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Life Hacks Parents Wish They Knew Earlier

Onion
March 10, 2020

Whether you’re a seasoned or a first-time parent, you’re going to need all the help you can get. Hence, we took it upon ourselves to source for a few parenting hacks which will come in handy at some point. Keep scrolling to find out which tips I’ll definitely use in time to come!

Personal massage therapist

Adulthood is tiresome. Bring a child into the equation and you can kiss your personal time goodbye, at least for the first few years of his/ her life. For those entering parenthood for the first time, keeping your child in check and completing household chores while staying sane is no mean feat.

Want to relieve your body ache after a long day? With this hack, you certainly can!

Image: 5-Minute Crafts

Here’s how: Get an old shirt and draw train tracks/ roads at the back. Put the shirt on and enjoy the massage while your child runs his/ her toy train all over your back! Don’t worry about covering the whole shirt with train tracks - their train will probably go off the tracks anyway. Check out other handy tricks here or skip to the 1:48 mark of the video for a preview of your massage!

DIY tap extension

Don’t let height get in the way of good cleanliness, especially during this period! Unless your child is blessed with long legs since birth, washing hands is always a struggle for both the adult and young one. Tap extensions sold in the market are generally inexpensive (about $3 from Qoo10) but if you have a spare shampoo/ soap bottle lying around the house, why not save a few bucks and mother nature?

Image: Cheerios and lattes

Here’s how: Cut up an empty shampoo/ soap bottle (these are generally sturdier than plastic water bottles!) and ensure there are no rough edges which may injure your child. If you’re a fun parent, you may choose to paint your DIY project. Otherwise, you may proceed with attaching the extension to your tap. Click here for the step-by-step tutorial.

Adiós, paint stains

Apart from keeping children out of your face for a while, painting from a young age is beneficial in helping a child develop mobility skills and hand-eye coordination. They can even use this medium to express themselves and it’ll keep them focused while you take a breather. Keep reading to learn how you can avoid the additional task of scrubbing paint off your child’s clothes.

Image: 5-Minute Crafts

Here’s how:

  1. Grab a plastic bag from under your sink (I know you have plenty) and lay it completely flat on the table.
  2. Cut the ends away (About 0.5 to 1 inch) to create an opening for your kid to wear.
  3. Put the plastic bag over your child’s clothes. Simply remove it when your Picasso has completed his/ her masterpiece.

Child-proof doors

Doors can be a hazard for young children so it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on them, especially since most doors have locks. If you can’t be with them round the clock, this one’s for you.

Image: LittleThings

Here’s how: Get your hands on a thick rubber band like the one above and hook it against both door knobs to prevent your child from locking themselves in any room! Check out the video demonstration by LittleThings at the 2:23 mark.

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Before you go, here’s a list of bite-sized hacks from seasoned parents for some laughs. As the saying goes, work smart, not hard. We hope you learned something new today!