If you think that life is already hard, wait until you have kids of your own. Yes, raising kids is a magical journey in creating a decent human being and yet as rewarding and fulfilling it is, parenting is also probably the hardest task known to the human race. The sleepless nights, the pee on a bed, the vomit on your favorite t-shirt and other hardships that are aplenty can sometimes be alleviated with clever life hacks, though.
We here at Bored Panda have collected a list of genius parenting tips and tricks that will leave you wondering: “Why didn't I think of that before?” From clever life advice on keeping your toddlers occupied, to life tips on getting your kid eating healthy and all the other possible parenthood hacks, you'll find all the necessary parenting advice on easy rearing here.
Scroll down below to check the life hacks for kids and adults alike out for yourself, and don't forget to upvote the best ones!
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Creative Hack
How To Easily Teach Multiplication Tables
How To Tell Your Twins Apart
No Bathtub? Here's The Solution: Baby Pool In The Shower Cabin. It's Also Handy When Travelling
BBQ Dad Hack
Use A Tent To Make A Sandpit. You Will Be Able To Close It During The Night To Keep The Cats Out
Carseat Hack That Could Save Lives
Write out child’s name, DOB, parents names, emergency contacts, any medical conditions, any meds your child is on and even child’s doctor, then stick it to the child’s car seat. In the event of an accident and the parents are unconscious, this information will be extremely helpful to EMS
I Took A Rectangle-Shaped Tupperware And We Made 'Snow Blocks' For An 'Igloo'. My Boys Absolutely Loved It
Although We Tell Our Daughter To Not Run Into Parking Lots, It Doesn't Mean She Is Going To Listen. I Bought This Car Magnet And It Has Been A Miracle Worker. She Loves Keeping Her Hand On The Bright Colors While Waiting For Mom And Will Try So Hard To Match Her Fingers To The Magnet's
My Toddler Was Busy For Over 30 Minutes Playing With These Window Stickers On The Plane. Easy To Pack, Fun For Them, And Cheap!
Meirl
Keep A Cheap Potty Chair In Your Car Along With A Few Diapers. If Your Child Needs To Go To The Bathroom When There Isn’t One, Open A Diaper And Put In The Bottom Of The Potty Chair. When He Is Done, Wrap Up The Diaper And Done. No Mess
If You Have To Bring Your Stroller Indoors Put Shower Caps On The Wheels To Prevent Bringing The Dirt Inside
Inventive Dad Of The Day
Put Masking Tape On A Carpet For Your Kid To Play With Toy Cars
I know a store where you can buy tape with a road on it just for this. it's super cool
When Giving Meds, Write Out All The Planned Dosages On The Bottle Before Starting, Then, As Each One Is Given, Mark It Off. Eliminates Any Issues That Might Arise From Sleep-Deprived Forgetfulness
In Need Of A Little Bit Of Hands Free Time? Place Your Baby In Front Of The Washing Machine For A Whole New World Of Entertainment
Or mirror for those of you who don’t have a washing machine
Ask Your Child To Sort Little Things Like Felt Balls Or Colourful Pasta Into A Muffin Pan
My daughter loved doing this. At 8 years old, she still uses more time sorting beads than actually using them :)
French Fry Apples Anyone? When Your Toddler Doesn't Want Apples, Cut Them Like This And Pretend You Made Apple French Fries
When Your Kid Is Asleep But You Need To Eat...
Parenting Done Right
My family still tries to talk to me when I am listening to my music. 😠
When You Go Out, Color Code Your Brood. Makes It Easier To Spot Them In The Crowd
We did this once, didn't realise it was St Patricks day.......never seen little Jimmy again
Use Bottle Nipple As Medicine Dispenser
If You Have A Kid With A Walker, Use Pool Noodles As Bumpers To Save Your Walls And Ankles
When I first saw the picture, I thought it was to allow the baby to float in a pool......
Clean Non-Electronic Plastic Toys In A Dishwasher
Bring Crayons To The Doctor When Your Kids Have A Check Up. It Keeps Everyone Distracted During Wait Times
Sprinkle Some Cinnamon In A Sandbox To Keep Bugs Away
In A Super Pinch, Suitcase Can Double As A Sleeper
Use Shoe Storage Bag To Store And Organize Legos By Color
thats boring to me. Better have a huge pile of legos to dive and dig in, thats the life^^
Disposable Gloves Hack
We would put our feet inside plastic bags over our socks inside our boots as well.
