Parenting is difficult but so worth it. But it’s true what they say: it takes a village to raise a child. For every weird situation you find yourself in as a mom or dad, there’s a veteran parent who knows exactly what you’re going through.
These things are big and small. Potty training, weaning your toddler off the pacifier, and trying to baby proof your house are all part of the journey. And in case you’re still stressing about those things, you should know that your child will be potty trained when they’re ready, they won’t go to school still using a pacifier, and we’ve all had kids take a tumble down some steps.
But here’s the good news — in 2019, the “village” is the whole internet. That means moms and dads around the world can share their wisdom for raising kids. We all know the difficulty of getting children to eat their vegetables and wondering if you can go insane from listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat.
Remember that as hard as it is, it’s all worth it. And if you’re going crazy, remind yourself that we’ve all been there. Here are 60 parenting hacks to help you out.
1. Tape over those musical speakers on toys
You might swear up and down your children will never have any musical toys, but grandparents, birthday party guests, and family members will make you a liar. If you don’t want to listen to “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” 8,000 times, tape over the speaker.
2. Keep popsicles from making a mess with a cupcake liner
Popsicles are a great treat for kids during the summer (and pretty easy to make) but they can create a huge mess. Sticking a cupcake liner under the popsicle is an easy way to avoid mishaps.
3. …or use a slice of cucumber
This one sounds weird, but it works! If you don’t have a cupcake liner, try sticking a slice of cucumber on the popsicle stick. Cucumbers are great at soaking up juice, which means no popsicle mess.
4. Foil the plans of your little nudists
If you have a toddler who’s intent on taking their clothes (and usually their diaper) off, put their pajamas on backward. It makes no practical difference but it stops them from stripping off their clothes.
5. Use a piece of plastic from a milk jug to stop kids from playing with the lights
Some kids will keep themselves up all hours playing with the lights. Supergluing a piece of plastic over the switch makes it hard for little fingers to push it up and down.
6. Put in a spy window so you can check on the kids from upstairs
If you have a playroom on an upper or lower level, you might be taking lots of trips up and down the stairs to check on the kids. Just install a mirror on the landing so that you can peek in from where you are.
7. Hang toy cars with magnetic knife holders
If you have a kid who loves little toys like cars, they might get underfoot a lot. Try putting in a magnetic strip for super easy cleanup and storage.
8. Hang bibs on a Command hook on the back of the high chair
It’s dinnertime and you’ve got your little one and the baby food ready to go, but now you’ve got to search for a bib. Sticking a Command hook on the back of the high chair means you’ll always have one within easy reach.
9. Use those onesie envelope folds
If you haven’t cared for a baby much before, you might not know what those folds on the shoulders of onesies are for. They’re for pulling clothes down over the body in the event of diaper blowouts. That way, you don’t have to navigate poopy clothes over baby’s head.
10. Store Legos with a shoe organizer
Everyone knows how much it hurts to step on a Lego, and they’re super hard to clean up. A shoe organizer is a cheap and simple way to keep all those little pieces organized.
11. Teach your kid left from right with this clever sticker trick
The day your child can put their own shoes is for celebration. That meas you have one less thing to do! But that also means they have to get them on the right feet. To teach them left from right, place one half of a sticker in the appropriate inside sole.
12. Keep track of baby socks by washing them in a laundry bag
Baby socks are so cute and tiny — so tiny, in fact, they’re bound to get lost in the washing machine (even more than regular socks). Keep them in pairs by washing in a mesh bag, like the kind used for lingerie.
13. Keep the sensor on public toilets from flushing and freaking your kiddo out
Using a toilet is still a new experience for kids and that means they can feel nervous trying to go to the bathroom in a new place — or with an unexpected flush exploding beneath them. To keep the sensor from scaring them, place a piece of toilet paper over it until your child is all done.
14. Ditch the store-bought ice pack for a frozen sponge
If you’re packing a school lunch, you probably have to pack an ice pack. But you know things that go into the lunchbox have a good chance of getting lost. Instead of a pricey ice pack, put a frozen sponge in a plastic bag. If they lose it, it’s no biggie!
