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15 Tricks to Make Parenting Just a Bit Easier

Published on May 9, 2015

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Parenting. It's really no easy thing. I have learned a few tips & strategies on this "parenting" journey to make life just a bit easier. And let me tell you, I will try anything to make this parenting thing just a little smoother of a ride. Below, we are sharing some of our favorite parenting "shortcuts" that make life a little simpler & help us all keep just a little more sanity.

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1. Plan to do a load of laundry every day. It will make you keep up. And on those mornings when there isn't a full load to do, sit back & relax.

2. Keep diapers & wipes on every floor level in your house. No having to run up the stairs to change the baby!

3. Fill water bottles at the beginning of the day & place in refrigerator. When your child says they are thirsty, they can just grab their drink on their own and it's already cold!

4. Hand on the car. When my kids get out of the car, they have to keep one hand on the car while I am still unloading the other kids out of the car. I don't have to worry about anyone running out in the parking lot after teaching them this lesson.

5. Take pictures of kid's artwork. When your child brings home artwork, display the art for a short period of time. Then, take a picture & toss it. Once the school year is over, make a "kid art" memory book.

6. Order groceries online. It's life-saving.

7. Keep kitchen scissors on hand at all times. I use ours daily to help cut my children's food. It makes it super easy to cut meat, waffle strips, toast, and more. It's so much easier than pulling out a cutting board & knife.

8. Hang checklists by the door for morning & afternoon. Children can easily read and follow the checklists instead of you having to repeat every step.

9. Label toy baskets & clothing drawers. Foster independence so they learn to put things away & get dressed on their own. The more they learn to do, the less you need to do!

10. Keep simple meals on hand for those long nights. Our pantries are always stocked with kid favorites: mac & cheese, breakfast for dinner, & chicken nuggets for those nights when I just don't feel like cooking.

11. Keep spare clothes & shoes in the car. I don't know how many times my kids have got in the car without shoes on. (Yes, I know I should notice but it's crazy some days getting out of the house!) Keeping extra shoes & clothes means I will never have to make an emergency stop for clothing.

12. Have a durable vinyl tablecloth on hand to call your "craft cloth". I place this on our kitchen table every time we do crafts. The kids can make a big mess doing their crafts. When done, I just roll it back up for next time.

13. Place outdoor necessities right by the door. Store sunscreen, hand sanitizer, & bug spray where you can easily apply and use before leaving or entering the house.

14. Popsicles or ice cream pops for dessert? Let your child enjoy them in the bath. It can drip as much as they want & no mess to clean up!

15. Use a sound machine. All three of my kids still sleep with sound machines. Baby sister wakes up crying, nobody else wakes up. Big brother has a bad dream, nobody else wakes up. We take them when we travel & these kids sleep through anything. Awesome.

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