Let's hear your "why didn't I think of this before" parenting moments

[geekymommy]

DD (will be 3 in August) was home sick yesterday. She kept asking us to give her medicine, as she does not yet understand why taking too much paracetamol is bad. We had been trying to explain to her that too much medicine is bad. Then yesterday evening, DH used the mouth syringe we were using to give her medicine to give her a little paracetamol mixed with water. (She can drink medicine from a cup, but didn't want to this time) After she finished that, she asked for more. He gave her plain water in the syringe, which she happily took. I thought "why didn't we think of this before?" It would have worked a lot better than trying to explain to a sick toddler at 2am why taking too much medicine is bad.

Let's hear some of your parenting moments like this.

When DS was a toddler I ALWAYS mixed broccoli into mashed potato. For about 3 years It was a revelation to him when I stopped doing it that mashed potato wasn't green flecked. But by then he also ate it separately no problem. He's not fantastic at trying new foods atm (he's 7) but at least if there's a pile of broccoli on the plate he'll wolf the lot.

Most important for me was to pick my battles. If they're not in danger, nothing's going to get damaged then be inclined to let it go. Save the discipline for when it really matters instead of everything being a "no". Fae more effective and that truly was a revelation to me.

For slightly older children.

Just before setting off on a day out line your DCs up against a wall and take a picture of them all together and keep it on your phone. That way if one should go missing on the trip you can say 'it's one in the middle/one on the left and she/he is wearing X'. Also as it is on your phone you can send it to the event security immediately.

This was from someone I met who worked in close protection.

Babies don't know that food is usually eaten hot. If you start weaning on cold purees/jars etc then when you are out and about you don't have the bother of having to reheat the food with flasks of hot water/shop microwaves etc. Introduce hot food once they will eat what's on offer in cafes/restaurants.

kraggle the fuck out of it

Love this

That vests with envelope necks fold down the body. Oh how I wish I'd known this with my TWO children who were out of nappies by the time I realised, having had so many explosive nappy episodes and trying to get the vest off over their head without getting their hair covered in poo.

What an idiot I was.

My tip is for older kids. Have stack of books such as the DK Lego Ninjago books in the car, my kids spend AGES on car journeys flicking through and picking which character they'd be, which lego set they'd buy, which dragon they like best etc etc. Keeps them entertained in the car!

My friend shared this with me, for structuring lego play and lego storage at home. I have three boys who were always fighting over lego and clear up was a nightmare. It's not been going long but so far these little strategies have led to a lot more calm lego play in my house: www.the-elbowroom.com/childrens-services/playing-lego-builds-language-learning-social-success/

For heavy over night wetters, one sposie nappy on top of the other having spiked holes with a fork in the bottom one to let the wetness out. Or a cloth nappy wrap over a sposie, and a Riki wrap on backwards stops even the most determined child getting it's nappy off on it's own.

I couldn't stand those all in one suits with a gazillion poppers....I found a pair elastic waist pj trousers way easier at changes.

Special needs changing mat with a harness was lifesaver ...kept child in one place.

Washable wipes - fantastic, saved me a fortune still in use as hankies/flannels etc ten years on.

Write your own phone no. on name labels - dropped and lost items get returned much easier than just with a name.

Give up on the concept of matching socks if you've more than 2 DC especially if they are of same gender and there are multiples in the mix.

When they want a lemonade in a pub/restraunt get it 50% soda water 50% lemonade, half the sugar, half the price.

Keep a bag of books/comics/paper and drawing/colouring pens and some emergency clothing in the car at all times. So handy.

Someone's suggestion of sending the kids into the garden to hunt for a ladybird, because mummy loves ladybirds - actually mummy doesn't give a shit but it keeps the kids in the garden for a while.

Failing that, hunting for woodlice and worms, though you have to look impressed when they find one.

When they want something ridiculous, say "Let's see if we see one" or "I wonder if they have one in the shop" - and then they will happily go out with you.

Often, they will be quiet and end up sleeping if you tell them their cuddly toy is very tired - or else you give said cuddly toy a good telling-off for keeping your dc awake!

Getting 2 ,3 and 4 yr olds to make pictures with fruit that either you've cut up for them or the older ones can cut up (with a little supervision), you'd be amazed how much gets eaten at the same time!

As a pp said with veg, the same with fruit, leave an appetising plate on the table when they get back from school, instead of biscuits, while you get on with the meal, it generally works!