15. Rig up this DIY sippy cup
There are times when, for whatever reason, you don’t have a sippy cup on hand. If your kiddo isn’t quite ready for one without a lid, use some Press-n-Seal wrap over a cup with a straw.
16. Pack an emergency crayon stash in an Altoids container
There are times when you need your child to be entertained so they will stay still for just a few minutes — and those times can come unexpectedly. Be ready to meet them by keeping some scraps of paper and crayons in an Altoids container in your purse or diaper bag.
17. Store bath toys with an extra shower curtain rod
Kids love playing in the bathtub, but keeping their toys in the shower can be a tripping hazard. Organize and make them accessible by installing a second shower curtain with some mounted baskets.
18. Detangle doll hair with fabric softener
As children play with toys, they get a little worse for the wear. If your child’s dolls have tons of tangles, just combine some fabric softener and water in a bottle. Spray liberally and then comb through.
19. Put a rubber band on your pump soap to stop your kids from going crazy
If you use liquid soap, you might have learned the hard way that kids can get a little soap-happy. To save soap and avoid a mess, wrap a rubber band around the neck of the pump.
20. Make a faucet extender for little hands
Your child might be potty-trained, but that doesn’t mean they’re tall enough to comfortably reach the sink! To make sure they can wash their hands without help, rig this DIY faucet extender out of an old plastic bottle.
21. Make an easy visual for kids to help them avoid wasting toilet paper
If you have kids that tend to get a little too enthusiastic with toilet paper, you can make them a handy wall marker in no time at all. Just a piece of paper will suffice to show them how far to pull.
22. Ease the wait at the pediatrician with some crayons
Waiting at the doctor’s office can be hard for kids, but luckily, there’s a canvas right on the exam table! To pass the time, let your child color on the exam table paper — just check with the nurse to make sure it’s okay.
23. Put a clip on a bubble wand to keep it from falling into the bottle
Bubbles are an outside activity that can provide hours of fun, but those bubble wands are hard for little hands to hold on to. To keep them from falling back into the bottle, use a regular binder clip.
24. Use an empty wipes container for traveling snacks
Those plastic wipes containers don’t need to be single-use only! They’re the perfect size and shape for stowing emergency snacks in the car or diaper bag, such as raisins, crackers, or granola bars.
25. Track your kiddo’s medicine intake on the side of the bottle
If you have a child who’s on short-term prescribed medicine such as an antibiotic, it’s important to keep track of their doses so they take the full course without overdosing. Instead of writing it on a piece of paper, use a marker to make notes of dosing right on the medicine bottle.
26. Pack some gel clings to keep toddlers entertained on a flight
The thought of traveling with young children makes even veteran parents feel nervous. You’ll need to pack a lot of things for entertainment. These gel clings are a perfect choice if you have a window seat.
27. Use coffee filters for simple snack bowls
Your kids probably ask for about 1,000 snacks every day, and it’s not always convenient to get a clean bowl every time. For dry snacks like chips or pretzels, a coffee filter makes a perfect disposable “bowl.”
28. Help sick kids take medicine by dipping a lollipop in it
Having a sick kid who needs to take medicine can be a battle, especially if the medicine tastes unpleasant. To make things a little easier, try dipping a lollipop into liquid medicine and letting your child suck it off, repeating until they’ve taken their full dose.
29. Use a crib sheet to keep babies protected outside
If you want to bring your baby outside in a playpen, you might be concerned about keeping them safe from bugs and UV rays. Hats and sunscreen are important, but this fitted crib sheet over the top of the playpen works great, too.
30. Cut your baby’s nails 20 minutes after they fall asleep
Baby nails grow fast and sharp, which puts kids at risk of scratching themselves every couple of days. If your baby is fussy about nail trimming, wait about 20 minutes after they’ve fallen asleep. They’ll be deep in a REM cycle, making it easy for you can trim away without disturbing them.
