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Good advice doesn't just lie around. Unless you recently became a parent and feel anxious about your new role. In that case, you can find invaluable wisdom and support on the subreddit r/DaddIt.
This online community has 1.2 million members, many of which are experienced fathers, happy to share how they babyproof the house, keep the little ones busy, and much, much more.
When you're sleep-deprived, exhausted, and constantly late to everywhere you go, even one additional minute saved can make a huge difference. Continue scrolling to check out the tips and the chat we had with Alan Lawrence, author of That Dad Blog.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Found A Hack For Short Hikes. Mantracking
We live near a state park/forest and my wife and I like hikes. HOWEVER with a younger kids it can be a pain. It's either too slow for the adults to get decent exercise or take FOREVER because of groaning, wanting to pick up every rock, etc.
Today I had an idea.
My wife took a head start and set clues at intersections and landmarks to show the way she went. The kids and I looked for the clues to "track" and "catch Mommy." They took turns being the "clue finder."
My wife slowed to a stop near the end of the trail and waited to be "caught."
Result?
She got an actual home at her pace. The kids hiked farther and faster than normal. They got practice taking turns, being observant, and thinking critically.
Your mileage may vary, but I recommend giving it a try
"One of the biggest misconceptions society has about modern fathers is that they are less competent or less involved in parenting than mothers," the father of seven and person behind the wholesome online family magazine That Dad Blog, Alan Lawrence, told Bored Panda.
"Traditionally, the father's role has been seen primarily as the provider, with nurturing and household responsibilities falling more heavily on mothers. I feel that there has been a significant shift with dads playing a bigger part and being more engaged in all aspects of parenting. Don't get me wrong, most mothers are leaps ahead of us dads, but we also deserve some credit as co-parents."
Alan's right. In many places around the world, fathers have been stepping up their presence. For example, American fathers are now more involved in their children's lives than ever before and spend an average of 7.8 hours per week taking care of them at home, up by 1 hour per week in just about two decades.
What's more, there's also a modest decline in the number of children living in father-absent homes. The share of children living without a father (but with a single mother) dropped from 24.4% to 21.5 % between 2012 and 2022. (During the same period, the share of children who live without both parents remained stable, but the share living with both parents increased from 68% to 70%.)
RELATED:
#2
Pro Tip: Have Em Paint With Water. Keep Em Busy For A Solid 20min
Lawrence, who is also the author of Wil Can Fly: A Story about Finding Joy in the Unexpected, added that another common misconception is that fathers are very closed off.
"I feel like the media and entertainment sector often portrays dads as less nurturing, emotionally unavailable, and bumbling or clumsy figures," he explained. "I know a lot of dads who are actively involved with their children's emotional development, and who provide support, guidance, and love in ways that are similar to mothers."
For new fathers, Lawrence recommends "[doing] your best to recognize how present and engaged you are as a father."
"Be actively involved in your child's life from the start and do things like holding, feeding, or playing with your kid. Trust me, these little things make a big difference in how they will connect with you later," he said.
"Also, share the load with your partner so that both of you are equally involved, and be patient, try to stay calm, even when things don't go as planned," Lawrence said. "Parenting can be stressful, but if you have the understanding that you are going to make mistakes and that it's okay, you are going to do just fine."
#3
Pro Dad Tip - Remember Your Partner Needs Around 600 Calories More Per Day If Breastfeeding! I Prepare A Snack Platter Each Night For My Special Lady
George Costanza 1 year ago
Your wife is healthy AF. My breastfeeding wife would probably slap that tray out of my hands and tell me to go get her the ice cream she demanded.
#4
Dad Pro Tip #72 - Teach Your Kids How To Cook Early And Involve Them In Meal Prep. They Will Be Less Picky Eaters And Make Healthier Food Choices Down The Road
#5
Pro Tip: Buy A Backup
When father Avi Moskowitz wanted advice about which highchair, stroller, and car seat to buy for his first child, he too immediately posted on Daddit (which has been around since 2011).
“On Daddit, you get the geekier side of the Internet, where people have done technical research about why this product is better than another product, but I think it also shows that dads are taking on more roles and responsibilities when it comes to parenting,” Moskowitz told The New York Times.
But it’s more than that. "About 90 percent of the posts on Daddit are those posting pictures of their cute kids,” Moskowitz added.
"We [the moderators] tried to ban pictures or say only post pictures here, but that didn’t work. I think it speaks to how much dads want to show off their kids."
