20+ Parenting Tricks to Calm Your Nerves

Being a parent is like being a superhero. You have to make unusual yet correct decisions and be ready to be surprised at almost any given moment. This is why you have to be creative, even in the most mundane, everyday situations.

We at Bright Side decided to do an online search for these superheroes that do big things every day, and they’re ready to share their tricks with other parents.

Record the baby’s cry and let them listen to it later.

Babies can sometimes have a hard time calming down, even when whatever was bothering them gets resolved, according to Dr. Kristie Rivers, and they basically get into a crying rut. A simple distraction, like hearing a recording of their own crying, can sometimes be enough to snap them out of it.

Calm a crying baby in seconds with a special “Hold.”

Dr. Robert Hamilton, who practices at Pacific Ocean Pediatrics, recorded a video that became a blockbuster on YouTube. He showed how to correctly hold a baby to make them calm down in seconds.

The technique, which Hamilton calls “The Hold,” consists of four steps:

• Pick up the baby and fold their arms snuggly across their chest.
• Secure the baby’s arms with your hand after they’re folded. That hand also supports the baby’s chin.
• Gently hold the baby’s bottom with your dominant hand. Use the fleshy part of your hand, not your fingers, to ensure a secure hold.
• Position the baby at a 45-degree angle and gently rock them. The motion can be up and down, or you can try shaking the baby’s bottom. The key is to make the sequence smooth and avoid jerky movements. The angle is important because it helps you stay in control of the baby.

That’s it. The results are quick and wonderful in the video, as demonstrated on babies who are fussy after receiving a shot. They calm down in moments.

Cover the door handles with this simple DIY device that will ensure your kid won’t open it without you noticing.

“The perfect way to enjoy a treat without having to share it with your kid”

“Sometimes, when driving, some wet trouble may happen. To keep the seat safe, just put a diaper on it.”

“My kids were always complaining about getting the end of a bread loaf, so I started flipping it over and putting the end side down so they wouldn’t know...”

“If you’re going through candy too fast, mix Skittles and M&M’s in one bowl. It’ll force you to take them out one by one instead of grabbing a handful.”

How to make your kids read more

“The kid decided she doesn’t like squash anymore. Big fan of yellow cucumbers though...”

“For all you parents out there who have a young child and are uncomfortable just sticking them in the tub, use a laundry basket!”

“I give my son his own pot of dirt to water now after he waterboarded my poor succulents to death.”

Here’s a tip for teaching little ones (ages 2-4) how to correctly hold a pencil.

“Give them something small, like a penny or a paper clip, and ask them to hold it on their palm with their ring finger and pinkie — while at the same time holding the pen or pencil with the other 3 fingers. Have them practice holding the clip and the pencil at the same time while moving their wrist around.”

How to encourage your kid to develop

“Such boxes make traveling by car with kids much easier and quieter.”

“This is the best way to prevent kids from opening drawers.”

“Punch a straw through the foil seal on bottled drinks to minimize spills.”

“If your kids are scared of monsters under their bed, make this spray for them. Let them sprinkle it under their bed before they go to sleep.”

A trick for parents whose kids don’t like certain foods

“It took just several seconds of silence. Supplies: 2 baby wipes. Time: literally less than a minute. Only washable markers and pencils are allowed in our home!”

“I made an interactive busy board for my kids that they really loved.”

“There’s nothing that frees up brain space like reorganizing the kids’ craft supplies.”

How to spend several minutes in silence when you have many kids:

“$1 says my kids don’t wash their hands...”

What parenting tricks do you have? Can you share them with other parents?