31. Entertain toddlers by letting them paint the fence with water
If you have a toddler that’s going crazy for something to do, put them to work “painting” your fence or outside wall. All you need is a bucket of water and a brush. They’ll have a blast creating designs without making a mess.
32. Use hair ties to childproof cabinets
If you need to childproof a cabinet in a pinch but don’t have a cable, don’t panic. A regular hair tie is a perfect way to tie cabinet doors together.
33. Toothpaste can get crayon or marker off of many surfaces
If you have an artistically-minded toddler, you will — seriously, you WILL — eventually get crayon or marker on your walls or upholstery. Toothpaste, baking soda, vinegar, and magic erasers are your friends.
34. Keep your toddler’s sippy cup attached to their car seat
Have you ever found yourself trying to grope for your toddler’s sippy cup with one hand on the steering wheel? Tie the cup to their car seat so that they can pull it up themselves. You’ll be driving more safely, too.
35. Make a temporary racetrack with some masking tape
There are some days where kids have to stay inside and need different indoor activities. The next time you’re stuck in the house because of cold, heat, or rain, try making this temporary racetrack to occupy your toddler!
36. Use a shoe organizer to keep things tidy in the car
With kids, cars can get cluttered quickly, what with snacks, shoes, and entertainment materials. Keep everything in one place with a shoe organizer suspended from the front seats.
37. Baby proof the cheap and easy way with pool noodles
Sure, you can buy the professional babyproofing stuff, but sometimes, you need those things in a pinch! Pool noodles are cheap and easy to cut and fit to your furniture. This is especially helpful if you have a baby who’s just learning to pull themselves up or walk.
38. Keep kids entertained with a cardboard box and some crayons
Are your kids going crazy and need something to do? Grab an old cardboard box from your last Prime order (or anything else) and a few crayons. Now they have a “fort” that they can customize.
39. Use pizza boxes as finger painting canvases
Pizza boxes make a perfect “canvas” for little artists. They’re garbage anyway, so you may as well beautify the cardboard a bit before garbage collection day!
40. One colander + pipe cleaners = an entertained toddler
Here’s another rainy-day activity that’ll keep your child occupied, at least for a while. Grab a regular colander and some pipe cleaners. Then, let them experiment with pushing pipe cleaners through the holes. It also works with pencils.
41. Tape bubble bottles to walls or posts to avoid spills
Bubbles are a perfect source of outdoor fun, but kids tend to spill them, which leads to tears. To prevent this from happening, tape bubble bottles to a wall or post.
42. Glue holes in bath toys to avoid growing mold
Most bath toys have holes in the bottom so that you can easily squeeze water out of them. Unfortunately, these holes usually let more water in, which means they get moldy and gross. A single blob of hot glue will seal the hole.
43. Clean Legos in a mesh bag in the washing machine
If Legos are a favorite toy in your house, you know how gross they get. About once a month, plop them in a mesh bag and toss in the washing machine — goodbye, sticky residue, and germs!
44. Emergency baby proof outlets with Band-Aids
It’s important to make sure all your electrical outlets are covered to prevent little fingers from going in them. But if you don’t have store-bought covers handy, a Band-Aid is a good temporary solution. This works great in a hotel room, too.
45. Suspend a tablet in a plastic bag for movie watching in the car
If you don’t have a movie system in your car (and most of us don’t), there are ways to let your kids enjoy some screen time while on a long drive! Put a tablet in a plastic bag and suspend it from the seat of the car.
46. Use “monster spray” to help kids feel safe before bed
If your kids are afraid of monsters under the bed, make a bottle of “monster spray.” Spritz under the bed, in the closet, or anywhere else that your kids finds creepy before bedtime. You can fill the bottle with cheap perfume so that the room smells nice, too.
47. Put a wet wipe on your baby’s belly to avoid getting peed on
If your baby tends to pee the moment you remove their diaper, prepare.. Before opening the diaper, lay a wet wipe on their belly. This often makes them shiver and void their bladder — into the diaper instead of on you.