Painting The Fire Station Floor
A Frozen Sponge In A Ziplock Is The Perfect Way To Keep Kids Lunches Cold
Does Anyone Else Use The Bathtub (Minus Water) As A Play Pen When Having A Shower?
this doesn't work when your babies are able to turn on the water in the bath tub and you don't want them to
Mom Tip: Yogurt Plus Food Coloring = Safe Edible Paint
I don't think it is a good idea. You should teach your kid not to eat paint.
Put Up A “Spy Window”. Very Time You Want To Check On The Kids You Won't Need To Go All The Way Down The Stairs
Put A Paper Sheet In A Ziplock Bag Together With Some Paint And Let Your Child "Paint" Mess-Free
I do this now! It's nice and simple, though I wouldn't say it's completely mess free.
Attach A Sippy Cup To Your Kid’s Car Seat. This Way You Won't Have To Turn Around And Pick It Up Every Time Your Kid Drops It
Knit A Childproof Door Knob Cover To Avoid Getting Locked Out Or To Keep Children Away Of Entering Certain Rooms
Ask Your Keiki For A Toy They Want The 'Switch Witch' To Bring Them. Halloween Night When They Go To Bed All Their Candy Goes Next To Their Pillow. Switch Witch Arrives While They're Sleeping And Switches Their Candy For The Toy
Me too. I don't eat candy like that all year long. Just let me have Halloween.
Load More Replies...confused... why spend money when they literally got all those sweets for free? Just give them to your child in small doses if you seriously can't take them having that much sweets ONCE A YEAR
It's a moment to teach a kid about self control and delayed gratification, which very important for producing functional adults.
Load More Replies...Don't do this. Please don't do this. Halloween is a vital holiday that can teach kids so much. Like- being safe around strangers, having good manners, being independent, sharing, and moderation (as well as splurging being OK now and then). It teaches kids that being scared is OK sometimes and how to process those emotions. It can also promote exercise!! Plus, for little kids it's their first chance to earn something and things like picking what they want to eat or trade promotes decision making. Meeting neighbors and being a part of your local community is also a huge part of Halloween. Don't do insular trunk or treat stuff. Don't take away or demonize the candy or the scary stuff. Halloween is a really special thing that needs more respect for how important it can be for kids development. This kind of c**p makes me really sad. (And . . . I think trading candy for a Barbie of all things is pretty ironic as well.)
meh, candy is better! Let them be kids. Toys come soon enough at christmas
Let the kid have candy. The switch witch seems like a dirty trick Mom. It's once a year. Lighten up.
Who wants to teach your child that a witch sneaks into their bedroom at night? NOT ME!!!!
So the tooth fairy gives them nothing as well? You monster!
Load More Replies...Or just limit their candy intake. This is just more pressure for parents to spend money on toys their kids don't need.
This is great, then you can dole out the candy slowly instead of having a comatose kid the day after Halloween.
our local dentist office rewards kids who turn in their candy to them after halloween. 1$ for every 1lb up to 5lbs...per child.
So you're taking kids' hard-earned free candy that they only get once a year AND SPEND MONEY ON A NEW THING for your own gain? Seems kinda f****d up to me.
Next year I'm going to use the leftover candy to make 'spooky bark' (chocolate bark with all the random candies in it). I've already eaten up the candy for this year.
Why do we treat kids like this? All the lies on top of lies, to supposedly save THEM from emotional pain. "Don't want to be the bad guy??? Just invent a good guy!" The pain comes later when the child realizes that trust is a sham. If you need to take the kid's candy away, after letting them go collect it...Just tell them that binge eating sugar is disgusting and horrible for your body, because it is, and that's actually true. Ya know what's worse? Lying. Lying is lame, even to a child.
Well said, Karen Snyder. Our children know the stories of Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, etc., but never thought of them as "real". They know that gifts come from loved ones, and that people give because they care. When they lose teeth, Auntie collects them and treats the child with a trinket or a dollar. This is because kids grow up in a flash (symbolized by milestones such as losing teeth) and we want as many happy and proud memories as possible. Halloween may last all Autumn in our house, but the sweets are allotted out rationally, for reasons mentioned above. The same approach was taken with "Where do babies come from?" Honesty will prepare children for reality.
Load More Replies...Nobody mentioned the witch part- no way would I want a witch coming by me at night switching anything- that would have scared me- and seems just weird and freaky to tell a kid- if they want to trade the candy for a toy then just do it (no need for weirdo witchy games)!
