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Babies are adorable, but are also naturally inquisitive and clumsy; which might not be the best combination! Running after them all day and keeping them from harm can be exhausting and time consuming. And this job only gets harder as they grow. Your curious toddler is going to want to explore the world around them and put themselves in harm’s way in the process. Be it unbuckling the seat belt and sticking their head out the window just to mimic the family dog or scribbling on the wall; keeping them out of trouble is a full time occupation. But there are a couple of tips and tricks that busy parents can keep in mind to keep up with their little one.
Here are 5 practical hacks to make parenting easier:
1. Solving The Crib Crisis
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There are very few things that are as important for babies as their sleep. Sleep is what helps them develop well and grow. It is essential that they feel rested enough to feed, play and interact with people. Every parent knows the drill: don’t wake up a sleeping baby at any cost! This is the precious time they have to catch up on some well deserved rest or do some chores. But what about when you’re traveling and don’t have a crib on hand? One cool solution is to turn your mini suitcase into a makeshift crib! You can carry belongings like clothes and soft towels and put your sleeping baby in there too. Now you’re free to sit back and enjoy the ride.
2. Trade Toys For Crayons To Keep Your Baby Busy
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Keeping a toddler entertained is no joke! They seem to have the attention span of a goldfish and make no move to heed any of your instructions. If you’re out, chances are your toddler is going to do whatever they want unless they are properly distracted. Which is why most parents usually lug around a bag of toys to keep their little one entertained. But this can be strenuous and impractical. After all, who wants to go home and resanitize all the toys your child threw around at the mall? Trade them in for a pack of crayons instead. Not only are they compact but they do a great job of keeping the little one busy. Are they getting restless at a restaurant? Let them color on a napkin. Are they going to cry at a doctor’s appointment? They’re too busy coloring Buzz Lightyear purple. Whatever the situation may be, crayons come in handy.
3. Cleaning Hack
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Keeping your home well organized and clean is a herculean task when you have a little human who thinks littering the floor with toys makes for great decorations. But sanitizing the toys is taxing, and so is boiling toys of different shapes and sizes. If there’s one thing parents are short on, it’s time. But there is a simple solution. Just unload the toys into the dishwasher. This will ensure that all the bacteria and germs are washed away and that they are clean for your child to play with again.
4. It’s A Walker Not A Bumper Car
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You might be a little skeptical about letting your baby zoom past you but they are very practical and are great for the development of your baby’s gross motor skills. Letting them run around is also a great way for them to exert excess energy and an activity that keeps them entertained for long periods of time. The only drawback of the walker is that they bump against the walls,doors, and your legs. Ouch! This may throw your child off balance causing them to fall and hurt themselves and at the very least leaves marks all over your walls. The solution is to simply tape pool noodles around the walker.
5. Medicine Hacks
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A sick child is every parent’s worst nightmare. Not only are they paranoid and frustrated due to how helpless they feel, but getting your baby to take the medicine they require can be daunting. Babies are often fussy and they are even more agitated and stubborn. One way to make the medicine go down easy is to use the bottle nipple as the medicine dispenser. Since your baby is already used to it, they don’t think twice before gulping down the tonic. And you’ll be all done before they notice the taste is different and have the chance to pull away. Another hack to keep track of their medication is to write down the planned dosage on the bottle or box. Everytime your baby takes a dose, simply cross it out. This will help you keep track of how much medicine your baby has consumed.
Balancing life, work and parenthood is hard. And sometimes, you need a little help to juggle everything. We hope these hacks help you do just that! Do you have a favorite parenting hack that we haven’t mentioned? Let us know in the comments section.
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