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Raising a child can be truly overwhelming. In fact, this poll showed that the first year of raising a baby can lead to more than 2,500 arguments. And that’s solely inside the family. If you think of all the parenting styles and techniques, there’s a whole other universe to be debated on which has been dividing parents since…. basically, the dawn of time.

So in order to get your mind sorted and see what really works and what doesn’t when raising a tiny human, it’s best to look at things in practice. Meet Lauren Mejia, a TikTok creator and mom to 22mo Brax who has been sharing child development hacks, Montessori and mama tips with her 350K followers on the channel.

Lauren's advice includes practical hacks she wishes she knew before having a baby, and they have been watched millions of times. So let’s see some of her best tips right below and be sure to share your experiences and thoughts in the comments!

More info: TikTok | Instagram | Linktr.ee

@lauren_mejia_

#babyhacks #baby #toddler #toddlertips #babytips #newmom #firsttimemom #mama #foryou #foryoupage #fyp #parent #parenting #momlife #themoreyouknow

♬ Backyard Boy - Claire Rosinkranz
#1

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Is your toddler always putting their shoes on backward? Cut a sticker in half & put them on the insides so they can easily match up the sticker!

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is a good idea but for the fact that it will probably last 3 minutes until they start to peel it off. :)

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#2

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Store everything you need for diaper changes in a wipe container so you aren't searching your entire diaper bag for what you need

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Don't use such a bulky item for it though. I had a diaper pouch with three diapers, baby wipes and baggies. And sure I had a tiny container of Sudocrem with me. That little set is so compact you can put it in any bag. And for when they were really tiny I did have a diaper bag, with warm water, milk and a bottle and a set of clean clothes of course. But keeping the diaper essentials separate was a mental life saver for me. So I get the hack, but I would make it a little more lean.

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#3

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If your baby struggles to hold a bottle, put it in a squish ball!

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Mich
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think if they struggle to hold the bottle, they should be in the arms of an adult, who is holding the bottle and gazing adoringly at them.

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Bored Panda reached out to the creator of these parenting hacks, a 26-year-old woman named Lauren Mejia who holds a degree in Child Development, Psychology and Montessori education. “I am a mom to a 22-month-old baby boy named Braxton. I got into TikTok around the time my son turned 1 by posting tips and activities that I thought would be helpful for other parents,” she told us.

#4

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Cut an old onesie to make a bib & new shirt!

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#5

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Keep marshmallows in the freezer for bumps... softer than ice but still cold & calming

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and very ineffective. Marshmallows are mostly air and great insulators. So they will not do what you want them to do. Just use an icepack with some cloth in between.

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Polly Glottle
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or a small bag of frozen peas or sweetcorn that mould to the affected area but can be refrozen as many times as you want... just remember not to eat them

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Deborah B
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Frozen peas are better - more conformable. Have a ziplock bag of them in the freezer that is used only as an icepack, and they're reusable.

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classbag
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Terrible idea for small kids. They'll want to eat them, and the only bigger choking hazard than a room-temperature marshmallow is a cold one. Kids under 3 shouldn't have large marshmallows because they're the same size as a child's airway and difficult to break down.

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Ba Loeloe
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another made up idea not based on evidence. And most bumps don't need ice pack, a wet towel will do.

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#6

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Bring a thermos with hot water to easily warn bottles on-the-go

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MellonCollie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you use formula, put the water you're going to use for the bottle(s) in the thermos, and bringing powdered milk in portion containers. But I'm guessing you already knew that.

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So Lauren’s TikTok channel lifts some of that burden from parents’ shoulders and provides real know-how advice on child development and everyday hacks, as well as giving them simple yet game-changing solutions to any of the problems that may come up.

The TikTok creator said that her hacks are inspired by the daily issues she experiences when raising Braxton, which makes her videos all the more relatable. “I get my ideas for hacks by experiencing daily issues being a mom and trying to figure out useful and helpful ways that will solve common problems that other parents may also experience.”

#7

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Reduce the risk of mold growing in your bath toys by hoy gluing the hole closed

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That doesn't reduce, that stops it. It also takes the fun out of squeezing them.