#6
Pro Tip: Zip Tie The Bubble Wand Somewhere That The Kid Can't Dump It Out But Can Still Dip It. You're Welcome. Learned This After They Dumped The Third One Out In The Living Room Carpet
#7
Almost Stepped On A Nail In My Yard. I Got A $10 Magnetic Sweeper From Harbor Freight And Found All Of This. All In Places Myself, Partner And Kids Walk Barefoot All The Time
#8
Pro Tip: Almost All Cat Toys And Baby Toys Are Interchangeable
#9
Dad-Tip: Add Grip Tape To Help A Slippery Bunk Bed Ladder!
Last year, a Parents and Verywell Mind survey of 1,600 dads painted a concerning picture of fathers' overall mental health.
The findings indicated that many dads are hurting and need more support. 2 in 3 respondents said they have been at least moderately stressed in the last 30 days, and 43% of them said at least half their stress is related to child care, with 62% saying the pressure to provide for their family is a major cause.
#10
Daddit Pro Tip
Keep a gallon zip top bag with a spare set of clothes, diaper and wipes stashed in your car.
Been saved a few times when we forgot the diaper bag and had an accident
#11
Prodadtip: Grow Out Your Beard So You Can See How Good Your Kid Will Look With A Toupee One Day!
#12
Pro Tip.. Give Your Kid A Wireless Door Bell
So our kids (3 and 2) share a room and the 3 year old yells when they need a wee and wakes up her younger sister. Got her this door bell and she can now silently let us know she needs us.
Has worked perfectly all week
#13
Dad Hack: Kid Only Eats Half A Banana? Cut The Peel And Save The Other Half. Works Great!
While 84% of fathers think it's important to talk to their children about mental health, 45% say they feel judged whenever they chat with others about it, and 75% believe there should be more support for fathers when it comes to these issues.
That means there are a lot of fathers who are struggling and need support—but they're not sure where to start, especially given the stigma. Luckily, Daddit is a great place to break the silence and open up.
#14
My Number One Tip For All Dads, Take As Many Pics As You Can! Cell Phone Cameras Are Amazing Nowadays And Your Kids Will Grow Too Fast!
Kirsten Kerkhof 1 year ago
Also, get everyone in the picture. My mother never liked being photographed (this was when it was film still) because she thought she didn't look good. My father, bless him, obliged. And now I have almost no pictures of my mother as we all grew up.
#15
Easy Dad Points Tip I Picked Up This Weekend: Duct Tape And Sharpie = Road
#16
Dad Hack: Flatten The Ground Beef As Much As You Can For Easy Freezer Storage And Quick Defrost
Nitka Tsar 1 year ago
You can do that with everything. Even fluids. If you use and make your own baby food, freeze it like this and just snap off a bit every time you need it. You can make grooves into the bag with the side of your hand or something like a chop stick, to better be able to break pieces off, when it‘s frozen.
#17
Dad Pro Tip: Check Your Grocery Store Clearance Bins!
$0.45 cents a piece! My 2.5 year ild is going to be in heaven for under $10 on christmas
Kirsten Kerkhof 1 year ago
Start buying Christmas gifts in June. You can buy special offers when you see them, and you'll end up with a pile of gifts that never broke the bank because you bought them when they were on sale.
#18
Best Dad Hack So Far. Fussy Toddler Refusing To Eat? Put It On A Skewer, Snip Off The Sharp End Then Watch Them Eat The Very Same Thing They Refused Seconds Before
#19
Dad Hack: Use A Diaper To Hold Your Diapers
#20
Dad Pro Tip: Fragile Snacks Travel Well In Cheap A** Glasses Cases
#21
It's Not Much, But I Made This Play Board For My Little Guy. It Was Inspired By Something I Saw In This Sub
#22
Dad Protip: Tape A Piece Of Tubing Inside The Diaper Pail To Avoid The Impenetrable Vacuum Effect On Overstuffed Bags
Anyone else feel like they were about rip the bag of nuclear waste in half trying to remove it? I used a piece of old curtain rod, and sanded off burrs. Has been working for 2+ years now
#23
This Got Me 10 Minutes Of Laying Down Time
#24
Dad Tip: When Asked To Go To Costco For A Diaper Run Always Remember To Pick Yourself Up One Of These Because You Deserve It
#25
Use A Vaccuum Sealer To Seal Some Glitter And Water In A Bag And Use Painter's Tape To Stick It To The High Chair Table
Hours of fun for next to nothing and clean up/reapplication is a breeze. Note: Ziploc's DON'T work for this, and don't use weird shaped(pointy) glitter.
