other schedules so they don’t miss anything. Set it up near their bedroom or the shoe closet so they can see it when they wake up and before they leave the house.
Kiddie Bulletin Boards
Parking Problems
Place some Parking Pal stickers on the side of your car to make sure your kids stay close while you’re loading your shopping bags in your car. It will save you the nightmare of losing your kids in a parking lot.
Parking Problems
Pool Play Pen
If building a play area costs too much, you can just use an inflatable pool and it would work just the same. Place it in your living room or any open space and let your baby have fun in it.
Pool Play Pen
Tent Transformation
No one wants to leave their baby unattended even if it’s a just a few yards away. When you need to do your chores outside, just bring the crib out with you and build a tent with it.
Tent Transformation
Baby Food Prep
If you always find yourself rushing to make food for your baby, why not try making one large batch for the whole week? You can place them in ice strays so you can easily take it out when you need to prepare food.
Baby Food Prep
Not Just for Dishes
Your dishwasher can clean more than just your plates, bowls, and coffee mugs. You can make the most out of the machine when you use it to clean your kids’ shoes and toys as well.
Not Just for Dishes
Lawn Art
Whoever said that creativity and the outdoors can’t go hand in hand? You can just spread out a large sheet and let your kinds run around with their creativity.
Lawn Art
Makeshift Water Slide
You only need a few things to build your own water slide at home. A hose and a plastic sheet. You can even use the plastic sheets that came with your new home furniture if you haven’t thrown them out.
Makeshift Water Slide
Fort Fun
Building a pillow fort is one of the most exciting things for kids. Help them put up their own forts with the use of hula-hoops. Just hang some blankets or bed sheets on those hoops and you’re all set up.
Fort Fun
Organize ‘Em
There is more to a shoe organizer than just holding shoes. It can also be used to organize your children’s toys. You can place it behind a door or bring it wherever you need to.
Organize ‘Em
Daily Masterpiece
This clever little tip will keep your little one busy for a while. Give them their own space where they can draw when they want to instead of having them search your office drawers for pieces of paper. Your kids can also change their drawing whenever they like.
Daily Masterpiece
Snow Blocks
Nothing is more fun in the winter than building an igloo with the snow. If you want to make it look perfect, use a Tupperware container to easily form the snow into any shape. It’s easy enough to do for the kids and their imagination will flow.
Snow Blocks
No Mess
Kids who love ketchup on their hotdog sandwiches often make a big mess when eating. Try spreading the ketchup on the bun instead of using it as a topping. Your kids can still taste the ketchup while avoiding stains on their shirts.
No Mess
Hide The Candy
Kids love sugar and sweets. To stop kids from gobbling up all the sweet treats in your house, you can use this trick to hide those sweets. Get an empty packaging of a food they don’t like and cover the sweets with it. They’ll never find those candies.
Hide The Candy
Yogurt Pops
In summer, give kids a delicious and cooling treat out of yogurt and a few popsicle sticks. Simply poke a small hole on the yogurt cup’s lid, put the stick in, and freeze it for a few hours. Your kids will enjoy the yogurt and cool down when the heat gets too much.
Yogurt Pops
Bib Hanger
You don’t have to search the whole house for missing bibs anymore. Just stick a command hook at the back of your baby’s chair and hang the bibs on it. You’ll never lose a bib again and they’ll always be within reach when you need them.
Bib Hanger
Baby Socks
This hack is for parents who always seem lose a pair of socks after washing them. Get yourself a mesh bag and put all the socks in before tossing the bag in the wash. You’ll be able to keep the socks together and not have to rummage everywhere when the laundry is done.
Baby Socks
All That Sparkles
Arts and crafts are fun ways to spend time with kids, but it can seriously make a huge mess in your home. A room full of sequins, sparkles, and glitter can be tough to clean. But all you really need to deal with the clutter is a large piece of tape. Wrap the tape around your hand letting the sticky side face out. The sequins and glitters will stick to the tape and you can easily pick up all the loose materials.
All That Sparkles
Medicine Chart
With a tight schedule, it might be tougher to keep closely monitor your baby’s medicine intake. To avoid skipping a dose or other mistakes, try making a schedule on the bottle using a sharpie pen to remind you when you last gave them a dose.
Medicine Chart
Snack Bins
Kids are often hungry throughout the day, and it can be a tiring to run to the kitchen every time they ask for snacks. To make it easier for everyone, you can divide the snacks into smaller portions and place them in separate containers. That way the kids can get the snacks any time they want without having to ask.
Snack Bins
Childproof Cabinets
Children are very curious in nature. If your toddler has started crawling or walking, they’ll soon discover how to open cabinets. If you want to avoid them playing with the contents of your cabinets, you can wrap hair ties on two adjacent knobs or handles to prevent them from opening.
Childproof Cabinets
Race Track
Children have very short attention spans so it’s understandable how difficult it is to keep them entertained. To make playtime more exciting, build a racetrack by placing some masking tape on the rug. It’s also easy for the kids to do it themselves.
Race Track
Babyproof Coffee Table
A baby at home can be stressful especially for new parents. Of course, you want to keep them safe and accident free all the time. If you’re worried about your baby bumping into sharp corners, use a pool noodle as a corner bumper so that your baby doesn’t get hurt when they bump on the tables.
Babyproof Coffee Table
Jar Burrito
Burritos call for a fun mealtime, but they can be quite messy when you have kids. To avoid having food scattered all over the table, serve the burritos in mason jars. Cleanup time will be a breeze.
Jar Burrito
Bath Toys
Bath toys accumulate grime and mold after some time from all the water they’re exposed to. The next time you buy a new toy, use hot glue to seal the hole so that water doesn’t get inside it. This will help keep the toys mold-free for longer.
