Susan K Mann

Award Nominated Mummy & Parenting blogger. Blogging about the highs and lows of being a working mother of two princes & princess, living out our own fairytale in Scotland.

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My Parenting Hacks – Share Yours and Win

11th November 2015 By Susan Mann 71 Comments

Parenting hacks or tips is something I never thought about until I had children. Before I had children, and especially when trying to conceive and then being pregnant, I read every book I could on the subject. There were no real hacks in there. Once baby arrived, pretty much the majority of what I read went out of the window after the first 6 weeks of no sleep and desperation of trying to settle a baby that just didn’t want to sleep. 

Once the haze of night time feeds and nappy changes passes, you try to get back to a bit of normality. And in doing so I picked up a few tidbits of information along the way. A hack or tip is just that, a way that helps makes parenting that little bit easier, simpler or saves you that little bit of time.

The inspiration behind my parenting hacks.

Parenting Hacks

My parenting hacks are:-

1. Keep those plastic Halloween trick or treat buckets. They make excellent sick buckets and are washable.

2. Menthol in the form of Vicks or similar on a baby or child’s feet with socks over them will help ease colds and coughs. Strange, but it works.

3. Monster spray or a magic stone when the child is older helps keep nightmares and monsters at bay. Monster spray I made was in one of those plant style spray bottle and added some lavendar oil and a sprinkle of glitter.

4. Have a key rack in the hall way and have it high up. Handy for storing keys and keeping them from being put down the toilet.

5. Keep a canvas bag where you store the kids jackets that they can put their hats, scarfs and gloves in. That way you aren’t hunting for them before the school run.

Competition:-

Sudocrem are looking to find out your best parenting hack. The three best ones on my blog will win a fab Sudocrem goody bag below. And if your parenting hack makes it through to being one of the 3 the best in the UK, then you’ll also be in with a chance to win £100 voucher. Simple!

You have read my hacks above; here are Sudocrem’s hacks to help inspire one of your own:-

  • Put a hook at the back of a high chair to bold the bibs.
  • Reuse a pool noodle and make it a door stopper and stop little hands getting trapped in doors.
  • Use a fairy cake cup to prevent the melting ice-cream from getting your kids hands dirty whilst eating an ice lolly.

Enter in the Rafflecopter entry below. I am looking forward to reading your hacks and the top three will win a Sudocrem goody bag containing:-

  • 1 Red/Pink/Blue Sudocrem hat (Colour chosen at random) 
  • 1 Sudocrem T-Shirt
  • 1 Sudocrem Care & Protect
  • 1 Tube of Sudocrem Skin Care Cream
  • 1 Sudocrem Pen
  • 1 Sudocrem car bumper slogan
  • 1 pair of Sudocrem sunglasses

sudocrem

Good luck and I can’t wait to read your entry.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ThePrizeFinder

U, ME AND THE KIDS

Disclaimer:- This post is done in association with Sudocrem. I am looking forward to reading your hacks

Related posts:

Lottie Dolls Chapter Book And Sticker Dress-up Book Review And Giveaway
Win - Fairy Flowerpot
Win The Awesome And Fun Quercetti Marble Run

Filed Under: Competition Tagged With: Competition, Giveaway, Parenting, Parenting Hacks, Sudocrem, Tips

Comments

  1. Mummy Tries says

    11th November 2015 at 11:15 am

    Brilliant! I love a good parenting hack 🙂 will defo be giving monster spray a try xx

    Reply
  2. kim plant says

    11th November 2015 at 12:58 pm

    as its nearly xmas keep the magic alive by taking the kids out to watch the space station fly overhead but tell them its santa x

    Reply
  3. Karl Borowy says

    11th November 2015 at 8:37 pm

    free kids events over xmas locally

    Reply
  4. melanie stirling says

    12th November 2015 at 12:14 am

    Leave a sprinking of fairy dust from the tooth fairy or at the bottom of the chimney from santa.