I would take my phone out and not collect a lot of candy. Less work, same toy.
The Great Pumpkin asks you leave one half of your candy for him on the front stoop in exchange for a toy. Linus talks about this. So the kids get all excited watching It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown on Halloween after Trickir Treating.
When Getting Out Of The Car By A Road Or In A Car Park, Ask Your Child To Touch ‘The Spot’ Aka The Fuel Cover Thingy! Especially Helpful For Anyone With Multiple Children Trying To Get Everyone Out Of The Car!
Sometimes I Have To Disguise Oatmeal Within A Banana To Get My Child To Eat. He’s Been Eating The Same Bite Of Banana And New Oatmeal This Whole Time
Teach A Child To Hold A Pencil Using A Kleenex
I Agree with Sunflowers. This grip is tortuous. It could be I've been conditioned by two decades of drawing, but I can't help but hold my pencil using only two fingers - either thumb/index, thumb/middle or index/middle and, in each case, the other fingers are used as support, so they're in contact with the surface I'm drawing/writing on, not the palm. Frankly, I think it's a mistake to teach a child a single, "proper", pencil grip. Let them experiment with it and find their own. It's the same as forcing left-handed people to write their right, because that's the "proper" way, because it might mess with their perception of right and left. Both my dad and girlfriend are left-handed and have been forced to use their right for writing in school, so I know this one from experience. It gets especially visible when they're tired or unattentive - you tell them to turn right and they unthinkingly turn left.
Use Shopping Cart Restraints To Secure Your Toddler's Sippy Cup
Carry An ‘Out Of Order’ Sign In Your Wallet At All Times In Case You Encounter An Unexpected Delay Machine
Or just teach yourt kid that "No" means "No" and they will get to ride it another time.
I thinlk the bathtub as a playpen is a terrible idea, the child could turn on the water and drown or the hot water on and be scalded.
I think they are saying to do that only when the parent is in the same room showering, so they should be paying attention the whole time.
Load More Replies...some of these aren't safe to do. I'm a teenager with a baby sister and I've learned some "Parenting Hacks" along the way. All I'm saying is that there are safer ways to entertain your kid(s). You just have to teach your kid(s) that no means no and to listen to their parents on most of these.
I don't mean to offend any parents with this. Some of the Hacks looked really helpful and I would like to try them too.
Load More Replies...No matter what u do someone has something to say If it doesn't work for u don't use it. Simple No need for sarky comments . Good ideas and should be fun to try. Giving tips for kids...maybe u shud put some up for dealing with rude adults
Most of these are for IF you are in a pinch. Let's not make it out to be more than that.
All I can say hun, is just make sure you have your life in order fist, the right man, money, college, house, job. Life can get really hard with a baby at a young age. I know! My first I was 18 and my second I was 19. And do understand if you like partying with friends all the time than wait till you at least past your 21st birthday. I'm not saying you can't go out every once in awhile but people shouldn't have kids and be out every night. Best of luck and do what makes you happy but remember a little persons life will be in your hands :)
Load More Replies...I thinlk the bathtub as a playpen is a terrible idea, the child could turn on the water and drown or the hot water on and be scalded.
I think they are saying to do that only when the parent is in the same room showering, so they should be paying attention the whole time.
Load More Replies...some of these aren't safe to do. I'm a teenager with a baby sister and I've learned some "Parenting Hacks" along the way. All I'm saying is that there are safer ways to entertain your kid(s). You just have to teach your kid(s) that no means no and to listen to their parents on most of these.
I don't mean to offend any parents with this. Some of the Hacks looked really helpful and I would like to try them too.
Load More Replies...No matter what u do someone has something to say If it doesn't work for u don't use it. Simple No need for sarky comments . Good ideas and should be fun to try. Giving tips for kids...maybe u shud put some up for dealing with rude adults
Most of these are for IF you are in a pinch. Let's not make it out to be more than that.
All I can say hun, is just make sure you have your life in order fist, the right man, money, college, house, job. Life can get really hard with a baby at a young age. I know! My first I was 18 and my second I was 19. And do understand if you like partying with friends all the time than wait till you at least past your 21st birthday. I'm not saying you can't go out every once in awhile but people shouldn't have kids and be out every night. Best of luck and do what makes you happy but remember a little persons life will be in your hands :)
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