#26
Pro-Tip: Pack A Squeegee In The Stroller Permanently, If You Live In A Rainy Climate & Visit Slides
#27
Simple Dad Hack Has Saved Our Ankles!
Jimminy flipping Cricket am I glad that I finally got around to adding these pool noodles to the walker. Now when the little guy comes flying across the kitchen to crash into our bare feet, it’s a sensation of joy instead of a plethora of curse words, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. If there is one smidgen of wisdom I can share with my fellow dads it is this… dollar store pool noodles are chef’s kiss
#28
Tent Sandbox. Play Time Has Never Been Better Or More Engaging. [tips And Tricks]
![Tent Sandbox. Play Time Has Never Been Better Or More Engaging. [tips And Tricks]](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/665d7f467e2ff_XGLPAmN-jpeg__700.jpg "Tent Sandbox. Play Time Has Never Been Better Or More Engaging. [tips And Tricks]")
#29
Dad Pro Tip: Make Extra And Freeze
When I make a large batch of pancakes or waffles, what doesn't get eaten gets cooled on a wire rack and frozen. I put wax paper between them so they don't freeze together. Nuke for three for 40 seconds
Lsai Aeon 1 year ago
My son is my go-to pancake man. We couldn't even whisper the word pancakes when he was a toddler. He'd come running from the other room screaming PANCAKES PANCAKES PANCAKES, we all know how toddlers are. SO when he was about 7, I taught him how to make pancakes. Now he's better than I am at making pancakes. He'll make 2 LARGE batches, but instead of freezing them, we put them in the fridge and use them to make sandwiches for the rest of the week. Left over pancakes, bacon or sausage patty (or both) and a fresh fried egg sandwich makes for an excellent midnight snack.
#30
Dad Tip: Make A Blanket Fort. Kids Are Entertained, Wife Comes Home Thinking You Did Something Great And Time Consuming For Them. Win, Win, Win
Aubrie Allen 1 year ago
When I was a kid, my dad got a bunch of large appliance boxes, taped them together and made us a semi-permanent box fort in the basement. No clean up like with the blanket fort.
#31
Parenting Hack
If your three-year-old is anything like mine, she absolutely loves listening to Disney soundtracks constantly and as we all know, it is easy to be driven insane by listening to the same song 3000 times in a row. I recently found a refurbished iPod nano that was fairly inexpensive and put all her favorite soundtracks on there. Now when she wants to listen to music, she just asks for her iPod, and listens on headphones. Since the nano is pretty much only a music player, there are no apps or videos, just music. No more asking for our phones or yelling at us to change the music we’re already listening to. Not sure, but iPod nano could be the move
#32
[tips And Tricks] My Daughter (15 Months) Loves Pressing The Power Button; No More!
![[tips And Tricks] My Daughter (15 Months) Loves Pressing The Power Button; No More!](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/665d7f3a3a89d_OCSyAVl-jpeg__700.jpg "[tips And Tricks] My Daughter (15 Months) Loves Pressing The Power Button; No More!")
#33
I Won’t Call It A Pro Dad Tip But A Good Tip Either Way. Add A Carabiner To Your Edc. Definitely Nice To Have A Third Hand When Needed Lol
#34
Parent Life Hack: Play A Video Of Last Year's Countdown So Your Kid Can Go To Bed On Time!
#35
Dad Pro Tip: Watermelons Travel Best In Car Seats
MotherofGuineaPigs 1 year ago
I wish I had thought of that. lost a few melons and cartons of milk that rolled out the back of the suv after opening the door
#36
Life Hack: This "Camp Flooring" Makes The Perfect Shower Flooring. My Daughter Can Crawl Around Safely, Has Fun Getting Under The Water, It's Comfy To Sit Down On To Wash Her. It's Water Resistant And Anti Microbial
#37
Leftover Birthday Party Chicky Nuggy Sesame Chicken 👨🍳
Just feeling very dadly with this dinner. I ordered way too much chicken for our 3year old’s birthday party because we must. not. run. out. Remembering a tip from Kenji Lopez-Alt’s book about using restaurant/fast food chicken in some of the fried and sauced chicken recipes, I volunteered for dinner duty and we had some damn fine sesame chicken with steamed broccoli and rice. Not our lowest sugar intake day but kids ate it up and the wife was bartering with me for leftovers
#38
Dad Hack - Installed Cup Holders On Swing Set
#39
Life Hack: To Avoid Getting Your Freshly Dressed Baby Messy During Feeding Times, Use A Backwards Sleepsuit Buttoned Around The Legs Of The Baby Chair As An Effective Bib
#40
Life Hack: Save Time And Have Your Toddlers Fold The Laundry!