    Reply
  5. HonestMum says

    12th November 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Fab competition, how cute are the kids-literally make me smile every time I see them together, too cute. Love your hacks too, will try that monster spray x

    Reply
  6. Agent Spitback says

    12th November 2015 at 10:39 pm

    Aw, your inspirations are so cute! My hack would be a zip lock bag – handy for vomitus, pee (for boys) and storing soiled clothes…Monster Spray-love that one, will try the next bad night kiddo has.

    Reply
  7. crazyvicky says

    13th November 2015 at 10:53 am

    use a wash bag or a pillow cas with a hair tie on to wash baby socks so they dont end up getting stuck in the pipes.
    use a washable table cloth under the high chair to save the floor from spills!

    Reply
    • Susan Mann says

      23rd November 2015 at 6:33 pm

      Congratulations you won, I’ve sent you an email x

      Reply
      • crazyvicky says

        23rd November 2015 at 7:37 pm

        Oh fantastic, I will check my emails now 😊

        Reply
  8. Samantha O'D says

    13th November 2015 at 2:27 pm

    Use a little mesh bag you get with washing tabs to put sock and scratch mitts in so they don’t get lost in the wash

    Reply
  9. judy2357 says

    18th November 2015 at 6:03 pm

    To wean children off a dummie, cut a tiny hole in the top of it. You will find this is better than taking the dummie away and causing stress. The kiddies dont like the hole so will soon throw away the dummie theirselves.

    Reply
    • Susan Mann says

      23rd November 2015 at 6:34 pm

      Congratulations, you won. I’ve sent you an email x

      Reply
      • judy2357 says

        23rd November 2015 at 6:41 pm

        Many thanks I have sent you an email with my details.

        Reply
  10. Nichole @Budget Loving Militar says

    19th November 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Use hot glue gun to create traction on slippery shoes by creating lines of glue on the bottom of the shoe.

    Reply
  11. Kay Panayi says

    19th November 2015 at 8:41 pm

    Bid strange but I buy my tall 10 year old size 6 ladies tights as there cheaper and always better quality

    Reply
  12. missingsleep says

    19th November 2015 at 9:32 pm

    Pool noodles can also be added to a trampoline to make the springs round the sides safer for little hands! x

    Reply
  13. Natalie Crossan says

    19th November 2015 at 11:24 pm

    Pick your battles and don’t sweat the small stuff xx

    Reply
  14. suey1969 says

    20th November 2015 at 12:38 pm

    I don’t have any children but would love to win this prize to donate to
    charity, to go to Romania.

    Reply
  15. Phyllis Ellett says

    20th November 2015 at 12:51 pm

    Bite your lip, HARD, count to 10 and then go back to the battle, It is no good loosing your temper because the lil’ones do not know what temper is, its just another feeling they are learning.

    Reply
  16. Laura Pritchard says

    20th November 2015 at 2:30 pm

    Make household chores into a game so they’ll want to be a part of it

    Reply
  17. Erica Price says

    20th November 2015 at 3:06 pm

    Separate bags for different activities (e.g. swimming) – put the stuff back in the bag once it’s cleaned so it’s always ready to go.

    Reply
  18. Elaine Dale says

    20th November 2015 at 4:35 pm

    always be organised well in advance of any activities

    Reply
  19. laura stewart says

    20th November 2015 at 5:19 pm

    plan ahead 🙂

    Reply
  20. Gillian Mills says

    20th November 2015 at 6:32 pm

    Stay calm and enjoy 🙂

    Reply
  21. Andrea says

    20th November 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Be prepared for anything.

    Reply
  22. Rachel Bustin says

    20th November 2015 at 7:37 pm

    stay calm and organised xx

    Reply
  23. Jessica Powell (Babi a Fi) says

    20th November 2015 at 8:34 pm

    The best one I ever heard was tell them the ice cream van music meant they had none left, they just want to soften the disappointment… Hehe.

    Reply
  24. jamie banks says

    20th November 2015 at 8:36 pm

    enjoy every minute x

    Reply
  25. sarah diane rees says

    20th November 2015 at 8:53 pm

    organise and enjoy

    Reply
  26. Viv C says

    20th November 2015 at 9:10 pm

    always have a ball in your bag

    Reply
    • Susan Mann says

      23rd November 2015 at 6:35 pm

      Congratulations, you won. I’ve sent you an email x

      Reply
  27. maci234 says

    20th November 2015 at 10:14 pm

    yes enjoy it as they soon grow up

    Reply
  28. Rachel Craig says

    20th November 2015 at 10:15 pm

    Plan ahead, aim to be prepared. Remain calm, enjoy the good moments as time passes so quickly.

