16 Genius Mom Hacks to simplify life with a toddler

Sharing is caring!

Life with a toddler is challenging, but simple solutions can help! These 15 genius mom hacks are things that I myself use (mostly). It’s little things like these that help rough days go smoother, and take a little bit of the load off. (Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links.)

 

 

Most of these simple solutions for everyday problems are geared toward life with a toddler (because that’s where we’re at now). Some are taken from the baby stage. All really work, and show how a little bit of life hacking can take the load off your day.

 

Update: this post was originally published in July 2015, but with Baby Y now approaching toddlerhood full force, I decided to revisit these mom hacks – and it’s a good thing, since I had forgotten many and they’re really useful!

 

You can watch the video below for a preview of a few of these 16 hacks (I know, the image says 15, but count ’em – there are 16…!) Or just scroll past it to read all about them.

 

 
 

 

 

Bathtime mom hacks: 

 

1. Instead of buying a bath cup, turn a baby food container into a bath cup. It’s much more generous than a regular cup, and the wide spout makes it perfect!

 

 

2. Does your toddler scream instead of playing in the tub? A little bit of asking around taught me that we were not alone when this started. Toddlers get frustrated when the toys float away, and lose patience easily. Placing a bath caddy in the tub helped, and provided a tray for M to play on too!

 

 

3. Shampoo bottles and containers with lids make the absolute best (and cheapest) bath toys!

 

 

4. If you have a curly-head like mine, you probably go through lots of bottles of de-tangling spray. Save your wallet by making your own! It’s really easy.

 

 

Safety hacks for moms:

Toddlers get into everything, and sometimes conventional safety products just don’t quite do the job… 

 

5. Whether you need it in a fix, or your plastic cabinet locks are breaking, you can use a string instead! I actually used a wrap bracelet that I made, but any sturdy ribbon or cord will do the job – just lay it over both knobs, and the ends around each one.

 

 

6. Do you find doorknob covers extremely hard to handle? Flip it around and use it backwards! Your toddler still won’t be able to manage it, but the knob will be more within reach and easier for you to grip. I did this by mistake at first, and it was the best mistake I ever made!

 

 

7. If your toddler likes to play with the sink but sometimes turns on the hot water, put a slinky over that faucet. (You can spray paint it if you want it to look prettier than mine…) I let M play with the water a little when he comes with me to the bathroom, and the slinky serves as a reminder that he shouldn’t use that one.

 

 

 

 

8. Use a pool noodle to stop doors from closing on little fingers. 

 

 

 

Mom Hacks for in the Kitchen:

 

9. Use an ice cube tray to freeze homemade baby food into portion sizes. Transfer to ziploc bags once it’s frozen, and defrost 1-2 at a time. 

 

 

10. Allow your baby to self-feed using this amazing spoon! It was a lifesaver for me…

 

 

11. Use your empty baby food jars to store spices – they’re the perfect size! You can even make it a bit more elaborate with this magnetic spice rack. 

 

12. Put realistic metal toy pots in your kitchen cabinet to help avoid having your baby play with your good ones. You can also take it out for your toddler to “help” you when you cook. M loves imitating me and I give him his pots with a baby spoon to “mix” while I cook. 

 

13. Use q-tips to clean the difficult parts of straw sippy cups (it works for breast pumps too!)

 

14. If you’re like me and fight with every jar you need to open, you can use a rubber grip. When that fails, use a bottle opener to pry it open just a little bit – it’ll open much more easily!

 

 

A little something for Mom: 

15. Use contact lens solution to revive dried up mascara, allowing it to last longer!

 

 

Bonus tip:

Take photos from the newborn stage in a laundry basket. It serves as a great frame of reference to show just how much your little one grew! At first we did monthly; now we shoot every half year.

 

 

[convertkit form=5126235]

Which mom hacks to you have to share? Comment below with your ideas!

 

More mom hacks for you:

• Hacks for dealing with sick kids
• Hacks for surviving picky eating
• Hacks special for the kitchen
• Kids’ book storage hacks

 

 

 

Disclaimer: Since every child is different, what worked for me may or may not work for you. These tips are not to be taken as expert advice. Always follow your pediatrician or another expert’s advice first. 

 

 

 

 

Sharing is caring!