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.

Ooh, I know there are lots of crafty ideas on pinterest and the like...but eureka moments from nursery:

An ikea lazy susan with beakers glued on for storing colouring pencils (beakers are colour matched to the pencils then they turn it to get the colour they want)
An ikea cheap table with a lego base plate glued on /or unit if you want to store the lego underneath
A gong (yes, a gong! a mini one) for hitting when it is end of play/tidying time
Big plastic pocket wall hanger thing for all the kids letters, but I use one for photos drawings and kids mementos. I have another one with pockets on back of door and put kids socks pants in for 7 days, and the last one for letter replies

Yay! I'm so pleased the tooth rushing trick has worked for you too! I say again though, 18 BLOODY MONTHS. I'm kicking myself big time

When little ones don't want to eat anymore but you don't think they've had enough, try the MAGIC SPOON. My mum used this on me and she said it worked brilliantly. Put a bit of food on a spoon and say something like 'this spoon is a MAGIC SPOON!! When I cover my eyes and I'm not looking (but you are between your fingers) the MAGIC SPOON makes the food disappear into your mouth!!! Then say, 'are you ready??' (the first time you try this) 'let's see if it really works! Cover your eyes (still peaking) and magically the food will disappear into their mouths!! They will probably love it when you show how shocked you are that the food actually disappeared, then you ask if they want to try again, or they will ask to do it again. It's all a big game to them then. Some children will even adapt this game themselves, reloading the spoon without your help and say MAGIC SPOON MAGIC SPOON!!! The trick is to look really suprised and look around as if wondering where the food has gone, even if you can see it between their smiling teeth!! Of course the MAGIC SPOON works with all spoons but you could try a different one from the usual the first time, if they are a little older. This works a treat on babies and toddlers and reluctant eaters.

For getting children to put shoes on the right feet. If they have boots that zip up on the inside say 'zips touch' so they line up the boots with the zips touching. Then they put them on the right way round. You can also put a little black (or whatever colour) dot with a Sharpie pen on each of their shoes when they touch together if placed on the floor ready to put on. Ask the child to make the dots touch together before they put on their shoes/boots/sandals whatever and they should get them of the right way round!

Any ideas on how to make the shoes STAY on their feet?!

Funny one! What age are you talking about? when they are little have buckle shoes they find too fiddly to undo. Or just give up the battle if they are constantly taking them off because they'll find it too funny and just keep doing it again and again , especially if you are getting frustrated. They seem to really like that. Start early. In the house, shoes off. Outside shoes on. Allowing them to help to do it themselves makes them feel confident. Or duct tape them on.

He is a Houdini...sandals/wellies/trainers/slippers/laces/velcro/buckles...he can have any pair off ten seconds flat. If not via brute force then just wiggling, wriggling, kicking. I should youtube it with a stopwatch. Then the socks go or the tights get stretched out. Then begins the 1000 passive aggressive comments from all and sundry about cold feet.
Duct tape might well be the answer. He is two.

Angel Delight is great at hiding medicine. Especially effective if you make enough for everyone and just have it as a general pud (just don't mix the bowls up!). Banana custard, the little ambrosia pots, also hide the banana antibiotic liquid brilliantly as well.

Write your mobile number on the label of their jackets and jumper. Most folks who finds a lost jacket or jumper will look on the label for a name, but might not know how to get in touch with you. My friend used to write her number on the inside of her lo's shoes as he was a pain for losing them!

One of those hang up shoe holders is ideal in the coat cupboard. Each child/person has a row (or write names on the pocket). In one pocket hat/scarf/gloves, in other one sunhat/sunglasses etc. We have one in our porch and it also has swimcap/goggles - anything that needs grabbing for a bag in it. Also in the babies room I have one and in each pocket there is a nappy, vest and babygrow. Saves rooting around in the middle of the night and also means one just needs grabbed on way out (also saves the 'where are the...' questions from anyone else changing).

For easy/fun painting put down a dust sheet in the hall or kitchen (or outside if you can't stand the mess). They cost about £1 from Tesco. Then get a roll of wallpaper from poundland, roll it out, strip them to nappy or knickers, put some paint on paper plates and let them run along 'feet painting'. Keeps them amused for AGES.

As long as he isn't still doing it at 20 years old, don't worry too much. Other than putting into manufacture the shoes from Despicable Me (spray on shoes that don't come off) I can't really think of anything else.

Nah, me neither. It's not me it bothers, it's the bitching I get from the world and his wife. In actual fact, bare feet is not such a bad thing nor is walking barefoot (not that we dare do that) but in Germany being barefoot in his buggy is met with even on hot days or in the park/sand. He just doesn't like anything on his feet. I researched vivo barefoot shoes but they are £££££ and I am not sure he would keep them on either!

Forgot another tip: when taking your sandstuff anywhere pre write your kids' names on with indelible board marker. It saves hassle at end of sandpit when you are looking for their stuff, fewer things get nicked when 'borrowed' and you can ask for things back without a fuss. You may have to write on every few trips though as can be eroded by sand/sea/general misuse

MIne was this time around. I'm a bit precious about washing bottoms when babies need changing, and like to wash them with water rather than wipes. With Ds1 I used a washing up bowl on the change table until he was too big, when we moved to the baby bath over the main bath. Then just used to sit him in the sink, and as he got bigger, hose him in the bath with the shower attachment.

With DS2, I started off the same but his legs were much stronger, and the day he kicked the bowl off the change table to the floor was the last time that method was used! Couldn't find the baby bath (still don't know what happened to it!) but suddenly thought - I could just use the washing up bowl in the bath - perfect! No more splashing, he has a nice little bath so no wasted water, he can sit there and play with toys but no chance of actual drowning - an absolute Hurrah! moment.