    Reply
  29. Lisa Pond says

    20th November 2015 at 10:23 pm

    That the red LED light on the alarms and tv means that Santa is watching 🙂

    Reply
  30. Mandy S says

    20th November 2015 at 10:32 pm

    Have a packet of wet-wipes in every room of the house!!

    Reply
  31. Hayley Colburn says

    20th November 2015 at 11:18 pm

    Don’t make threats you wont follow through, show them weakness and you’ve had it lol

    Reply
  32. Charmian Filewood says

    21st November 2015 at 2:15 am

    Dont take everything so seriously, enjoy the time you have when they are young

    Reply
  33. Caroline Buckley says

    21st November 2015 at 6:15 am

    Always have plenty of baby wipes. They can be used for anything and everything!

    Reply
  34. Karen Laing says

    21st November 2015 at 8:16 am

    Never let babies and young children sleep in your bed.I’ve friends who still have to battle to get their children to sleep in their beds as they always want mum and dads bed.I know one child who’s now six who cries every night if she can’t sleep with them,it’s a very hard habit to break x

    Reply
  35. Mummy Fever says

    21st November 2015 at 8:21 am

    When you have lots of children it can be hard to get anything done. When children understand that if they help around the house you can have more time to spend together as a family that can be really useful. I make jobs/chores into games so everyone has fun and we get the job done. No child is too small, babies can join in by being in a baby carrier and even toddlers can sort out washing, drying etc and enjoy cleaning. It is also a great learning opportunity, so for example “how many blue socks are there etc?” the children like to work in teams and have races and will often say “are there any jobs to do today mummy?”

    Reply
  36. Christine Reid says

    21st November 2015 at 12:24 pm

    Put blue tac on the bottom of you fav vases etc, helps it stay on the shelf when little ones are about.

    Reply
  37. Karen Howden says

    21st November 2015 at 1:16 pm

    If you ask them to do something follow it through

    Reply
  38. Sioni Barnes says

    21st November 2015 at 1:32 pm

    Simple…..always have baby wipes to hand 👍🏼👍🏼

    Reply
  39. Gemma Middleton says

    21st November 2015 at 1:44 pm

    Get rid of dummys by burying them on Christmas Eve for Santa to collect and exchange for presents.

    Reply
  40. Rebecca Howells says

    21st November 2015 at 3:07 pm

    Cutting up veggies really small / blending them and hiding them in the food – e.g. spag bol, casseroles (@PeanutHog)

    Reply
  41. Charmaine says

    21st November 2015 at 4:29 pm

    Baby vests have poppers on the shoulders so when baby does a messy poo you can remove the vest by rolling it down to the legs rather than over their head!

    Reply
  42. msgchristiansen says

    21st November 2015 at 6:14 pm

    A tired child is a grumpy child. Make sure they have regular naps 🙂

    Reply
  43. Holly says

    21st November 2015 at 6:43 pm

    With your kiddies make your own Christmas Dec’s by cutting up strips of coloured, sparkly or Christmas wrapping paper and sticking them together in rings (sellotape or glue stick does the job) into chains to hang up around the house. Not only does it give them a sense of pride when their handiwork is hung up but it keeps them amused for an hour or so! Also money saving 😉 xx

    Reply
  44. Claire Thomson Little says

    22nd November 2015 at 1:36 am

    I don’t have any but love the monster spray idea although will be adapted for zombies and foxes.

    Reply
  45. Jill Fairbanks says

    22nd November 2015 at 8:10 am

    If you say your going to do something then do it and don’t give in

    Reply
  46. Rachel Clennell says

    22nd November 2015 at 8:24 am

    Have a ‘summer box’ in the boot of your car. Only needs to be small with emergency sun cream, towel, bucket and spade and a change of clothes. Then you can have spur of the moment trips to beaches, glens and water splash parks when you are out and about. Swap for a winter box later on, spare gloves etc.