Bath Toys
Band-Aids
Sometimes you just have no time to spare to go to the hardware store to buy plug protectors. If you find yourself needing one, you can use band-aids to temporarily cover the sockets when your babies are walking or crawling around.
Band-Aids
Shoe Shopping
Use this crafty trick if your child doesn’t like trying on shoes or shopping in general. It will make your life easier. Trace the outline of your child’s feet on a piece of paper and take all their measurements when you go the store.
Shoe Shopping
Babysitting Template
It’s always better to be prepared. The same thing goes for your babysitters especially when you get a new one. It’s a simple but great idea to print out a template and place it inside a picture frame. You can then fill it out with any reminders or important details with a nonpermanent marker.
Babysitting Template
Safety First
Getting a little child’s fingers caught in a door can cause a huge alarm to parents. To prevent this from happening and ease your worry, place a pool noodle on one side of the door so that it never slams shut.
Safety First
Fence Painting
If you and your kids suddenly find yourself with nothing to do on a summer day, you can have fun with painting your fence. Get a couple of brushes, some water, and of course paint.
Fence Painting
Keep Them Entertained
Is it always difficult to get your kid ready for school? Try sticking some pennies under their shoes. The sound of the coins on the floor will entertain them and encourage them to keep walking.
Keep Them Entertained
Take A Picture
Take a picture of your kids at the start of the day when you go out for a trip. Although we don’t want it to happen, it’s best to be prepared if a kid ever gets lost. With this, you have can show their exact appearance when you ask for help.
Take A Picture
Upside Down
This trick is for those who want to stop having drinks spilled on the car seat every time. Take out the normal straws from your toddler’s cup and replace it with a crazy straw. But you have to place the crazy straw upside down so your kid can’t pull it out.
Upside Down
Bath Basket
Are you struggling to give your baby a bathe? We highly recommend using the laundry basket to make things easier for you. All you have to do is to put the basket in the bath and then put all the toys there! This way, the baby’s toys will be near them. You can now finish bathing them easily!
Bath Basket
Clean Carpets
An English mom found a problem when she was putting away her baby’s stroller. She usually keeps it in the hallway, but the dirt from outside would stain the carpet after. She suddenly got a bright idea for her problem. She thought of covering the stroller tires with shower caps to keep the dirt off her carpet.
Clean Carpets
OM
A new dad turned into a viral sensation when he was filming a Facebook Live. Daniel Eisenmann calmed his crying baby in just a few seconds while he remained in his seat. While Daniel was talking about surfing in the video, his baby began to cry. Without missing a beat, the new dad began oming to his baby. He used a yoga chant to soother her, and it worked. Baby Divina instantly settled down and went back to sleep.
OM
Hula-Hoop
One thing all parents struggle with is being hunched over when they are trying to teach their baby how to walk. Now, the hunched backs are coming to an end. A dad who had the same problem shared a brilliant solution through a YouTube video. He used a hula-hoop which will serve as a handle and something the baby can hold on to while trying to take their first steps.
Hula Hoop
Baby Bath
You only need a few things for this bathtub hack. Just grab any cheap pool noodle from the store and cover it with one of your old pillowcases. This hack will make it easier for parents to give their newborn babies a bath. The pillowcase will give support to the baby’s body and make them comfortable while they’re in the water.
Baby Bath
Teether To-Go
The teething phase of babies is a tough one for parents. This hack was discovered by a dad from Queens and might come as a lifesaver during a day out with your baby. Get a Klean Kanteen or any insulated water container and fill it with ice water. This will help keep the teethers cool the whole day.
Teether To Go
Boo Boo Packs
Kids love to play, and injuries are often inevitable. They love to run and chase each other around which often leave them scratches and bruises when they come home. One mom realized that applying ice packs on the skin can be unpleasant and doesn’t give her kid that much relief. Good thing she found an alternative. She replaced ice packs with marshmallows in a Ziploc bag placed in the freezer. Although the marshmallows are cold, it doesn’t give a stinging cold feeling. Kids will love it especially when the marshmallow gets thawed and soft enough to eat.
Boo Boo Packs
Toothbrush Labels
Toothbrushes need to be replaced every three months since they are a breeding ground for bacteria. One mom from Cambridge, Ontario thought she would be set for one year after giving her daughter Dory-themed toothbrushes, six to be exact. However, the young girl threw out her toothbrushes too soon and the stash lasted only a few months. The mom realized her mistake. She now puts an expiration date on each toothbrush using different symbols for the months. It was a perfect solution.
Toothbrush Labels
Earn TV Time
It’s always a good thing to teach children about responsibility even when they’re young. There is a hack for parents to make their children do chores. Use TV time as a form of reward that the kids can earn. One chore they complete would give them a set amount of time to watch TV.
Earn TV Time
Spelling Blocks
Everyone knows how important education is. To make it fun for your kids, try using their toy blocks to get them started on spelling. Place a different word or letter on each block. With this, your kid will get familiar with all sorts of words in a fun way.
Spelling Blocks
Floor Drawing
We’re not telling you to actually let your kids write and draw on the floor itself. Instead, you can use a vinyl curtain and spread it on the floor. Keep it in place using some tape and the kids will be entertained for hours. Give them some colorful markers and let their creativity run through. Although make sure you remind them where vinyl curtain ends to avoid any damage to your flooring.
Floor Drawing
Magnetic Board
You can always mix in some study time even while your child is playing. Get a magnetic board and set it up in their room. Then you can place some magnetic letters to develop their spelling ability.
Magnetic Board
Tooth Fairy Money
If you want to make losing teeth a bit more exciting for your children, you should try spraying the money with some glitter hairspray for some shimmer. Just don’t go crazy with the glitter. It will make the tooth fairy experience a little more special for them.
Tooth Fairy Money