The two parenting tricks that I learned years too late.

[SharingMichelle]

1. Give them music and headphones for long car journeys. Shuts them right up. My eldest is 10 and I've only recently learned this.

1. Peel the negative space off the sticker sheet and your small child can peel off the stickers independently. Without ripping them. Yes, even cheap stickers. WHY didn't anyone tell me this one??!

Had never thought of the second one. Thank you!

Ooh, the sticker ones good! Thanks for that

Oooh like the stickers one fab! Thanks

The sticker one may be life changing

The stickers thing is genius.

Mine is that baby vests have those weird necks so you can pull them down and off when they shit up their backs. Was on my second child when I realised this.

Someone taught me the sticker thing recently. I was literally amazed . Now I just sit back and watch them rather than get poked every 2.5 seconds because they want another one peeled off.

I never realised about the baby vest neck thing, and I've had three of the buggers, all of whom regularly shat up their backs. Grrrrr!

Lift the flaps on the sides of juice cartons so the kids can use them as handles and not squeeze juice all over themselves. Took me until 3rd DC to work that one out.

Off to find stickers to see if this works

Mine is what happens if you count to three on your toddler still hasn't done as requested. The answer to this is 'if you haven't put your socks on my the count of three then I will (small pause) do it myself'. Cue toddler scrambling to do it. Genius and literally changed my life. Doesn't work with a lazy eight year old though sadly.

1.Dressing babies and toddlers. Put your hand down the sleeve from the wist end, grasp their hand and pull it through.

1. Clothes shopping. Preselect three acceptable items, and then say they can choose.

3.Only go to supermarkets when children are at nursery, school or with other parent.

I was on my first grandchild when I realised about the baby vests

I shall store the sticker one away for future use.

The second one is a great idea.

The first idea I don't like as my children were involved in long car journeys and played word games or spot different things such as cows in a field, green car, red lorry, man riding a bike etc. Reading signs when old enough and using a map to see where they were. All the things I did on car journeys as a child.

I love this thread. I'm a nanny and have been for 6 years, you'd think I would have worked some of these out by now! Oh well, in time for my own kids at least!

Luckily learnt not too late. You can sterilise most things in the dishwasher including toothbrushes and toys (useful for scone hand stuff).
The sticker one is ace - so obvious when you know!

I'm a little bit in love with the juice carton handles idea (which I suppose makes them love-handles).

Sticker one is genius!

Mine was put a muslin square down at the baby's head end of crib/moses basket/cot then when or if they spit up just remove that and fresh one down. No sheet changing. And use pillowcases instead kf sheets for moses basket/crib - same size!

Tate15

You are always playing Yellow Car.

I introduced the sticker thing at work shortly after I started there. We get through two or three (or more) sheets a day and have to wrangle them one handed. Spending a couple of minutes lifting one corner of all of them saves a lot of muffled swearing too.

No tips just placemat king for when I have kids :)

Place marking even

An hour ago I told my 11 year old that she couldn't clean the car in case she did something wrong. She's been out there ever since. Result .

Get a handheld hoover so that kids can clean up their own messes.

The sticker one!! Amazing! Thanks!

I knew someone would mention the baby vest thing; I only discovered this on baby number 3!

It was very unfortunate for my two that the one thing they wanted at the shops/supermarket etc was only sold on Sundays

Only worked until they could tell what day of the week it was