17 Genius Parenting Hacks You Won't Know How You Lived Without

    Straight from the archives of parent hack expert Asha Dornfest.

    Morgan Shanahan
    by Morgan Shanahan

    BuzzFeed Staff

    Asha Dornfest has long been known as a master of parent hacks, and now she's released a book — Parent Hacks: 134 Genius Shortcuts for Life With Kids.

    Instagram: @parenthacks

    To celebrate the book's release, Asha has shared some of her favorite hacks with BuzzFeed:

    1. "Organize drawing supplies with a dish drainer."

    Workman Publishing

    WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS?!

    2. "Turn a bookshelf into a hanging wardrobe."

    Workman Publishing

    Dornfest suggests simply pulling a shelf out and popping in a closet rod for an instant wardrobe.

    3. "Help your kid climb into bed with a cookie sheet step."

    Workman Publishing

    Kiddo not quite tall enough to climb into bed on their own? Wedge a cookie sheet under the mattress leaving only about four inches exposed. Voila! A stair!

    4. "Trick the public restroom flush sensor by covering it with toilet paper."

    Workman Publishing

    You know, in case the sound makes your kid scream with terror every time like it does my kid.

    5. "Press small clothes with a flatiron."

    Workman Publishing

    What better way to keep tiny shirts and suits freshly pressed?

    6. "Trim kids' bangs with nose-hair scissors."

    Workman Publishing

    Safer, plus cutting with tiny scissors is way more fun.

    7. "Put the ketchup under the hot dog."

    Workman Publishing

    Waaaaaaaay less mess.

    8. "Flatten the toilet paper roll to slow its rotation."

    Workman Publishing

    Great for stopping your kid from overzealous paper-pulling.

    9. "Expand the waistband of your pre-pregnancy jeans with a ponytail holder."

    Workman Publishing

    This also works if you're just pregnant with a food baby.

    10. "Freeze a sanitary pad to help heal after childbirth."

    Workman Publishing

    Squeezing something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a lemon can leave you a little sore, if you know what I mean. (You do, it's awful.) This hack will make any new mom more comfortable.

    11. "Reuse a peri bottle as a diaper sprayer."

    Workman Publishing

    If you're in the cloth diapering game, this one's an on-the-go lifesaver.

    12. "Put socks over footie pajamas to keep feet in place."

    Workman Publishing

    Just...genius.

    13. "Replace shoelaces with elastic to turn lace-up shoes into slip-ons."

    Workman Publishing

    Because waiting for a kid to tie their shoes can make the difference between being on time and missing an entire event.

    14. "Sort breast-milk bottles in six-pack cartons."

    Workman Publishing

    Reduce! Reuse! Recycle!

    15. "Use a bottle nipple to dispense medication."

    Workman Publishing

    This is so much easier than trying to get a baby to drink from a tiny cup.

    16. "Contain dirty tissues with a tissue box trash can."

    Workman Publishing

    It's like a jail for germs!

    17. "Slide wooden puzzles into panty hose to keep the pieces in place."

    Workman Publishing

    Hot damn, that's clever. Never lose another letter.

    Want to learn 117 more genius hacks like these? You're gonna have to buy the book, available now. ;)

    Instagram: @ashadornfest