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??!

[lindauk5]

Shameless placemarking so I can read when I get home from work...

[var123]

reward charts (works age 4-13+)
audio books for the car (works (age 6- 13+)
nappy sacks for travel sickness emergencies
an explicit bedtime policy that goes up 15 mins each birthday - stops sibling feuds and cries of favouritism

[LittlehumHams]

and for teens.....become Overlord of the Wi-Fi (works on age 13+)

www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/07/sorry-kids-want-todays-wifi-password-do-your-chores/260524/

Works like a dream. Your house will sparkle.

[MrsStokes2010]

Put baby socks on newborn's hands instead of scratch mitts. Pull them over the ends of the baby grow sleeves. A midwife told me this when I had DS, as the shop bought scratch mitts kept falling off & they're often way too big

[okthen]

My daughter hated having her hair washed so we started a tradition of a "Sunday Spa" before tea. We make it special with music, lavender oil in bath, deep water, special big towel and head towel etc. She sometimes pretends to be a lady going to a spa, but usually just relaxes and loves it. It has become a tradition of around three years standing and now her little brother joins in.

On a slightly less fragrant note- for car sick kids take tupperwares eg ice cream tubs instead of plastic bags to catch it in. Easier to hold, less chance of mess, and you can put the lid on until the next services [boak] and just chuck it in the bin.

[CodyKing]

Mine is what happens if you count to three


Never count up - always count down -

And - don't tell them what happens if you get to zero - tell them they'll have to wait and see -

[RB68]

I always took DD shopping but from a very early age got her involved in the shopping so where is the x where is the y, when toddling she fetched things I pointed at and when a bit bigger did herself now at 10 I can say can you get bread and she gets the best deal bread, and if there is something else she thinks I wld buy if on offer will tell me and hare off to get it if I say OK. I have been laid up with a bad back/leg and barely walking for about 6 weeks and it was a godsend - I just pushed the trolley down the middle and she did all the shopping!!!

Also teach them simple meals they can do themselves so something on toast, sandwich with child knife/normal table knife) baked potato (we just progressed to using oven) she can also do cakes and is now progressing to pancakes.

As a baby we used the Muslin for top of moses basket matress trick, Also used cartons of baby milk overnight with a flask of hot water upstairs. I also minimised her nappy bag to a small childs rucksack that just hooked on the back of the buggy and never tipped it - mini cream pots small pack of wipes which I used to refill or use a sealed sandwich bag to store small amount, one or two nappies and a clean vest and a small thin change mat that folded up small. I cld also squeeze a carton of milk or pouch of food in.

We also had two great products from fleece - one was a baby pocket with feet and wrap top - dead easy to get her in and cosy, second was when she was a bit bigger was a poncho with sewn arms and a hood again quick and easy and warm.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Drill a few small holes in the bottom of the drawers of a set of plastic drawers. Use to store bath toys, just put them away and leave in the tub until the water drains away then store away in the drawer unit.
Take a small paddling pool on holiday- use as a baby bath, fits in the shower tray in caravans etc. I bought a couple for 50p each at the end of last summer
Use a flexi plastic tub as a baby bath, they get a nice deep bath without wasting water, and mine fits in kitchen sink so saves my back.
Store the instructions for your pushchair, raincovers etc in the Boot of your car.
Use towelling dressing gowns/bathrobes as swimming towels. Wrap up little ones, get dry yourself, hey presto kids are dry too!

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Oh and my most favourite, take a 4 socket extension plug on holiday- saves having loads of different plug adaptors. Not really baby related, but literally my favourite mn tip ever.

[Playduh]

Hookie-wookie - just taught my DS your coat trick. It's amazing!

[septembersunshine]

My new favourite thing is taking a pack of door stops on holiday. We always rent a house and the doors worry me (with little fingers and toes). We now bring our own door stops and pin all the bedroom and major doors open so they can come and go as they please. They don't touch the doors because if they do there is no ice cream. On the holiday. Ever.

Literally love this post. Carton Juice flaps.

[Catsize]

Told my son (now 4) that fizzy drinks, except fizzy water, are 'for grown-ups'. Not exactly a lie. So far, he has accepted this and a drop of coke/lemonade etc. hasn't been consumed - to my knowledge! Will no doubt go belly up very soon.

[AskingForAPal]

Clocking in to save some of these!

[Playduh]

Two things -

Quick heat pad for earache and similar: porridge oats in a zip lock bag. Remove excess air. Roll and put in a smallish sock. Microwave for thirty seconds; done

Don't bother with a gro-clock. Buy a regular analogue wall clock. Use a bright colour chalk pen to mark out where morning time is. (The chalk can be washed off when they are older). Tell them to come and tell you when it's morning time.

I was madly sceptical about this but it works. Clock is also too far up the all for any manipulation.

[KatherineMumsnet]

Evening! We're going to shimmy this one over to Classics.

[breward]

When moving a little one from a cot to a bed, put a stair gate across their bedroom door. Put a few toys and books in a basket for when they wake early. That way their room becomes a giant cot/playpen until sensible O'clock in the morning. Also you will not have any 3am visitors in your bed.

[happyhearts7]

I've had 5 babies and I never knew the baby vest one now I've no babies to try it out on...

I used the muslin cloths under their wee heads in the pram, much easier than changing the sheet every time... ahh miss the baby stage

[Nerdykid40]

My kids are 18, 12 and 11 months, how did I not know this before?

[BertrandRussell]

Lots of babies don't need winding. Yours might be one of them.Try lying them down before you do all the back rubbing thing.

[Aprille]

Playduh Hookie-wookie - just taught my DS your coat trick. It's amazing!

It really is, isn't it? my three year old was taught it in nursery and we were amazed when he was able to put on his own coat. Its such a cute technique!

[Xocaraic]

Not an everyday tip but... If flying with small baby (or babies in my case) take the time to put a dollop of nappy cream inside a wet wipe (or three), inside a nappy bag, inside the nappy and fold nappy back up and pop in your changing bag.
Makes the trip to the onboard toilet SOOO much easier when all you are taking is the child and one nappy!

[hookiewookie29]

If your little one-boy or girl-constantly takes socks off, put tights on them under their trousers.
Putting mittens on toddlers can be fiddly.Teach them to do 'thumbs up' as you put the mittens on so the thumbs go in the thumb hole!
Putting suncream on children......squirt the cream into their hands, get them to rub their hands together then wash their face with it!
To get children to keep their arms straight while you put suncream on them, make a fist with your thumb sticking out, get them to hold your thumb, then apply cream with your other hand. Sounds daft, but it works!

[hookiewookie29]

Freeze 'tube' yogurts to use as mini ice packs in lunch boxes.

[SpaceDinosaur]

Never just stop an activity abruptly
"We're finishing xxxx in 10 minutes"
Followed by "we're finishing xxxxx in 5 minutes"
3 min
2 min
1 min
Pack away now.

It's amazing!!!

[MrsNutella]

Some brilliant ideas on this thread!
My kids love colouring in any old packaging. Old boxes, paper tubes, tissue boxes. I think it's just something different and keeps them entertained for ages! I might have to dig out a box for DS to colour in though, we must have some in the garage and he loves to climb in things!

Thanks for starting this thread op! And the sticker idea is genius!!!