10 Celebrities Share Their Parenting Hacks That Are Pure Genius

Despite being A-listers and media magnates, these celebrity parents face the same everyday family struggles that we all do. From convincing your kids to eat more vegetables, to dealing with dirty nappies and meltdowns, parents need all the help they can get to make their lives a little bit easier. Luckily, many famous parents came up with truly creative hacks on how to deal with all the highs and lows of raising kids, and they are ready to share their wisdom.

We at Bright Side know that parenting isn’t easy, and we searched the internet to find the tips and tricks celebrity moms and dads swear by.

1. Mark Zuckerberg

The Facebook founder and a father of 2 daughters famously bragged he could set a record when it comes to changing dirty diapers. “I am a competitive guy, I time myself to get and better, and I got down to 20 seconds,” he said. According to Zuckerberg, the secret is to slide the new diaper under the old one.

2. Blake Lively

The Gossip Girl star and a busy mom-of-3 believes that when it comes to parenting, communication is key. “I think it would be the greatest thing in the world to have a comment box in your home. The kids could leave comments on what you could do better, or what the other kids could do better. Like when you leave a comment with management in a restaurant,” she said.

3. Hilary Duff

Hilary Duff recently gave birth to her third child, and being an experienced mom, she has some parenting hacks to share. For example, when going on a trip, be sure to pack some extra clothes not only for your kids but for yourself, to be prepared for diaper blowouts. “I was flying to New York with Luca, and he had an extra outfit, but I didn’t. He was clean, he was good... I wasn’t. So I’ve shoved an extra T-shirt into my bag ever since,” she shared.

4. Tamera Mowry

The Full House star and a mom of 2 shared advice on her blog about how to get kids to sleep. “Little ones thrive under routine. If you want a baby that will sleep through the night, the first step is getting them to fall asleep, and keep that routine to create consistency in their lives,” she wrote.

Mowry also believes it’s worth investing in a good sound machine. “Kids of all ages love sound soothers, rhythmic background noise makes them feel more at ease,” she added.

5. Jenna Fischer

The actress, best known for her role as the receptionist in the sitcom The Office, shared a tip on how to make your trips to Ikea with your toddler more fun. “We would drive to Ikea and we would get coffee, and then we would let him toddle through Ikea, and then we would end with an ice cream. It was super safe, everything was really soft. Ikea really is the Disneyland for 18-month-olds,” she said.

6. Elka Whalan

When it comes to getting your kids to eat more veggies, Olympic competitive swimmer Elka Whalan says the secret is choosing the right words. “We talk to children about ‘sometimes’ food (chips, chocolate, party food) and ‘everyday’ food. It’s simple but they understand it and it’s a winner,” she shared.

7. Melissa McCarthy

The comedian and a girl mom likes to keep things simple. Instead of having a night out with her husband, she prefers an early bird special so they can be back early to put the kids to sleep.

8. Kristen Bell

The Veronica Mars star and a mom of 2 daughters shared a brilliant parenting hack on how to keep your kids safe when getting out of the car. “Hands on the circle!” (the circle is the gas cap). The phrase we say as we jump out of the car. It has kept the kiddos safe from any oncoming traffic while I unload the trunk," she wrote on her Instagram account.

9. Sarah Michelle Gellar

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star is known for her frugal ways of living, and she frequently shops on sale. And it comes as no surprise that she wants to teach her children the value of a dollar. “My daughter was doing this thing lately where she was asking me for a cup of milk and not drinking it. So I told her that every time she asks me for a cup of milk and doesn’t drink it, I would take a quarter out of her piggy bank. Someone has to pay for that milk,” she said.

10. Busy Philipps

Fighting between kids can be annoying, but the Cougar Town star Busy Phillips decided to put it to good use. ‘I use sibling rivalry. I’m like, ‘I feel like Cricket’s going to finish her broccoli first,’ and then Birdie’s like, ‘I can finish it first,’ she shared.

Which of these hacks are worth giving a try? Do you have any parenting advice you’d like to share with other Bright Siders?

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