12 Mom Hacks that Make Life Easier
Motherhood is no joke. It’s hard… like really hard. That’s why I love when I find little mom hacks that make life easier. It feels like I have to do something or go somewhere several times before I really figure out the best way to tackle it, so I hope you can benefit from some of these tricks I’ve learned along the way. Here are 12 mom hacks to simplify life with kids.
The Umbrella Car Door Hack
Have you ever been trying to buckle your baby or toddler into the car seat in the middle of a torrential downpour? If you haven’t, don’t worry, your time is coming, and you’ll want to remember this mom hack. Keep an umbrella in the car (if you don’t usually carry one with you). Open the car door just wide enough that the umbrella can rest on top of it and protect you from the rain while your wrangle your kiddo into the car seat. No more driving home sopping wet! (Don’t mind the beautiful day I used to snap this picture).
The Poop Bag Hack
I was cleaning off the top of my refrigerator (scary) when I found a few rolls of dog poo bags from when we lived in our apartment. I decided to throw them in the diaper bag for those awesome blow outs that happen away from home. They’re perfect for the dirty clothes and the dirty diapers. I love that the roll is super small and I don’t have to remember to keep restocking bags (like I did when I used grocery bags). I can’t tell you how many times this has come in handy. Now, I will say I shared this mom hack on Instagram and got a lot of flack about not being environmentally friendly (but I was just finding a new use for these bags so just roll with me). If you want to go green, lots of moms recommended these wet bags from Amazon or these biodegradable bags.
The Shoe Sticker Hack
Weston will be three next month and he has gotten so much more independent since his brother was born. He has started doing small things for himself like putting his plates in the sink and putting on his own shoes. However, he always has a hard time figuring out which shoe goes on which foot. Now that we’re out of flip flop season, I’m going to try the sticker hack. All you do is cut a sticker in half and stick it to the insides of each shoe so that when they put both shoes together, it shows the full sticker and they know they have their shoes in the right place! You can also just draw a shape on the inside with a permanent marker. Totally up to you.
The Binxy Baby Shopping Cart Hammock
I’ve shared this product before, and I’ll probably keep sharing it because it was so helpful after I had Elliott. Even if you just have one baby, the shopping cart hammock is a game changer. It clicks on to the sides of your cart and creates a little hammock that safely holds your baby’s car seat, or just your sweet little baby. It makes it so that you have room for all your groceries (and your other children if you have them). It takes less than 30 seconds to get it attached to the cart and Elliott loved it.
Make a Snack Shelf
I saw this viral post go around where a mom dedicated an entire shelf in her fridge to snacks that her kids could have at any time, without needing to ask. They were all healthy, cut up pretty, and within reach for the little ones. I’ll be honest, I haven’t given this a try yet, but it’s on my to do list. Weston asks for a snack about ten times a day. Instead of crackers and fruit snacks, I want to see if the freedom to pick and choose as he pleases encourages him to eat some healthier snacks.
Make a Kiddie Car Kit
Our diaper bags are only so big, and to be honest, before I had Elliott, I was pretty much done lugging around my diaper bag altogether. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s not always going to be something we need while we’re out and about. That’s why you need a car care kit. Get a small basket or even a bag, and pack it with those items you just might need. Here’s what’s in mine:
- Diapers
- Wipes
- First Aid Kit
- Jackets
- Extra Big Boy Underwear
- Snacks
- Socks
- A Towel
Use Sunlight to Remove Blowout Stains
I really hope that I’m not the only one who didn’t know this mom hack. If your baby has a blowout, simply rinse off the clothes, then lay them out in the sun. The sun will remove the stain and it will look like it never existed. It’s a lot cheaper than an expensive stain remover and works like a charm. This trick has honestly saved the majority of Elliott’s wardrobe.
Use your Old Pregnancy Pillow as a Toddler Bed Bumper
When Weston moved to a big boy bed, we got a toddler rail from Amazon, but we couldn’t seem to keep him from rolling off the bottom of the bed. Unfortunately, they don’t make a rail that fits the bottom of the bed, so we had to improvise. I saw these bumpers on Amazon, but decided to try shoving my old pregnancy pillow under his fitted sheet instead. It worked! He hasn’t rolled out of the bed since, and honestly, it’s his favorite spot to curl up and go to sleep.
Use an Empty Baby Pool as a Playpen
Our family spends a lot of time outside. As soon as Elliott started crawling, trying to eat grass, and putting dirt and rocks in his mouth, I knew I had to find a way to keep him contained and happy while we played outside. One day, I pulled out Weston’s old baby pool, threw a few toys in it (no water), and put Elliott in there to play. He loved it. It gave him a place to play and be independent without me having to chase him down and pull grass out of his mouth every five seconds. He eventually learned how to crawl out, but for the most part, that little baby pool was a lifesaver during the summer months.
Use a Cupcake Liner to Catch Popsicle Drippings
Nothing is messier than a toddler eating a Popsicle… except maybe a toddler eating an ice cream cone. Instead of having melted Popsicle streaming down your toddler’s arm, put the stick through a cupcake liner so that it catches all the drippings. Chances are your kid will still be a mess, but this is sure to help a little bit.
Make a Stash of Rainy Day Toys
This mom hack really only works for smaller children, but it can be super helpful. If your kids get an abundance of toys for holidays or birthdays, stash a few of them away in storage and pull them out on a rainy day or a day when you could use a little extra distraction. It will feel like a real treat for your kids and give you some time to go accomplish something else. The real beauty of this is that it doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive. It can be a couple small toys from the Target dollar spot or a stack of coloring pages from the library. Today I pulled out a goodie bag that I forgot we had from a birthday party last weekend. It was full of dollar gifts, but it kept Weston occupied and away from the TV all day long.
Stock up on Travel Place-mats
If you’ve ever been to a Chick-fil-a, you probably know that they offer cute little place-mats for kids. They stick to the table and can be thrown away when you’re done. Well, next time you’re there, grab a couple extra for your diaper bag (sorry Chick-fil-a). Or, you can order these super inexpensive ones on Amazon. They are so handy. We use them at the zoo, at the fair, at restaurants, at parks, and even at other people’s houses depending on the meal.
I hope you can use these mom hacks to make life just a little bit easier. Even if you take away just one of these tips, that’s a win in my book. Don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for more tips and tricks to help you through motherhood!
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