48. Bathe your baby in a laundry basket to keep them and the toys in one place
Once babies can sit up in the tub, they can play — but sometimes, they’re still too wiggly for their own good. To keep them from slipping while chasing their toys, put a laundry basket in the tub and plop baby and toys inside..
49. Trace your kids’ feet to make shoe shopping way easier
Do you dread going shoe shopping with your kids? You’re not alone. To avoid having to drag them along with you, trace their feet and shoes on a piece of paper. Also, take any notes about different kinds of shoes with you to the store.
50. Put your kids to work with some fun games
Kids love to help out around the house, but they often make a bigger mess — even though they try. Put some tape on the floor to show them how to sweep into a pile. That makes it a game!
51. Use an overnight pad to reinforce a diaper
Let’s face it: some kids just pee a LOT during the night. If your child is soaking through a regular overnight diaper, reinforce it with a maxi pad. It’ll save you from changing pee-soaked jammies.
52. Teach your kid to hold a pencil with a wad of tissue
Kids don’t have a lot of dexterity in their hands, so learning to hold a pencil properly can be a challenge. Teach them how to grip by putting a small wad of tissue under their ring finger and having them squeeze it.
53. Help kids concentrate on homework with a yoga ball
Homework is hard for kids even when they get into late elementary or middle school. Giving them a yoga ball instead of a chair is a helpful way to let them fidget while concentrating on their work.
54. Give medicine through a pacifier
Getting medicine into a sick baby can be really hard. If you have an infant who loves their pacifier and hates their medicine, try this method: dip the pacifier into the medicine and let them suck it off. Repeat until the dose is gone.
55. Install a baby gate with cable ties
Baby gates pretty much become a necessity once your infant learns to crawl, but you don’t need to nail or screw them in place! Just secure them using a cable tie. When your child is old enough to go up and down stairs without incident, you can take it off easily.
56. Use a DVD case to store art supplies while traveling
Here’s another way to pack an emergency entertainment kit for the road: an old DVD case. Put some colored pencils and a small sketchpad inside. It’ll calm bored or stir-crazy kids.
57. Trick your kid into sleeping with a fake hand — yep, a fake hand
You might think this is bizarre, but if you’ve ever had a kid who just won’t sleep, you’ll try almost anything. Fill a glove with beans or rice and secure it to make sure there’s no choking hazard. When it’s time for bed, give your child a couple of strokes with the glove, then lay it on their back and sneak away.
58. Keep diapers and a travel potty in your car
Being on the road with a potty-training kid can be stressful. Keep a travel potty chair and diapers in your car for emergencies You can suspend the diaper inside the potty for an almost instant clean-up.
59. Put shower caps on stroller wheels to avoid spreading dirt
If you’re ever in a situation where you have to bring a stroller into the house, keep some shower caps in the diaper bag to pop on the wheels. It’ll avoid tracking dirt into the building. Think of it like house shoes for your stroller!
60. Put tape on baby nail clippers to control clippings
Those teeny tiny baby nails tend to fly EVERYWHERE when you clip them. To avoid making a mess (or getting a fingernail in the cornea) wrap a bit of tape around the clippers. They’ll stick instead of flying across the room.
60 best parenting hacks you'll be upset you didn't know sooner
Cedric Jackson
09.16.19
Parenting is difficult but so worth it. But it’s true what they say: it takes a village to raise a child. For every weird situation you find yourself in as a mom or dad, there’s a veteran parent who knows exactly what you’re going through.
These things are big and small. Potty training, weaning your toddler off the pacifier, and trying to baby proof your house are all part of the journey. And in case you’re still stressing about those things, you should know that your child will be potty trained when they’re ready, they won’t go to school still using a pacifier, and we’ve all had kids take a tumble down some steps.
But here’s the good news — in 2019, the “village” is the whole internet. That means moms and dads around the world can share their wisdom for raising kids. We all know the difficulty of getting children to eat their vegetables and wondering if you can go insane from listening to the Frozen soundtrack on repeat.
Remember that as hard as it is, it’s all worth it. And if you’re going crazy, remind yourself that we’ve all been there. Here are 60 parenting hacks to help you out.