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We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to share the the ingenious tips and tricks they use for their kids. Here's their advice (and some of our fave, clever hacks, too!)
1. Keep your child busy without lifting a finger by investing in a bubble machine. Literally, all you need to do is turn it on and voilà, instant bubble wonderland that'll keep them entranced for HOURS (or at least give you enough time to finish that lukewarm coffee sitting neglected on your kitchen counter).
2. And, don't underestimate the possibilities of balloons. With just a handful of balloons and and a pair of fly swatters you can pull together a pretty darn competitive game of *balloon tennis.*
3. Saving money by upcycling an old shampoo bottle into a faucet extender. It'll not only save your back the strain of hoisting your toddler over the sink, but also empower them to wash their hands and brush their teeth all on their own.
4. Do you dread a Target run with your kiddo because it never ends well? They beg for toys, you say "no" a gazillion times, an epic meltdown ensues...amirite?! Next time, use this simple trick: take a picture of the toy so they know it's on your radar. No more tantrums + you now know what to get them for their birthday = win-win!
5. Fed up of middle of the night sheet changes after your baby leaks through their diaper or spits up? Try this sanity-saving crib lasagna trick: layer a bed sheet then a waterproof pad, then another bed sheet and a waterproof pad. So when an accident happens, you can just peel off the top sheet and waterproof pad layer (and get the little bubs snoozing again quickly!)
6. And if you're potty training a toddler, use a potty rewards chart to provide positive reinforcement with a sticker each time your kiddo successfully use the "big potty." A little bribery never hurt anyone...right?
7. Put an end to missing socks by buying socks all 👏 in 👏 the 👏 same 👏 color 👏 (or style). While plain ol' socks are ~no match~ for Batman socks, you'll feel like a superhero when you get your kids out the door in time — without frantically searching for matching socks.
8. Take bath time to a whole other level of fun by tossing in a few glow sticks to create the kiddie equivalent of a rave. Trust me, they'll literally refuse to get out.
9. Grab a pizza cutter to cut pancakes or waffles into bite-size pieces in 15 seconds flat. No more slicing a pancake haphazardly with a fork, while your hangry toddler waits for breakfast. (Thank you fellow parent below for rocking my world with this tip!)
10. And, whip up a batch of pancakes at lightning speed on hectic mornings with a Whiskware pancake batter mixer. It has a BlenderBall wire whisk, which means no separate mixing bowl, messy spoons, or batter-coated countertops. Simply add your ingredients, shake, and pour from the spout. Breakfast's ready 😋!
11. If your toddler would rather spend their time frolicking in the ball pit rather than learning their alphabet (isn't that all toddlers?!) you can sneak in some learning by using a Sharpie to write the ABCs on the plastic balls. Then make up easy games to help them practice letter recognition — like matching the alphabet balls to the right buckets.
12. And hey, if you're looking for a way to take the frustration out of learning sight words, then this fun sight words Bingo game is for you.
13. If your little one gets a little confused about which shoe goes on which foot, a simple sticker trick can help. Cut a sticker in half and place one half on each sole to show them which is left and which is right. Or, try these readymade durable and moisture-proof toddler shoe sticker helpers.
14. Get kids to *actually* want to help clean the house by giving them their ~own~ cleaning caddy. And, no, you don't need to shell out $$$ to buy new cleaning supplies. Just pull together some of your existing supplies into a new bucket. (Make sure it's all nontoxic, of course!)
15. And, btw, remove stubborn stains like grass, oil, or blood from your kids' clothes with a cult-favorite stain remover. Just apply this concentrated spot treatment, let it sit, and then wash to make everything from diaper leaks to food mishaps *poof* disappear!
16. Let's be honest, cleaning your child's fave stuffies are probably LOW on your to-do list. But when they get too grimy to ignore, try this lazy yet brilliant cleaning hack that won't ruin them forever (pinky promise!). Throw them in a pillow case, tie with a scrunchie, and machine wash to make them look as if they haven't been neglected for months.
17. Instead of wrestling your kids to put an ice pack on boo boos, try a marshmallow ouchie pack. Add some marshmallows to a Ziploc bag and stick it in the freezer. Kids will love that it's soft, moldable and not-unbearably-cold.
18. If your kids are total mosquito magnets, keep the bug bite suction tool handy. It relieves the itching and swelling from all kinds of bug bites, so your kids aren't left scratching all day. Plus, it was invented by a mom and totally worth the Shark Tank hype.
19. Free up precious counter space by giving each child a designated hanging cup for their toothbrush. Write their names on the cup with a Sharpie and then stick the cups on the inside of the cabinet door.
20. Or, instantly de-clutter your bathroom with a viral TikTok toothbrush holder and dispenser that'll squeeze toothpaste on your child's brush for you and save you from having to wipe down toothpaste-smeared counters.
21. To prevent ketchup explosion in the car, try this ingenious car vent dip clip so the kiddos can dip those fries and nuggets to their heart's content.
22. Hang a calendar in your preschooler's room for a hands-on way to teach then the days of the week, months and the weather. (They'll jump out of bed eagerly to update it every morning!)
The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.