What is your more unusual parenting advice for others?

[raleigh_mom]

On a lighter side... what unusual or original parenting advice do you have for other parents. The kind where you say "Why didn't anyone tell me to try this?!?" and everyone says "Oh, I didn't think of that." Seems a little silly, but I'd love to hear your household secrets!

Mine is: When you have young kids in the house, put a rubber backed bath mat in front of all the toilets in all your bathrooms. Sure makes cleaning up a lot easier after "accidents".

[UnschoolnMa]

Scissors in the kitchen. It makes it very easy to cut up long noodles, meats and even vegetables for little fingers and mouths There have to be others but they aren't coming to me right at the moment lol.

[Jane]

Tie up all the plastic bags from the supermarket. Just stretch the bag out closed-bottom to open top, squish it into a line, and do one granny tie. They can't tangle anymore and they are safer for babies and tots.

[Seasons]

A box ($10 lidded plastic box at Ikea, or cheaper "wreath box" at fabric store after-Christmas sale) filled with uncooked rice makes a great indoor sandbox, safe even for pre-solids-eating infants, and still fun for toddlers.

Taking baths together with your baby, from birth on, is a great way to get 15 minutes' rest, especially if you nurse during the bath. Just lean back...

Beg, barter or trade (with another mom, or your DP if you have one, or a neighbor) getting an informal monthly family photo *every* month. I'm so glad I have this collection, even from the early months when my baby looked like an alien and I was greasy-haired. It makes a great flip book of how we *both* grew!

[UnschoolnMa]

I second baths. Oh how wonderful they are! Also my kids loved sitting in a their highchair and "playing" with various things like teeny tiny ice chips as the melted, or other soft finger foods. It came in handy after my son was too big and no longer happy to be in a sling, but I needed two free hands for a minute or two.

[maya44]

Never ask your child a question if you really don't want an answer.

It's time to go Ok? is alright to ask if you are willing for them to say "no not ok"

Otherwise its "we have to go now, put on your coat sweetie"

[fiddledebi]

Oh! I've got a REALLY WEIRD one!

Use an ace bandage to keep your newborn swaddled! We wrapped one that had velcro on the ends around all the blankets so that my easily-startled newborn couldn't flail her arms so hard and un-swaddle herself. This helped her sleep a bit longer (2 hours as opposed to 45 minutes at a time) until she was about 4 months old.

When we did it, people (like our parents) looked at us like we were crazy, but it TOTALLY worked for us.

[sincitymama]

Fiddledebi! Where the heck were you in my life when ds was born, and big, and too big for the stinkin swaddling blankets! OMG, if I were going to have more babies I would totally write that down somewhere! :LOL

[Geofizz]

Use a twin bed sheet for swaddling.

[wenat]

I used to use the crib sheet (not the fitted one, the flat one) for swaddling. It was a bit too big, but did the job.

My contribution to this thread: foil balloons (cheap from the dollar store) filled with helium last forever (a couple of weeks), and really help at the change table -- especially when they just WON'T stay still on their backs and it's one of those messy ones. (You can get refillable ones.)

Nowadays I just keep a couple of books in one of the bathroom drawers. They keeps him entertained while I'm waiting for him to go to the potty. (EC really does work -- he's 17 mos and mostly pooping in the toilet!)

[Aaudreysmom]

Rinse babys bottom in the sink after every poo. Your baby will never have diaper rash.

[PadmaMorgana]

Let them splash in the tub. Why get into a power struggle with your toddler. Plus, you get your floors clean. *this is the reason I use a 7' x 4' towel as a bath mat*

Use a crib blanket ( I have tonnes....my inlaws make beautiful baby quilts) to swaddle in the winter.

Make it easy to clean up the toys. Baskets on shelves means a 2 year old can do it by himself.

Let your child help you. Yes, it will take longer to do anything (recycling, dishes, cleanup, baking), but you are training them early so they can do it *alone* in the future. :LOL

[carolsly]

The only advice I ever give to new parents, unless they really ask is..

"never never never put soda in a Playtex sippy cup, when you drop it, the soda goes shooting out the top like a guyser." I know, I know, young children should not have soda, but.....

That is my tip! :LOL

[Jennifer Z]

If your kitchen floors are linoleum, get some washable crayons (take out the turquoise and orange color...not as easy to wash up) and let them draw all over the floor. It wipes up in a snap with plain old water, saves paper, and gives them something to do while you are working in the kitchen

[meowee]

bring a chair into the bathroom while they take a bath. that way you don't have to sit on the toilet cover or the floor.

If you have TV in the house, keep it off as long as possible, and save it for when things tend to get out of control, usually in the early evening. Don't waste the freshness of mornings on TV.

if your child hates veggies and fruits but loves sweets, learn to make homemade treats that incorprate bananas, apple sauce, sweet potatoes, squash, etc.

learn to cook with honey and maple syrup instead of refined sugar.

[dharmamama]

A bowl of water and a few small bath toys on the front porch on a hot day will keep the little one entertained for a VERY long time!

Namaste!

Ps. Make sure you get a carseat that advertises non-twisting straps!

[Geofizz]

Originally Posted by PadmaMorgana

Let your child help you. Yes, it will take longer to do anything (recycling, dishes, cleanup, baking), but you are training them early so they can do it *alone* in the future. :LOL

Yup, despite most baking instructions, you can often safely add the eggs last. Stirring is fun!

It's amazing what veggies you can cut with a plastic knife.

A salad spinner is worth the extra required cupboard space.

Wash the tupperware first to give your child something to dry (and since your tupperware is in a lower cupboard they can put it away, too!)

Sorting silverware from the dishwasher is fun! Sometimes DD's a tad creative, though...

[LunaMom]

Use chucks (sp?) pads on the changing table. I must have washed that darn cloth cover ten times in the first week from those liquidy baby poops. Chucks pads are disposable (I know, I know, but they were so darn convenient) and it was so nice to just be able to toss it and put on a fresh one when my baby had those poop explosions.

Buy a roll of clear contact paper, cut it into sheets, and carry them in the diaper bag to cover restaurant tables and make a clean placemat for your toddler.

[raleigh_mom]

I thought of two more...

1. We use damp washclothes at the table for the kids instead of napkins. Cuts down on waste, plus works better.

2. I put iron-ons or sew buttons on the front of the girls' underpants. It's really hard to find the front usually, so this makes it much easier for my 4 yo to dress herself. Plus it makes it easy to sort laundry since each girl has her own design button or iron on. (My 20mo insists on wearing underpants over her diaper!)

[Linda KS]

1. Make playdough. I believe that playdough is the answer to many problems. For example,

Problem -- my kids are watching too much TV -- answer -- make playdough.
Problem -- my child cannot play on his/her own -- answer -- make playdough.
Problem -- we are so bored since it got cold outside -- answer -- make playdough.
Problem -- my kids can't share toys -- answer -- make playdough and divide in half.