    Reply
  47. Ruth Harwood says

    22nd November 2015 at 8:43 am

    always follow up on promises and threats – good behaviour should be rewarded and bad behaviour punished, and do things your way, don’t let someone else tell you you’re doing it wrong!

    Reply
  48. Jessica Cook says

    22nd November 2015 at 9:19 am

    always take pictures, memories are priceless and so are the photos of childhood

    Reply
  49. Vickie Jackson says

    22nd November 2015 at 9:42 am

    Stop kids from locking themselves in the bathroom by using a rubber band over the handles 🙂

    Reply
  50. Caroline Cordery says

    22nd November 2015 at 10:24 am

    Have an electric cargo bike instead of a car and be able to drive your kids and all your stuff directly onto the beach or park.

    Reply
  51. Allan Fullarton says

    22nd November 2015 at 10:45 am

    Ask them to put things away and for them to do it.

    Reply
  52. Teresa Sheldon says

    22nd November 2015 at 1:48 pm

    Enjoy every moment you can with them as today is tomorrow’s memories and they grow up so quick you don’t want to miss any of it good or bad

    Reply
  53. Liz Ferguson says

    22nd November 2015 at 2:54 pm

    chewing gum can be frozen off clothes by freezing it in the freezer xx

    Reply
  54. FionaJK42 says

    22nd November 2015 at 5:16 pm

    When getting your kids to tidy up, have a rule that any toys left out of place (on the floor, stuffed in cupboards, etc.) go into a charity bag. Kids can “earn” the toy back by good behaviour or by doing an additional chore. Otherwise send the toy(s) in the bag to charity at the end of the month. I found you only have to carry out this threat once, then it keeps on working!

    Reply
  55. PamGregory says

    22nd November 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Be consistent!

    Reply
  56. David Crabb says

    22nd November 2015 at 7:05 pm

    Our best parenting hack is to ALWAYS find some quality time for the family no matter how busy the day has been!

    Reply
  57. Tamsin Jane Dean says

    22nd November 2015 at 7:37 pm

    try to smile and laugh even when things are difficult, cause you will look back at the issues you face know through different eyes

    Reply
  58. Nikki Hunter-Pike says

    22nd November 2015 at 8:37 pm

    to stop my 2 year old chucking her food on the floor when shes finished we’ve introduced the finish pot, so now she puts the food in the pot instead!

    Reply
  59. Maria P says

    22nd November 2015 at 8:43 pm

    plan ahead and smile it you have to reschedule

    Reply
  60. Julie says

    22nd November 2015 at 9:01 pm

    Use reward charts every day, I was sceptical at first but have found the mere reminder of it can stop a tantrum dead in it’s tracks!

    Reply
  61. Jacqui Rushton says

    22nd November 2015 at 9:13 pm

    Constant supply of baby wipes!

    Reply
  62. Victoria Prince says

    22nd November 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Use a cheap paddling pool as a “playpen” to contain young children’s toys (and young children :D)

    Reply
  63. darren collins says

    22nd November 2015 at 10:54 pm

    Make sure you always have baby wipes around

    Reply
  64. juliebooth says

    22nd November 2015 at 11:04 pm

    baby wipes are not just great for the obvious but I keep a box at work as they are brilliant at removing those stains from the morning- baby sick on shoulder of work suit, porridge on lapel etc!

    Reply
  65. Monika Bascombe says

    22nd November 2015 at 11:48 pm

    You can clean all house using only baby wipes 🙂

    Reply
  66. Susan Mann says

    23rd November 2015 at 6:35 pm

    The winners were:- 1) use a wash bag or a pillow cas with a hair tie on to wash baby socks so they dont end up getting stuck in the pipes.

    2) To wean children off a dummie, cut a tiny hole in the top of it. You will find this is better than taking the dummie away and causing stress. The kiddies dont like the hole so will soon throw away the dummie theirselves.

    3) always have a ball in your bag

    Congratulations to the winners and good luck in the grand prize x

    Reply

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