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#8

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Wrap their arms in the bottom of the onesie for diaper changes & teeth brushing

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#9

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Pour water onto a wash cloth & freeze for 10 minutes for the best teething toy

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When asked what’s the most difficult part of being a parent, in her opinion, Lauren said that it “is trying to figure out what your baby needs at every given moment and constantly wondering if you're doing enough for them in regards to their development.”

Lauren also added that she mainly gets positive feedback from her viewers. “It's always motivating to post when other parents comment on how useful my tips are,” she concluded.

#10

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Have a baby that throws all their food on the floor? Try introducing a "no thank you' bowl to minimize the mess

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Stimpy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think mine doesn't do it because she doesn't like/want the food. She does it because she is experimenting with dropping things (gravity).:)

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#11

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Is your kid is always dropping their puzzles or losing pieces? Buy velcro from the $1 store so pieces stay put for storage & transfer

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Kristin Ingersoll
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the pieces will never fit flush, which will drive your OCD toddler batsh!t crazy.

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#12

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Cut the shower curtain in half. Place under high chair for easy cleanup. Just pick it up & rinse it off in the sink!

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classbag
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not worth it unless you have carpet. Same amount of work to clean a plastic sheet as it is to just take a wet paper towel to the floor, imho.

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#13

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Always put a diaper underneath first when doing diaper changes

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, is there anyone not doing that? I would not risk these five seconds...babies know how to time for such moments!

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#14

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Having trouble giving baby medicine?
Poke a hole into a pacifier & use the syringe to push it in as they naturally suck on it!

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#15

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Using a makeup brush is the easiest way to apply sunscreen into all those small areas like their ears/nose

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Kristin Ingersoll
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Soooooo... You use your fingers and hands for the entire body, then... wash your hands and get a makeup brush all sticky with sunscreen? FYI, washing makeup brushes of sticky substances is not fun. Or easy. Whole lot easier to wash your flipping hands.

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#16

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Make sure the ruffles on the diaper are always faced outwards & not tucked in.
This iwll save from potential blow outs/leaks!

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No offence, but what else would be the purpose of them? As a parent you learn the hard way when half-asleep changing a diaper that also a mostly empty diaper can be leaky if improperly fixed...

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#17

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

If you keep pulling out more than 1 wipe just put a hair tie around the wipes!

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#18

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Use a command hook on the back of highchair to hang bibs

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#19

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Smelly diaper bin? Put small cup of baking soda inside of it

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...or simply well close used diapers and bring the bag to the trash regularly...

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#20

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Wash/sanitize toys easily in the dishwasher on low heat

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Low heat? High heat! You want to sanitize them, you need at least 60 degrees celsius.

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#21

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If you've lost and bought a ton of pacifier covers like me.. Store an extra in a Ziploc in your diaper bag to keep it clean and safe!

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#22

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Check to see if your neighborhood has a free little library for free books & to donate gently used ones!

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Stimpy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ah yes, the most reliable source for outdated IT books from the 90s...

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#23

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Freeze water inside of a paci when baby is teething It's great when they're breaking in those front four teeth!

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Cassie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are so many of these "put random thing in the freezer as a teether" posts. Is nobody aware that there are teethers on the market designed to go in the freezer without making a wet mess as they warm up? They're designed for this exact purpose and they're not expensive.

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#24

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Save space & cut snack bags into 2 with a hot knife

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Rissie
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or get smaller ones. IKEA carries them. No need for hacks that don't work very well anyway.

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#25

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Have an empty wipe package? Turn it into a super simple plug cover (Discontinue use when your child gains the fine moto skills to open it themselves)

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...or just spent a few bucks on buying a 20 pack covers that even cannot be fiddled with by toddlers....

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#26

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Use a fitted sheet for easy sensory bin clean up or for a contained baby play center

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Candia Lee
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would be worried the kid would trip over the excess sheet. Just play with the kid to keep control.

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#28

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Put frozen breastmilk in a mesh feeder for an easy teething toy

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#29

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

Has your kid ever gotten these hair ties stuck in their hair? Dab lemon essential oil on it & it'll pop right off!

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#30

Child-Hacks-Lauren-Mejia

use a spatula/makeup brush to apply diaper cream so you aren't sticking your dirty hands into the jar

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Hans
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But...then you put the brush onto the butt and next time into the jar. Why not use the clean hand that you did not use to wipe the baby's butt?

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Note: this post originally had 32 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.