Parenting Cheats

[delasi]

No idea if this has been done before but I have just completed my first ever 24 hours completely alone with DS it's not pathetic, honest and it was great and lovely. And tiring. And I got remarkably little else done. I realised I have very little in my arsenal of parenting go-to's and considering DS will keep growing and we hope to have more DCs, I think I need to grow my cheat sheet.

So far, I have:

• Lie down when you're playing. It's oddly relaxing.
• Always give DC a bit of what you're eating. It makes you both happy and you get to eat a hot meal.
• If it's one of 'those' days, and you're watching the clock (not that I ever would, ahem), and it's vaguely close to bedtime, start now and take your time with the wind down routine.
• Bringing DC into bed in the morning is a bit like having a lie in, even if it does occasionally result in a child on your face.

Please add your cheats/tips to the list, anything parenting related, for any ages and for any number of DCs. I need to be better prepared!

all play doh, colouring , painting etc to be done up the table

get some economy paper table cloths to cover and protect the table during messy activities

Even a small tot will sit in the shower tray and play with a toy boat or a sponge while you shower yourself. Result, both you and toddler clean.

Buy a high chair made entirely from plastic. Then you can put the whole thing in the shower to rinse the food splats away (I am not obsessed with my shower!).

Giving them what I'm eating isn't 'cheating', I call that feeding them :p Everyone eats the same thing here.

1 year old eats in her nappy only so her clothes don't get stained. I can't get tomato out at all.

Hanging wet item out in bright sunshine gets tomato out, like magic.

Helpful advice in November

A selection of easy meals, ready meals even, for when you really can't be arsed to cook. They not all the spawn of the devil!

When they get older, put some interesting toys in their bedrooms so they can play up there and you can get some rest housework done.

Go out lots (to a cafe if you can afford it; saves cooking, cleaning and washing up) so you don't have to look at the state of the house.

Keep the tv as an occasional treat so then you can use it to your advantage as a babysitter as a reward or punishment.

Books and playdoh are great, quiet activities that don't require much thought or input.

Referring to grapes and apricots and the such like as 'treats' and presenting them as if they are SO lucky to have them. Ben & Holly on, bowl of 'treats' each. 15 mins of blissful silence.

Buy a mini hoover for them to copy you with, at least you get the hoovering done.

Make DC beds like this
Sheet
Waterproof Sheet
Sheet

Results in 3am bedwetting / sickness with Mum (or Dad? ) whipping off top sheet and waterproof one and leaving clean ready made bed

Definitely Milkshake in bed in the morning while you come round. Long walks. Music while you work in the kitchen (loud) with wooden spoons, pots and pans out as drum kit. If it's dry and you can get out, chalks are fab, all over patio/walls.

Extremewife That's a great idea!

Shoutymomma No idea if this is what you meant, but I'm thinking breakfast milkshakes in bed are the way forward

Give them baby wipes to help you do the dusting.

A dust buster makes a perfect toddler size Hoover that actually picks up the dust.

Ah, the tv Milkshake. We even got away with it when hub was home as he fancied Naomi. The Milkshake Shake took on a whole other meaning. ;)
Extreme, that's how I made my bed for home birthing. X

Shouty that is a brilliant idea for homebirth, if you indent to be on the bed during labour.

*intend, not intent,

"Go out lots (to a cafe if you can afford it; saves cooking, cleaning and washing up) so you don't have to look at the state of the house."

love this (and maybe explains why I do want to go out for lunch so often...

Also love the bedmaking idea, although sadly we had wet duvet cover and duvet this morning (no cheats way around that, or is there?)

When you're shattered, pretend the sofa is a pirate ship/castle/police van (change as appropriate) you can then sit on the sofa playing role play games while your DC are very pleased your playing with them (and you don't actually have to move...(sometimes you can even shut your eyes and just say 'ooarr me hearties...' sporadically)

Shouty - I did the same, but with another 2 layers of waterproof and sheets! Then any leakage could go straight in the machine and no remaking required.

Does that make me a super cheat?

YY to laying on the floor to play! Half the time I just get lambasted for my input anyway, 'NO! Salty is a DIESEL! He doesn't neeed to go to the COAL HOPPER!'

So now I lay on the floor and daydream (I've never had my iphone at the same time, honest!)

Make messy play a 'Daddy job' I've got a good excuse as DH is an artist and has his own studio in the attic, but again my attempts are slagged off anyway!

-With a toddler always give them two choices (genuine ones). This avoids many a tantrum/meltdown.
-Be silly! Elicits great giggles from a baby and with a toddler it just helps make stuff go more smoothly. You'll feel less of a nag.
-Go along with your child's excitement about mundane things, it'll help you see the world through new eyes and enjoy yourself more.

A baby/toddler having toast for lunch and then again for tea is perfectly acceptable once in a while

Sod the pretend Hoover, train your toddler to use the real one. Mine thinks it's a massive treat to Hoover while I sit on the sofa.

SolomanDaisy They can use real Hoovers?! That's fantastic.

As a teenager a family friend had a 2yo girl. She used to have her own little broom and mop and would clean the kitchen floors regularly throughout the day, and would tell people off for "messing up [her] floors"

I second the hoover thing. DS1 (2.5) is still a bit small for the regular hoover, but yesterday after dinner there was lots of rice on the floor and completely unprompted he got out the dustbuster, hoovered up all the rice and then plugged it back in and put it on the shelf

For when you are unbearably lacking sleep, or child a bit poorly, or BFing a newborn younger DC or you are unwell...During the day 'move into' one room with everything you need eg flask of tea, Tupperware of bits and bobs of snacks, blankets, book for you, TV remote, phone etc. wax crayons, scrap paper and a big tray.

Snuggle up and read books, watch Tv, do drawing, make paper aeroplanes, drink tea, eat snacky bits and bobs, let older DC ring granny or your sister for a chat (or to burble a bit depending in age) etc etc.

You might get to doze a bit through eleventy million episodes of Peppa but actually NOT MOVING off the sofa or bed is quite restoring even if you can't actually get a nap. Half a day or so of this and you might feel a bit brighter.

This is a bloody brilliant thread - the suggestions are genius! To my shame I have nothing to add at the moment but I am watching with great interest! Keep em coming please!