Oh and get them, or you, help their favourite toy to 'eat' something that they won't. Make up a funny voice for the toy, it works very well for a year to 2!

DS has been taking his willy out off his nappy at night for months (keeping nappy on). I was stripping the duvet out of the cover in order to wash both when my friend who was visiting asked me why I didn't wash them together and surely the only reason you take duvet covers off duvets is that you don't wash the duvet each time.

Six bloody months and this never occurred to me!

When DD was going through her "I'm not going to walk anymore" phase I used to throw sticks and she would happily run after them, but like a dog really. . . . . .

I downloaded an app on to my phone called 100 best kids songs by the Fun Factory or something like that. Every time we have to go on a long car journey, we crack out the phone and turn the music on ( don't have a working CD player in the car) this has kept DS happy on long car journeys for years, best 2.99 ever spent!

Distraction - when DS is getting grumpy or tantrum-y, I say in a really enthusiastic voice 'would you like to hear a story, I know a very exciting one to tell you' - he always says yes and mostly always forgets the tantrum. Though it can be hard to think of 'exciting' stories on the spot!

On holiday, only feed them stuff that is the same colour as what they are wearing.

No 1 always remember when they are small and are constantly doing something really annoying chances are they won't be wanting to do it when they're 18 and at 18 you can remind them what they used to do in front of their friends and really embarrass them!
No 2 Always buy your children really comfortable beds for when you end up sleeping in them
No 3 Enjoy them!

That no one else knows that your child had the same clean top on yesterday.

That no-one else knows if it's their "best" clothes or not.

That despite saying your child will not have ready made purees/plastic toys/noisy toys/put anything in their mouthes any child has touched goes out of the window.

That those cute outfits you washed, ironed and lovingly folded when pregnant will get a quick wash, fold and shoved in a shelf.

A packet of Skips keeps a whiny toddler very quiet whilst you're trying to do the grocery shopping.

Also, I give my DD an onion to peel when I'm cooking dinner and she's grabbing at my legs. She pulls off each layer so carefully and I get 30 mins peace.

When you are going out for a walk and your toddler tells you, in fact promises you, that they will push their dolls pram ALL THE WAY....they are lying and you will end up carrying it most of the way.

Invest in some plastic food tubs from the pound shop you can get 3/4 in a pack and they are great for keeping in dried fruit/crackers/raisins etc in their bag.

If you're struggling, you don't have to do lots of activities. As long as everyone has been fed, is somewhat clean and you're all alive at the end of the day, then it's been a good day. Anything extra on top is a bonus.

Great thread!

When at the age they grumble / twist on changing mat, always grab an interesting small object for them to look at on the way, and keep a stash next to the mat. Ideally things that they aren't allowed without supervision but are safe if you're right there. Be prepared for them to be hurled on the floor though.

Also singing at nappy change / drying after bath saves dramatics.

My DD is 19 months and doesn't have a favourite teddy. But keeping a certain rabbit in her cot and saying 'where's bunny?' 'I expect bunny is tired' has made it a lot easier to get her into her cot the last few weeks.

Giving them a little mission can help you or at least buy you a bit of time. Eg I hand DD her cup, flannel and highchair tray (individually) to take through to the dinning table. They don't always make it but means I can open the oven etc without her hovering.

I have done so many of these. I still take a damp flannel in a zip lock bag with me on days out. Better than wipes as they leave dont leave a taste on hands.

Keep an empty shoebox in the sock drawer for odds.

Tip Lego onto a sheet. Grab the corners and tip it back into the box when they've finished playing. (Ours is sorted by colour now ds2 is older and Lego-obsessed, so each colour has its own bit of sheet...)

When you're really knackered, lie down and let them build on your back with wooden bricks while you have a half-doze. I read that in a book by Libby Purves and it was brilliant.

Mine are 9 and 12 now and those are literally the only three pieces of advice I can think of.

Looking back to when my older two were small (about 4 and 2) and bath and bedtime were fraught as they generally are at that age. One evening we had been out late, dinner was late and rushed etc and I ended up giving dd2 a yoghurt while she was in the bath.

What a brilliant idea I thought! I should do this every day and serve all meals in the bath. Saves both time and mess

I didn't really although I was tempted

Since nearly getting separated from 8 year old DS getting on a tube train, I have always put my mobile number on a slip of paper in their shoe on subsequent trips into London.