Through my daily work with families and the lively contact with you, I hear tips from mums and dads all the time. Many good ideas can make everyday life with small children amazingly easier. Sometimes it's just little things with an amazing effect. In addition to the Life hacks from parents I have put together even more tried-and-tested recommendations for you on my blog.
Life hacks for little foodies
With the Meals for small children Sometimes something goes wrong. After all, eating is an experience for all the senses for young children. But parents have clever ideas and life hacks for more than just this.
Always have the bib to hand with a hook on the highchair: When the offspring starts to eat in the high chair at the family table or Complementary food When the little ones get their food, they love to "grasp" it with their fingers in the truest sense of the word. The bib or a cloth must then be within easy reach. Some parents now save themselves the hassle of searching and simply stick a hook on the back of the chair back. Then the bib or towel is always within reach, just in case.
Make eating an experience for your child - sorted in the ice cube tray: I have heard from several mums that they don't give their baby healthy food such as pieces of fruit or vegetables on a plate, but in a bowl. Mould for ice cubes offer. The more colourful the container compartments are, the more eagerly the child will grab a piece of cucumber here, half a strawberry next to it, five blueberries opposite and so on. This way, the snacks are clearly organised and separated from each other. And your little one can practise making decisions at the same time. This will have a positive effect on his eating behaviour later on. In the experience of parents who practise this method, the little ones really appreciate this type of snack.
Children need safety
The safety of your child is important to all parents. Nothing should harm them. That's why parents come up with a few ideas.
Quickly mask the socket: Adhesive tape is an all-rounder. Applied in the right place, it quickly provides a temporary safety solution. For example, on the socket, which should have a child safety lock when the baby starts to crawl. But sometimes you overlook a socket at home and you don't have a suitable socket protector to hand. You may need this trick if you are on holiday with your toddler and the sockets in your holiday flat are not secured. In such cases, they can simply be sealed with strips of adhesive tape. As an alternative to this protective measure, a sufficiently large plaster or fixing plaster from the Medicine chest good services.
Adhesive tape against annoying toy noises: I would like to point out right away that the following parenting tip only applies to small children who not explore all objects with your mouth! The point is that a lot of toys make noises. They squeak, shriek, howl, ring and rattle - and above all are usually (too) loud. However, this is not good for children's still very sensitive ears and can also really annoy parents. What can help now is a piece of adhesive tape over the speaker on the child's toy. This dampens the noise. Just make sure that your child doesn't unwind anything or swallow any pieces of tape!
Pool noodle against sharp edges: When little explorers begin to pull themselves up on furniture and take their first wobbly steps, new dangers await them. For example, they could injure themselves on sharp edges or get their fingers stuck in the door. To prevent this, a conventional Floating noodle (pool noodle). It is made from stable, closed-cell PE foam. Simply cut a piece of it to the right length, cut it in half and stick it on the door or on the sharp edge of the table. Quick protection is ready!
You can find out more about child safety on my blog here read how to childproof your home. In the Online first aid course you will learn how to protect your child from danger.
Children need cleanliness
Since the Immune system of babies and toddlers must continue to train diligently until the child is well armed against pathogenic germs, parents would do well to observe a certain level of hygiene in the household. However, we are not talking about a completely sterile environment. But I don't want to withhold a few "clean" tricks from parents.
Cleaning toys in the dishwasher: Your dishwasher doesn't just keep plates and pots clean. It also quickly removes dirt and saliva residues from many plastic toys, such as stacking cups or plastic animals. Choose a wash programme that does not get hotter than 45 degrees to prevent damage and deformation of the items.
Clean tokens in the washing machine: In a Laundry bag building blocks (e.g. Lego, Duplo) can also be easily cleaned in the washing machine at 30 degrees. The same applies to cuddly toys, which are also "like new" after a wash cycle in the drum. A laundry bag is also ideal for baby socks in the washing machine. This way, none of the tiny socks can get lost.
Glue bath toys hygienically: Many bath toys & co. have a hole on the underside through which water can get inside the toy, but can hardly get out again after the bathing fun. Parents then hear it splashing inside and see the mould that forms in the toy when it is constantly damp. However, you don't want mould spores like this in the bath water. A few drops from the Hot glue gunwith which the hole is sealed before the first use. This means that mould has no chance inside the bath animal.
Wash your hands before eating: This is also a must for small children. They can even reach the sink with the help of a small footrest. But the tap or the water running into the basin is simply too far away! What can you do? Clever parents simply make a small extension to the child: take an empty shampoo bottle, for example, remove the top quarter of it with a sharp knife and cut a hole in the base the size of the tap's circumference. Then simply place the hole over the end of the tap - and let the water flow! The water is already splashing through the extension to the little hands in the basin.
Well equipped for travelling with your baby
Parents know the situation: you are on the way to the cinema with your child, for example. Holidaysto the grandparents or just a quick trip to the shops - and just at the inopportune moment, the schoolbag disappears or a fresh pair of children's trousers is needed. No more problems!
Storage jars for schools: Of course, the spare dummy should not be left loose in the changing bag - after all, it should stay clean. For transport, you could send yourself one Dummy container but this is not absolutely necessary. So just use an existing plastic container. Probably every family has that shelf or drawer in the kitchen with plastic containers in all sizes, shapes and colours. Two teats for travelling are sure to fit perfectly into one of them.
A change of clothes in the car: Keeping a nappy, underwear, trousers, top or romper and socks in the car as an "emergency set" can save you from unpleasant situations. Stowing everything together compactly in an extra bag or pouch means that no individual item of the set can miraculously disappear or get lost along with the baby. Changing rucksack be forgotten. Ideally, you should also add a shirt for mum. Because if you're breastfeeding your baby on the go and a gush gets on your top when you burp, you've got a remedy.
Practical life hacks for baby clothes
Whether it's about stowing or dressing, there are also small tips with a big impact when it comes to clothing.
Rolled clothes pack: When travelling, more and more parents swear by taking children's clothes with them rolled up rather than folded as usual. This takes up less space and is easier to organise. The technique is also ideal for the previously described spare set of clothes in the car. The "advanced" ones roll a folded top into the folded trousers and "close" the open ends with a sock on top.
Socks over the romper: The rompers are often still too big for small babies. The child then has so much space in it that the little feet slip out of the actual foot section and the child gets "tangled up". A pair of socks over the romper suit solves the problem so that the baby's feet always sit correctly in the foot section.
