This post contains both non-affiliated and affiliated links with some of the parenting hacks we list below.
Being a parent is tough, so if you’re looking for parenting hacks, keep reading.
When you’ve got little ones, the day to day can be exhausting.
Not to mention the constant worrying.
You’ve gotta care for your kiddo AND yourself. And that means finding little ways to reduce your worries.
As a parent, when your batteries deplete, it can be tough to take care of the little ones.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re taking care of yourself.
With that in mind, here’s 20 “tools” to help make life easier and do just that…
First thing is, you’ve got to minimize the thoughts and distractions that suck your mental energy.
Do that, and you’ll be able to focus more on BIG things.
Sound like something you want to do?
If so, we’ve got some parenting hacks tips so you’ll worry less along the way.
Here’s our list of helpful ideas:
Parenting Hacks #1. Automatic Coffee Pot
Your run around in the morning rushing to get yourself and your kids ready.
Why waste time making coffee?
One of our favorite parenting hacks this year was to automate this!
Why waste 10 minutes messing with all that anyway?
If you don’t have a pot that brews automatically, and you’re a parent…
Morning you will thank you.
Parenting Hacks #2. A Nespresso Maker
Forget spending $7 for a Starbucks coffee.
If you regularly spend a small fortune at your local coffee drive through, you can do this instead.
After the initial machine cost, this will drop you down to about $1.50 for a nice foamy cappuccino.
Yum. (afflink)
Parenting Hacks #3. An Inverse Umbrella
Getting your kid in and out of the car in a downpour?
No faster way end up drenched in water and struggling to carry your kid and all your stuff inside.
With an inverse umbrella, you never let that happen again.
If you have the right umbrella, there’s no reason you have to get drenched.
4. Cozy Comfy Winter Boots
If you live in the cold Midwest or East Coast listen up.
You’re going to need something better than tennis shoes or non-waterproof boots to schlep through the snow.
It might seem like a big expense now…
But think of it as an investment in your feet.
Plus, whether your hauling the kids to daycare or simply out to run errands, the last thing you wanna do when you’re carrying a kid is slip on the snow and ice.
You can put the days of cold wet feet behind you.
5. High-Quality Tupperware
It’s 2020 and you can guess what that means…
Plastic is out out of style.
And so are the days of worrying about what’s in it.
Recent research has shown that microwaving plastic isn’t good.
Better to use some glass Tupperware instead.
The environment, and your health, will thank you!
6. An Ice Scraper
Quit using your credit card as an ice scraper!
Rather than using that plastic card to wipe the snow off your windshield, get an ice scraper instead.
Your less frozen hands will thank you.
7. Phone Power Bank
These days almost everybody battles with it at some point:
Battery drain and low power.
If you’re a heavy (or even mild) smartphone user, it doesn’t take much to quickly drain your battery for good.
8. A Good Iron
There are some things in life worth getting the cheapest thing you can find to save a few bucks here and there.
But a good iron isn’t one of them.
And here’s why.
Lower quality irons simply don’t do a good job. They’ll leave your clothes wrinkly AND take more effort on your part.
Spend a little more and get a good one so you can look sharp with less fuss.
And, a professional-style iron is heavier and the added weight helps press your clothes to a crisp finish.
Now that you’re going to get your clothes pressed, let’s talk about one of our favorite parenting hacks to reduce your daily mental strain:
9. Matching Work Clothes
If you work, one of the most helpful things you can do to reduce the number of decisions you make is to make it easy to decide what to wear to work.
Keep it simple.
JCrew Factory has great options. Keep an eye on their clearance page to get some really snazzy discounts.
Stock up on items that you can mix and match:
The fewer decisions you have to make, the less stressed you’ll be.
Especially when it comes to deciding what to wear.
10. Alexa
Although we’re 20 years into the new millennium, you might not be ready to talk with a computer in your house.
But if you use Siri (or any other cell phone with AI), you’ve already been talking to a computer for a while now…
So making the leap to Alexa isn’t that big of a jump.
Bonus: you don’t have to pester your significant other with questions like:
“Are you busy?”
Or: “What’s the weather like?”
Alexa can be your new virtual assistant. (afflink)
11. Car Power Bank
Imagine what a headache it can be when your battery dies and you’re far from home.
The worry. The waiting. Having to use some vacation time if you’re late for work. How to get it fixed?
Now imagine having the solution!
Don’t hours for a tow truck to arrive and give you a jump.
Instead, you could be up and running in no time with a power bank that also jump-starts your car.
13. A Nose Frida: Nasty? No Way!
Using a bulb sucker to violently suck the gunk out of your kid’s nose can now be a thing of the past!
Luckily now there’s a more humane option.
For a lotta folks the idea of using a Nose Frida seems gross. While it looks gross, there is a foam barrier to keep you from sucking up the snot.
So don’t worry: you’re not going to eat their sinus goo.
And it’s a more gentle solution for clearing their sinuses.
13. Home Smart Plugs
If you jump into upgrading your home to a smart home, you’ll need some smart plugs to pair with Alexa.
There’s a lot of options out there.
The Amazon smart plugs are more expensive, so shop around.
Getting a few can be a great way to get several devices paired up right away with Alexa.
14. Simple Bins To Hold All The Toys
Reduce clutter and streamline cleanup in your common spaces with a few bins.
It seems like once you have a toddler the toys start piling up!
Just three or four could make a difference.
Plus, getting a few bins for your living room and keeping the toy clutter in them will help you worry less about tidying up.
When it’s time to have a place to put toys away, you’ll be ready.
15. Quip Toothbrushes
A recent study interestingly highlighted the importance of brushing your teeth thoroughly.
But if you’re a busy parent? At bedtime you’re trying to get them in their PJs, read a story, and get them to bed at a decent hour, leaving little time to brush their teeth.
They say you should brush for at least two minutes, but how can be sure you’re hitting the mark?
Battery-powered and designed to go for two minutes, they eliminate all worry with remembering how long to brush.
16. A Neck Warmer
These days it seems like everyone is straining their necks.
Whether hunching over a computer or staring down at our phones, the extra weight on our necks can cause discomfort.
Luckily, some heat on the neck can ease the tension.
Keep it simple with this neck warmer.
17. Light Therapy
More and more research is showing a connection between getting natural light exposure and your mood and health.
But when it’s overcast or the middle of winter and sunshine is rare, what are you supposed to do?
Luckily, a small light therapy light can literally brighten your day.
18. Almond Oil
Dry skin. Feeling stiff. The discomfort of winter air.
It’s all part of winter when it’s dry out.
And there’s so many options to moisturize out there, some less conventional remedies come to mind.
Try this one out next time you need a strong moisturizer.
19. A Child-Size Table
Do you find yourself fighting with your toddler about staying put at the dinner table? This is one of our favorite parenting hacks to solve this challenge.
They’re up and down. Moving. Climbing. And getting down.
Doing anything other than just sitting and eating.
A small child-sized table can help with that.
It’s not a cure-all, but it can give them another option when they don’t feel like sitting at the big table.
20. A Nuna DEMI Grow Stroller
Nothing is more helpful in reducing worry about running errands than knowing you’ve got a stroller that’ll make it a breeze!
If you’re looking for parenting hacks that will make your life easier, this one’s for you.
Let’s put it this way:
When you’re out and about with your kids, the last thing you want to worry about is if the stroller is up for the job.
So we’ve got you covered for your growing family:
