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We know how it's like living with little children—the house is a mess 90% of the time! As if that's isn't enough, the curious tots sometimes even make things harder (imagine a freshly-painted wall, now 'decorated' with crayon doddles) while they explore the world around them. But, cheer up—you’ll get through it in no time with these helpful hacks that worked for other moms.
For the home:
Reel recliner
“For our family movie nights, I make my son a special seat by draping a towel inside a laundry basket. It contains any messy food and keeps him seated during the on screen action!” - Megan JenningsAmazing cleaner!
“My daughter used permanent black marker to doodle on the wall. I rubbed hand sanitizer on those spots and her artwork disappeared completely.” - Brandy SyquiaBrush off.
“To remove marker ink from hardwood floors, I just put a dab of white toothpaste on the stain and then rub like crazy with a damp paper towel or wash cloth.” - Anna LopezSoft scrub
“Instead of putting my daughter’s stuffed animals in the wash, we rotate taking them into the tub with her and then hang them to dry. She loves giving them a bath and it saves me time.” - Ashley NovelozoSweet tea
“Tea leaves help absorb odors and don’t leave behind an overpowering scent. Place a new or used dry tea bag in your drawer, closet, car, or even in your shoes to help keep everything smelling fresh.” - Jill NarvaezADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWMore from Smart Parenting
Fresh maker
“To rid feeding bottles of the smell of formula milk, I fill them halfway with hot water and add a teaspoon of baking soda and a half teaspoon of dish soap. After a few hours, I wash them with hot water and a bottle brush, and the smell is gone!” - Ashley MarquezAnimal House
“My six-year-old daughter has a ton of stuffed animals. I purchased a beanbag chair on sale, took out the beans, and put all her stuffed toys inside!” - Denelle McFaddenFood hacks:
Sweet mix
"My toddler loves pancakes for breakfast, but I dislike the messy syrup. Now, I add the syrup directly to the batter. No more sticky hands, face, or hair, and he gets the flavor he loves." - Vanessa LadioraySandwich saver
“My children love bringing sandwiches for baon, but the cold cuts would be warm by the time they're ready to eat. Now, I freeze the bread so it thaws in time for their lunch and helps keep everything else cool.” - Lisa J. San JoseCool idea
“Instead of using ice cubes to cool my children’s hot soup. I add a few small frozen veggies. They cool the soup down quickly, don’t leave it watery, and give my kids extra nutrition” - Sarah MartinezPotty training:
Clever cover-up
“My daughter is 16 weeks old and very active during diaper changes. To keep her hands out of the way (especially when her diaper is messy), I fold up her one-piece or shirt so her hands are trapped and I can finish faster.” - Kara MurphyADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWTinkle Trick
“To get my son use the toilet, I squirt dish soap into the bowl. When he pees, it makes the soap bubble and he gets so excited. Bonus: it keeps our toilet clean!” - Jacklyn MedinaSeconds to go
“Getting my toddler to go to the potty before leaving the house used to be impossible, but now we play the ‘10 second game’. The rules are simple: She sits on the toilet and counts to 10. If she pees before reaching 10, she wins!” - Jane AnselmoCompiled from Smart Parenting magazine 2014 and 2015 issues