The 4 year old daughter is very good at folding. My 2 year old son likes to was the socks into balls and hand them to me
#41
Having A Bad Day? Have Your Kid Make A Funny Face And Take A Picture Through A Paper Towel Tube. Instant Amazing Phone Background Picture To Cheer You Up
#42
Daddit Pro Tip: Get Your Kid Some "Scooping" And "Pouring" Toys To Play With In The Tub. They Really Like Playing With Them, It's Good For Their Hand Eye Co-Ordination Pouring One To The Other. Importantly, They Can Be Used To Scoop Out And Pour The Poop Into The Toilet When They Poop In The Tub!
#43
My Baby Needs To Take Medicine But Goes Crazy At The Sight Of The Syringe, And Will Spit It All Out. She Loves To Drink From A Straw Though, So I Learned A Little Life Hack. I Drop The Medicine In The Straw And Give It To Her Like It's A Normal Drink. Fools Her Every Time
#44
Wipe Hack For Us Struggling Dad's. Guaranteed 1 Wipe Per Pull
#45
New Dad's (Like Me), I Give You: The Metal Bowl
Found this pro tip on accident, turns out to be a bit of a game changer. Among other things, it is a (noisemaking) toy, exercise equipment (for those learning to kneel/crawl), a toy storage device, toy organizing container, and means of toy transportation
GirlFriday 1 year ago
When my nieces and nephews were little, I used to get out the tupperware container and lids. They would play for hours stacking, unstacking, putting lids on, taking them off, putting things in them, etc. For each new mom I know, I get her a set of food storage containers and let her know that at around 18 months, they will keep the child entertained for hours.
#46
Monsters Under The Bed?
#47
Took My Kids Geocaching For The First Time Today. Best Activity To Make Hiking Even More Fun!
#48
Dad Pro Tip: House Shoes - I Prefer The Grizzly Clog From Haflinger - Step On Legos And Blocks With Impunity
#49
Craft Hack: When They Run Out Of Things To Paint From The Craft Package, Unfold The Frozen Pizza Box That Held Tonight’s Dinner. Voila, Instant Canvas
#50
Dad Pro Tip: Lower The Volume Of Annoying Toys By Soldering A Resistor In Series With The Speaker
#51
Pro Tip: Freeze All The Fruit Scraps From Lunches And Snacks, Even If They Sit Out Overnight And Use Them In Smoothies
#52
Dad Pro Tip: Super Hot Food Can Be Cooled With A Hairdryer
#53
Pro-Tip: Life Has Gotten A Lot Simpler Since I Convinced My Toddler That A Roll Of Blue Masking Tape Is An Infinite Supply Of Stickers
#54
Pro Tip: Facebook Marketplace For Dirt Cheap Train Tracks
#55
Pro Tip For Any Young'uns Who Find Apple Skin Tough
#56
Daddit Pro Tip: You Are Paying For The Family Photo Shoot; Don't Hesitate To Try Something Fun
#57
Pro Dad Tip: If You Need Your Two Year-Old Occupied For A Bit, Just Make Her Try To Put On Her Own Socks. Hours Of Diversion
#58
Dad Pro Tip: Syringe City
For anyone (like us, haha) that has +10 Infant Tylenol syringes in a drawer, this tip is for you.
Some medications (like Tylenol, ibuprofen, and Benadryl in the US) come in the same concentration for Infant and Children’s. The difference is that the infant version has a lid to draw up the liquid into a syringe, and is $$. Check to make sure the mg/ml are equivalent, though, so you don’t give too much of whatever medicine
Instead, you can buy the Children’s version and one of these stoppers. Pop the stopper in and leave it until the bottle is empty.
To draw it up:
•Add air to the syringe in about the amount of liquid you’ll be drawing
•Place the syringe into the top of the bottle
•Flip the whole thing upside
•Push the air into the bottle, draw up the liquid • Flip right side up, pull out the syringe.
If you do it confidently and well, your lady will probably think it’s sexy, too! May the odds be ever in your favor this Sick Season, my dudes.
#59
Lazy Dad Hack
For those parents of small kids. You know the pain of bending over and pushing them in their vehicle or choice when their legs get tired.
I made this from a dowel and a wall hanger I had left over. The hooks allow you to put it under handlebars and pull, or you can push from the back.
