Everyone agrees that being a parent is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world. The way you have successfully managed to make another human being and bring them into this world - against all odds, and amidst all challenges, they are a blessing!
However, let’s face it, some days parenting can be overwhelming. Especially when you’re raising your kids alongside long working hours, an increasing cost of living, and work stress.
Parenting is not easy. It is a full-time job and can often test your patience.
Whether you’re a new parent or an experienced one, having children around means you are consciously or subconsciously on high alert. Every day is a challenge and an experience filled with worry, persistence, and lots and lots of love. If we were to compare a parent’s job to a normal corporate job, a parent gets no holidays from their parenting duties. One is constantly making plans and schedules and listing activities to do with children to keep them entertained, well fed, and active.
But hey! This role also has its benefits, many more than all the responsibilities combined. You get an endless supply of love, cuddles, laughter, a purpose, and most importantly, good and core memories for the rest of your life.
Image courtesy: Vidal Balielo Jr.
Being a parent may be tough, but it is also a rewarding experience in general. We've found some tricks and tips that might help make the day to day that little bit easier!
Our most important tip is to learn CPR. CPR training gives you the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to remain calm in a medical crisis. We hope you will never need to use it, but it is extremely important to know how to perform it if your child may need it for some unforeseen incident. The well-known children's song is a fantastic approach for all to learn CPR because 110 beats per minute, or the first verse of "Baby Shark," has the perfect pace for it.
2. Make vinegar your best friend:
An excellent companion while cleaning and doing laundry, vinegar takes care of all kinds of smelly stains—from sweat to blood. You’ll need 1 part vinegar and a spray bottle with 2 parts water. Mix and spray it onto the stain and let it sit for about 15 minutes. If there’s no stain, you could still soak the clothes in the mix instead of using the spray to eliminate any odour.
3. Smelly shoes?
Has your child been using a pair of shoes continuously for a while now? Chances are that they have developed an odour. You’ve tried everything and nothing worked. You may like to try using some fresh or used but completely dry tea bags this time. Place them inside your shoes and let them absorb the moisture that causes the smell. You can then put them inside a plastic bag and leave it overnight in your freezer.
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If you aren’t too comfortable with the option of putting your shoes in your freezer, you could instead sprinkle some baking soda inside your shoes and leave them overnight in a dry area.
4. Food stains:
Food stains are common when you have kids at home. To clean food stains, you’d need some lemon and your liquid detergent. Wet the stain with water, add a little liquid detergent to the spot, and gently rub the area with the soap. Later, dab the spot with some lemon juice and let it sit for a couple of minutes. Rinse it off and dry. Repeat if necessary.
5. Tackle those tough poop or collar stains:
Have you slowly seen your child’s clothes fade from white to yellow? The reasons could be many, but most often it is because of the hard-to-clean poop stains from leaked nappies or collar stains due to grime and sweat. For these difficult-to-clean spots, you’ll need 2 parts hydrogen peroxide, 1 part dish soap, and 1 part baking soda. Mix it until it becomes a diluted thin paste-like consistency. It would bubble due to the chemical and the soda, but it is harmless. Although we’d recommend wearing gloves while using it. Once ready, pour a little onto the stain and use a brush to scrub the area. Let it soak for an hour. Later, dump it in your washing machine and wash it as usual.
Image courtesy: William Fortunato
Make time for everything and set a routine for your kids and yourself.
6. Use white noise to get your baby to sleep:
White noise is similar to what babies have heard in the womb. It is used by most mamas around the world to soothe babies, making it easier for them to fall asleep. The sound is freely available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. If you don’t have access to digital devices, your vacuum cleaner at home could help. It is similar to white noise.
7. Make a list of to-dos every day:
To be a parent, one must be a pro-multitasker, and we don’t expect you to be one in a day. Make a list of to-dos every day, ideally, the night before for the next day or early in the morning before your kids wake up. That way, with work, kids, and everything else, you can get going with your tasks without being forgetful.
8. Waterproof fitted sheets to the rescue:
Avoid spills on your car seat by placing a waterproof fitted mattress sheet below the baby seat. It is easy to clean and maintain during unintentional accidents involving poop and vomit, or spillage of their snacks.
9. Using pool noodles beyond the swimming pool:
Pool noodles could be used to prevent doors from bolting shut and trapping your little one’s fingers. Cut the pool noodles into five equal sections, then lengthwise. You'll be left with a piece that can be wrapped all around the edge of your door.
10. Read to your baby before bed.
Reading to kids is great for children and their cognitive development. Learn more about the numerous benefits of early reading here.
Image courtesy: Antoni Shkraba
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to parenting. It is an experience meant to be enjoyed and cherished for a lifetime. Nobody has it all known and figured out. We're all learning on this journey and will most probably continue to learn as we go along.
Happy parenting!
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