Strange Tricks That Somehow Save Sanity
Parenting isn’t always an orderly affair. It can be messy, frequently ear-splitting, and it often feels like every single day is a test you never studied for. We find ourselves cobbling together methods that would probably horrify a child psychologist but get the job done in the moment. The hacks that stick are rarely the ones found in glossy parenting magazines. Instead, they’re the odd little discoveries whispered by other parents in the school parking lot, or stumbled upon during a midnight meltdown when necessity inspires some desperate creativity. Here are twenty that sound a little absurd but work.
1. Cold Washcloth Teether Pops
Wet a clean washcloth, twist it, and freeze it. Give it to your baby to chew to help relieve their teething pain. Dentists and pediatricians approve because it soothes gums without choking hazards. It may look odd, but it works wonderfully.
2. White Noise From A Vacuum Recording
Instead of an expensive white noise machine, record your vacuum cleaner on your phone. Pediatricians confirm white noise mimics the sounds experienced in the womb and helps babies sleep. As a bonus, white noise also works on adults—perhaps for the same reason.
3. Footie Pajamas Backward At Night
For toddlers who strip off their diaper in bed, try putting their pajamas on backward so that they can’t strip their clothes off as easily. Not only will there be less mess, but you’ll enjoy more sleep. It’s a weirdly effective strategy.
4. The Paintbrush Toothpaste Hack
Give kids a small clean paintbrush to “paint” toothpaste onto their teeth. Suddenly brushing stops being a battle and becomes art. Will there be toothpaste splatters on the mirror? Absolutely. But the fact that their teeth actually get brushed without protest is worth the cost of cleanup.
5. The Magic Trash Bag
Keep a mysterious “trash bag” in the trunk of the car filled with activities to occupy those boring drives. Whenever your child cries out that they have nothing to do, reach into the bag and pull out a stuffed animal or coloring book—something to keep their attention occupied while your eyes remain on the road.
6. The Whispered Command
Instead of shouting “Clean up your toys!”, try whispering it for a change. Whispering makes kids lean in curiously. Suddenly, cleanup has a mystique to it that feels more like a secret mission than a command. It’s weird, but they’ll actually move faster than when you bark orders.
7. The Timer Game
Set a kitchen timer and say, “Bet you can’t put on pajamas before the bell rings.” Watch your kids sprint to prove you wrong. Suddenly, the bedtime routine moves along with the efficiency of an Olympic trial.
8. The Popsicle Drip Saver
Turn a cupcake liner upside down and poke the stick through the middle. Now the drips stay inside the liner instead of down their arms. Will it still be sticky? Yes. But less sticky, which is a small but meaningful victory.
9. Frozen Grapes As Ice Cubes
Drop frozen grapes into juice or water instead of ice cubes. They cool the drink without watering it down, and the kids feel like they’re getting a special treat. You may even find yourself adopting this strategy with your own drinks.
10. The Lego Sheet Trick
Spread out a flat sheet before kids start playing with Legos. When it’s time to clean up, lift the corners and funnel everything back into the bin. This way, you won’t risk stepping on rogue bricks at midnight or be forced to crawl around on all fours looking under the couch for stray pieces. All it takes is one swoop, and cleanup is done.
11. Cereal Container Road Trip Hack
Use a clean, lidded cereal container as a car trash can for those long trips. Unlike a garbage bag, it doesn’t spill, and the lid keeps the smell of banana peels and half-eaten sandwiches from turning the backseat into a landfill.
12. The “Stuffed Animal Doctor” Trick
Let your child be the doctor first. Give them a favorite stuffed animal and a thermometer, and have them “check the bear’s temperature.” Once they’re busy caring for their plush patient, you sneak in and take their own temperature. Curiosity does the work for you.
13. Store Item Photo Trick
If a child’s fixated on a toy or candy in the store and you just can’t—or won’t—buy it, offer to take a quick picture with your phone. Suddenly, it’s not being denied; it’s being remembered for later. Works like a charm, only just be sure to occasionally follow up or the offer will quickly become meaningless.
14. Double Up on Comfort
If your child clings to a favorite blanket or stuffed animal, do yourself a favor and get at least two extras. One goes in the laundry, one in the car, and one gets tucked away for emergencies. Chaos-proofing the comfort supply is the kind of parenting foresight that you’ll pat yourself on the back for.
15. Glow Stick Night Light
Crack a glow stick and drop it into a mason jar or even a plastic bottle to keep them from breaking it open and spilling the liquid everywhere. This is perfect for hotel rooms, camping trips, or that one night when the power goes out and your little one is scared.
16. The “Yes, After” Hack
Instead of saying “No,” try, “Yes, after dinner,” or “Yes, after homework.” Kids hear the “yes” and cling to it, but the condition ushers in a meaningful level of discipline. This strategy works astonishingly well when all they want is screen time.
17. The “Little Errand” Play Trick
Instead of telling a toddler to go play in their room, give them a tiny errand—something like, “Could you put this Lego back in the box?” Suddenly, they wander into the room and inadvertently their attention gets snagged by something, and they decide to stay. Before you know it, they’re happily occupied without a single nag or raised voice.
18. The “Helper Hat” Trick
Instead of sending a toddler off while you tackle chores, hand them a tiny job of their own, whether it’s sweeping with a small broom, wiping a table, or sorting laundry. They feel important, you get some help (even if it’s messy), and chores become routine instead of something to be avoided.
19. The Backpack Surprise
Every so often, slip a small surprise into their backpack. It doesn’t have to be expensive; it can be as little as a sticker or even a tiny cookie wrapped in foil. They’ll find it at school, and it’s like sending them a secret hug in the middle of the day.
20. Dryer Sheet On The Playground Slide
Summer playgrounds turn slides into sizzling torture devices. But if you rub a dryer sheet down the slide, it not only cuts the static but somehow makes it burn a little less. Plus, the slide becomes faster, which your kids will love.
