Mothers what are your "Tricks of the Trade"??

Paulette - posted on 01/04/2011

Lots of ideas on my website - no sales there, just my ideas after having seven babies! http://www.motheringadvice.org.nz

Keri - posted on 12/18/2010

For Sarah Batty.. My daughter is 16months I can keep her in a sleep sac. She kicks her legs up & the snaps give way out she comes. Having NO luck finding zipper ones. :(

Laurie - posted on 12/18/2010

I started off with only one baby advice book. I try not to read too much because everyone has a different opinion.
I changed the words to the Lullabye song. Started singing it when he would get cranky and it would soothe him down. Now at 10 months when he gets fussy in the car, I sing it and he calms right down. Makes the car trip much nicer without him screaming!
My only other trick is consistency. I try to do everything the same way each time. He seems to deal better with the unexpected when everything else is routine.

Jennifer - posted on 12/17/2010

I'm with Emily! babywearing has been an absolute lifesaver! my son "helps" me vacuum, do laundry, put away clean dishes, mop, wipe down counters, take out the trash/recycling, walk to the mailbox (without having to haul the bulky stroller out), etc. my favorite part is that he is content being close to me while getting to see the world from an adults perspective, and his forehead is within kissing range when he's on my hip in the ring sling :-P

Emily - posted on 12/16/2010

The best "trick" if that's what you want to call it that I use is babywearing. Easiest way to calm a fussy baby, interact with a curious baby, and also get done what you need to get done.

Alexis - posted on 12/16/2010

my 16 month old use to get in the way anytime I tried doing chores, like laundry, dishes, wiping things down etc. Instead of getting mad at him I started letting him help. He hands me the clothes from the dirty clothes hamper and I put them in the wash, I then hand him the wet clothes and he puts them in the dryer. He also helps me carry the dry clothes to the couch for folding. He puts the socks in the sock drawer too. After the dishwasher is done and i have put away the sharp stuff he hands me one dish at a time and I put it away. I will hand him a clean rag when I wipe something down and he wipes anything at his level. He really has become a big help instead of a hindrance.

Iysha - posted on 12/15/2010

when my daughter had a crying fit i'd sing my favorite song to her...I'd do Anything by Simple Plan.

My best trick ever now that she is a year and a half is I put her to play in a warm bath with her toys and sit right next to her on the toilet and put my makeup on...big time saver =]

Always wear an old t-shirt when you're running out the door and when you drop off baby at the sitter...you never know when baby will puke on you and when you're running late to work, you have no time to change. wearing 2 light tops, a light sweater and blazer help too...you have 3 messes you can just take off. Always carry a blanket, a small pack of diapers and wipes in the car....I dont know how many times I have been out and realized that i didnt pack enough of something in my purse or left the diaperbag by the door. When baby is older, always carry snacks EVERYWHERE you go....you will need them in the car, at the store, at a friends house, the mall, doctor appointments, etc.

Heather - posted on 12/15/2010

also layer bedding on crib like matress pad sheet matress pad sheet etc. that way you only have to strip layers off the bedding instead of messing with sheets trying to make a bed

Heather - posted on 12/15/2010

For a bad smelling diaper pale put coffee beans in the bottom of the pail
to get the baby to sleep through the nite use lavendar lotion after giving the baby a bath and make sure they are completely fed
dr.browns bottles prevent colic, the only bottle i have ever used and my kids have never gotten colic

Sarah - posted on 12/14/2010

The thing that has helped me with my daughter, from birth until now (22months), is to always tell her what I'm doing and show her what I'm doing. It teaches her new things/skills, and she likes to her my voice.

2 drops of lavender oil in her bath water calms her right down before bed

making toddler sized adult foods is fun for her, and she thinks she's a 'Big Girl' (mini muffins, small meatloafs, sandwiches cut with cookie cutters, etc...)

Oh, and a sleep sac! Much safer than blankets for wiggly babies!!

Cornette - posted on 12/14/2010

I found that when my son is slightly constipated I add one ProbiFlora in his morning bottle for just 2 days atleast, it helps alot.

Also when vomitting and he can not keep milk down I make a drink which consists of 1litre rooibos + 8tsp brown sugar + 1tsp of salt. This works to keep him hydrated, got it from my sister :)

Ambyr - posted on 12/14/2010

I use cornstarch on their bums. It takes away any rash they have in the matter if hrs. I got it from my mom haha

Ashley - posted on 12/14/2010

when putting my sons pants on if he refuses i put my arms in each leg and pretend that its a monster attacking him, and when he refuses to put his arms in his sleves i look inside and say oh no Liam! you have no arm! and he usually puts them thru :D, i just make everything a game.

Anupama - posted on 12/13/2010

bed time stories with actions...rub his back...warm bubble bath...light music...fennel tea...does work...

Stifler's - posted on 12/12/2010

Zinc as soon as I see redness in his pants. Huggies!! When I give him medicine I've always prised his lips open by pinching his cheeks in gently and slowly pushed the medicine in and stroked his throat to make him swallow.

Jessica - posted on 12/12/2010

oh yeah I also used to stick a pillow under my daughters mattress to prop it up. It dramatically help reduced the amount of reflux she had when sleedping... Karicare thickener or farax in babies bottle also help keep her milk down instead of projectile vomiting all over us... keeping a spare cloth nappy on you at all times if you use disposibles is a great idiea as you can throw it over your shoulder when breast feeding for a little privacy or for burping so they dont chuck up on your clothes... i also used to hang it in the car window to help keep the direct sunlight off of her or hang it over the pram to protect her from the sun lol a cloth nappy has many uses.

buy a blender and everytime you cook yourself dinner run the excess through the blender and put it into an ice cube tray and freeze it that way you alway have perfect portion for bubs to eat and back up meals should you have a lazy night... and much nicer and cheaper than buying jars of baby food.

Jessica - posted on 12/12/2010

lol i asked a lot of questions and did a lot of research when i had my first child before i discovered facebook and circle of mum minti.com was my go to site lol

Maria - posted on 12/12/2010

Thats awesome!!! i didnt even kno most of those!! so great!

Jessica - posted on 12/12/2010

put em in a pram and walk around the block when they are having trouble settling sing to them we do song on the rains and dont care who hears us singing lol
tell them made up stories to get them to use their imagination i pretent an empty toilet roll is a microphone

iuse a little vegetable oil on the scalp to get rid of cradle cap

filtered sun get rid of jaundices bring knees to stomack together and then move in a bicycle riding mition to get rid of wind wind
lay em face down over my lap with head over just enough so they can breath clearly and p pat them with both hands to get them to fall asleep and break up any flgm they have on chest when they are sick

i use a teaspoon of brown sugar and some warm water to get rid of constipation. Chux make great reusuable baby wipes and nappy liners when using cloth nappies...

vinegar is great for washing nappies in and cleans out the washing machine at the same time making it run more efficiently.

tea tree oil is great for sterilising bench tops and when diluted a great anesthetic and keeps their sinus clear if applied to a tissue and placed under their pillow or mattress.

a clock in their room helps them sleep as the tick tock is similar to that of a heart beat wich is comforting considering the spent 9mnths inside you listening to you heart an item of your clothing and their bottom sheet is also comforting cause they can smell you when they sleep...

i probably got heaps more and will tell you when they come to mind

Maria - posted on 12/12/2010

Also when she gets sleepy but is fighting it i gently brush my hand down her face to help her close lids ( may have to do a couple times) and she's out!!

When i rock her and put her down in her bassinet while asleep i place my hand on her belly and gently pat/ rock till she's settled