Save your spines!
#60
Best Potty Training Hack Ever
The Reward system is working for our 2.5 yr old. She about 90% there and wanting to use her potty exclusively. Every potty trip she picks one candy and gets lots of verbal praise. She only wears a diaper to bed and most of the time doesn’t even wet her diaper over night. She’s very proud of herself and my wallet is also very happy. I think it’s also worth mentioning this is the only candy we allow her to have. We aren’t too strict on her diet but we don’t allow her any other candy or sweets (unless she catches us eating it)
#61
Dad Pro Tip: Pierce The Foil Before Opening That Way You Don’t Get Sprayed With Formula When You Own
#62
My Hack To Keep Curious Little Fingers From Important Switches
#64
Toddler Hack While At Subway
#65
Cookie Decorating Hack
I had the idea to use old medicine syringes to decorate Christmas cookies. It worked great! Lots of control.
#66
Dad Hack #367
Protecting the door from hitting the car next to us. It was a tight squeeze trying to get baby into the car seat.
#67
Dad Hack: Ultrasonic Parts Cleaner For Those Crazy To Clean Injection Molded Corners On Breast Pump Parts
#69
Dad Pro Tip: Wake Up First So You Can Eat Leftover Pizza For Breakfast. Do As I Say, Not As You Don’t Know I Do
#70
Dad Tip: If You Need To Work, The Baby Has No Problem Passing Out On Your Arms While Typing
#71
I Have 3 Daughters, I Get Way Too Much Attention For This Simple Life Hack
#72
Didn't Feel Like Spending Hundreds On An Upstairs Gate, So I Hacked This Together. All I Used Was A Handsaw And A Power Drill. Would Recommend This Project To Any New Parents With Basic Woodworking Skills
#73
[tips And Tricks] Pro Dad Tip: Warm A Bottle By Filling A Yeti, Or Similar Insulated, Cup With Hot Water. Drop The Bottle In The Cup And Wait. You're Bottle Will Be Hot And Ready To Go When You Need It
![[tips And Tricks] Pro Dad Tip: Warm A Bottle By Filling A Yeti, Or Similar Insulated, Cup With Hot Water. Drop The Bottle In The Cup And Wait. You're Bottle Will Be Hot And Ready To Go When You Need It](https://www.boredpanda.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/665d7e9b7e355_DjU5nM6-jpeg__700.jpg "[tips And Tricks] Pro Dad Tip: Warm A Bottle By Filling A Yeti, Or Similar Insulated, Cup With Hot Water. Drop The Bottle In The Cup And Wait. You're Bottle Will Be Hot And Ready To Go When You Need It")
#74
A Quick And Easy Taco Soup Recipe That Has Been Clutch For Me In Those Days Where There's No Time
#75
Dad Pro Tip - Those Massive Pregnancy Pillows Have A Second Use When Little One Is First Learning To Sit Up. But Then They Should Be Sacrificially Burned And Buried
#76
Pumpkin Carving Pro Tip
#78
Easter Dad Hack. Give Your Kids Claws To Pick Up Easter Eggs And Enjoy A Little Extra Peace
#79
Dadprotip: Goodwill, Craigslist, And Strong Disinfectant!!!
#80
Use A Kitchen Scale To Monitor Your Infant’s Growth!
#81
Thank You Daddit For This Bathroom Hack! Worked Great For My Sensory Kiddos
#83
Pro Tip: When Your Kids Start Asking For Capri Sun, Just Stick A Straw In A Packet Of Fresh Mozzarella And Tell 'Em That's Capri Sun. Should Buy You A Few More Years
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What do you think ?
Skp2MyLou 1 year ago
Parent tip when the kids are finicky eaters: teach them to use chopsticks. They can't wait to eat whatever you put in front of them.
Rae Rory 1 year ago
White Midwestern children will eat anything off chopsticks. I've gotten my niece to eat sushi, curry, green beans, and salmon
PanteraSilva 1 year ago
This works for adults, too. If I don't have an appetite for whatever reason I just use chopsticks and magically I can eat again
Load More Replies... Skp2MyLou 1 year ago
Parent tip when the kids are finicky eaters: teach them to use chopsticks. They can't wait to eat whatever you put in front of them.
Rae Rory 1 year ago
White Midwestern children will eat anything off chopsticks. I've gotten my niece to eat sushi, curry, green beans, and salmon
PanteraSilva 1 year ago
This works for adults, too. If I don't have an appetite for whatever reason I just use chopsticks and magically I can eat again
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