https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 19:38:59 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869635 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:20:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2869635@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Clothes...LO didn’t outgrow his Summer tees by the time Fall and Winter came so we just bought two 3-packs of thermal long sleeve shirts from Old Navy. Tee plus thermal has been his daily uniform. We’ve added some additional tees as the season has worn on, which will be perfect for Spring and Summer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869632 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:11:41 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2869632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When it comes to medicine...</p> <p>Infant/bottle stage- put the medicine in the bottle or just the nipple and add a little BM or formula that way you know your baby finished it before giving them their usual BM or formula ount.</p> <p>Once your kiddo is old enough to handle the syringe themselves let them. LO has the best time giving himself medicine. Use Crystal Light to flavor medicine. I let LO squirt it in the measuring cup and he got a kick out of that part too. </p> <p>Diapering...just get two pads for each floor of your house. Keekaroo all the way. For the few times a little something got on the pad we were happy to be able to disinfect without having to throw in the wash.</p> <p>Cover up any machines in LO’s room that emits blue light. It’ll help them sleep more soundly. I used rolled up onesies to cover the humidifier and air purifier light. The cute IKEA nightlights that look like critters can be pressed to to just emit the red night light. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869585 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 23:13:18 +0000 Sams Mom 2869585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: it's only mean if she's disappointed 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869583 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 22:52:57 +0000 Iced Tea 2869583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I gave my toddler dried cranberries from my salad, and she called them "gummies". I didn't argue. Now when she asks for gummies or candy, I give her dried cranberries. She jumps for joy. My husband thought it was mean, but I thought it was brilliant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869503 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 17:20:43 +0000 Sams Mom 2869503@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@youboots: My son always yells "MY TURN MY TURN!" when I get the dustbuster out :)</p> <p>So I let him vacuum the cat litter from around the box, or the pile of dog hair. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869502 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 17:16:48 +0000 youboots 2869502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Santa got DD a rechargeable shark vacuum for Christmas. Win. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869440 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 13:24:16 +0000 jape14 2869440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I do a similar thing with food except I question if the color food will make him turn a certain color; e.g., "Do you think if you eat that green broccoli you will turn green like the hulk? Hmmm probably not..." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869422 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:55:25 +0000 lilyofthewest 2869422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: @bhbee: @Mrsbells: @Littlebit7: </p> <p>I notice this only if it has been an unusually long time between feeds. I do also re-up the suction to make sure that I'm getting something more than strictly "letdown leakage". </p> <p>Even so, what I collect is probably somewhat foremilk heavy but it is only used for one feed a day and doesn't seem to cause LO any bother or weird poop. If I wanted to, I could almost completely drain one side with this, but LO usually takes both sides so I typically take it off after getting 15-25mls. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869415 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:35:37 +0000 Mrsbells 2869415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: Good point. I've wondered about that ever since I started hearing about the hakaa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869335 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 21:13:17 +0000 bhbee 2869335@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: I didn’t watch the haaka video above but the big thing for me was learning how to adjust suction. I do the thing to flip the top part back before putting it on but I find it loses suction as it fills, so I squeeze out air to increase suction again. I have had a few MAJOR spills on the bed and floor if I forget to pay attention and it falls off, sooooo annoying. But the increased suction also means I get more than just letdown so it’s not so thin plus I fill up a bottle faster (without any actual pumping ... just constant low grade suction I don’t really notice). Of course YMMV on what is comfortable and productive. But it’s so easy for when you’re home and only one piece to clean! I keep in fridge between uses if using multiple times per day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869328 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 20:12:53 +0000 Littlebit7 2869328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just a word of caution with the hakaa. I had to stop using it as I realized I was basically only collecting my foremilk. Every oz that I got from the hakaa was just pure thin watery foremilk. It looked totally different than my pumped milk. So I think it’s ok to use if you mix it in with other milk, or you are able to collect several let downs worth. But I couldn’t give a bottle of just hakaa milk or else my LO had a green foamy poop later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869294 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:19:16 +0000 lilyofthewest 2869294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_RtHEHpoq4" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_RtHEHpoq4</a> (start at 1:35...she just rambles before that).<br /> I have two ways I use mine:<br /> - I use it while LO nurses the opposite side. I position him football hold on his first breast and use this opposite. I don't generally use it while he nurses the 2nd side.<br /> - If I'm showering even remotely close to a next feeding, I leak a lot. I started just wearing these into the shower rather than throwing that milk down the drain.</p> <p>Mine are from Nature Bond, not real Haakaa. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869288 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:04:34 +0000 wrkbrk 2869288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I second the pencil pouches for art supplies. I bought a big mesh set and have separate bags for markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. Also play doh lives in the kitchen at our house. DS has no expectation to play with it anywhere besides the kitchen table. Finally I keep a filled water bottle in the car along with extra undies and pants (used to be diapers!) and wipes and granola bars so I have to pack almost nothing for our outings! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869287 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:03:49 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2869287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So this is strange but it works! </p> <p>Hack #1 post c section survival:</p> <p>When my son was 2.25 my daughter was born. He was still in a crib and I had a c section. My mom suggested I turn the side against the wall into the toddler bed rail so I could pull the crib out from the wall so I wouldn’t have to lift him. Worked like a charm. Did the same for my daughter when DS2 was born and she was 2. Again, worked perfectly. </p> <p>Hack # 2: crib to bed transition </p> <p>The switch from crib to bed has been so so easy. NEITHER of my naughty rebel children have ever got out of bed at night. Never. Not once. Since they are used to have their bed like a toddler bed for a few months (see hack #1) when I flip the bed around so now the rail is outward facing, they are so used to the bed already, nothing changes. When they wake up in the morning they call for me. Highly recommend. I’ll be doing the same thing for my last one even though I won’t need to because of a c section. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869286 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 16:01:53 +0000 LCTBQE 2869286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lilyofthewest: I'm going to bite the bullet and get a haaka, I keep reading good things about them here--any particular tips for use? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869285 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:58:05 +0000 Mommy Finger 2869285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My kids love oatmeal but we have little time in the morning so the process of cooking and cooling it took too long. Instead, I still make it in the microwave but don't put much water in there. Then I throw in ice cubes. It cools it down and makes it the correct consistency in no time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869284 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:57:34 +0000 LCTBQE 2869284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I get my 2-year-old to eat veggies and try almost anything by casually talking about how one of his friends from daycare is eating the same thing for dinner. I switch which friend I'm talking about so he doesn't figure it out :) </p> <p>If he's having a major meltdown tantrum sometimes I'll carry him outside onto the back porch and tell him he can keep yelling etc but I'm looking for one of our neighbors--it snaps him out of it and resets him (I think he becomes self-conscious). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869271 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 15:32:32 +0000 Mama Bird 2869271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Tiny brush-and-dustpan thing. The three year old has a thing for cutting paper into tiny little pieces on the floor. Now I can finally ask her to sweep that up :grin: </p> <p>Zipper bags for pencils and crayons. All the original packaging is missing, but this keeps them contained.</p> <p>Soups and veggies in meatballs. The six year old is going through a picky phase again, but soup has been non-negotiable here for years, so he's still getting a somewhat balanced diet that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869241 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:51:32 +0000 codeitall 2869241@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Dressing your opinionated child in his clothes for the next day when he refuses to wear any pajamas. He just sleeps in his clothes and has for over a year now haha.</p> <p>Never giving your kids milk with their cereal. They have dry cereal for breakfast every day in the car on the way to daycare and have no expectations otherwise.</p> <p>Color pancakes/waffles. Makes it more exciting and for some reason more palatable.</p> <p>Daycare calls raisins candy for the kids.</p> <p>Crocheted afghans for kid blankets. They can hide, but because of the holes, they can still see and I was so much less worried about them suffocating under a blanket with holes when they were young. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869229 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:41:36 +0000 Sams Mom 2869229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bra bag to wash and dry baby socks in.</p> <p>Lansinoh pump adapters go onto GLASS Avent natural bottles</p> <p>For my opinionated toddler, I pick 2 shirts and and ask him which he wants. He thinks he's choosing, and I don't have to refold every shirt in his drawer</p> <p>Yogurts, cheese sticks, juices, carrots, basically any fridge snack he can have whenever in the fridge drawer. He can reach it and I don't have to stop what I'm doing to get it for him </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/weird-amp-wonderful-parenting-tips-and-hacks#post-2869225 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:11:17 +0000 lilyofthewest 2869225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Share your little things that make a difference.</p> <p>• Baby knee socks. If it is cold enough to wear socks, they might as well be knee/thigh socks. They're harder to lose, they don't get sucked into the washing machine drain or the dryer vent, and they're super cute. Bonus points for getting them all the same style/color. With my first kid, we had a lot of different tiny anklet socks. They clogged our washer more than once and only a few pairs survived still coupled for the second kid. This time around, we have 8 identical pairs of knee socks. </p> <p>• Dress your toddler/preschooler while they're captive on the toilet. So much faster, so much less struggle.</p> <p>• This chart: <a href="https://www.theglassbabybottle.com/info_BREASTPUMP.shtml" rel="nofollow">https://www.theglassbabybottle.com/info_BREASTPUMP.shtml</a> This chart is amazing (though it incorrectly says Hygeia pump parts are not compatible with Mam and Lansinoh bottles -- they absolutely are. So are ThinkBaby). A gem that is not captured in the chart: The Joovy Boob adapters also work for Lansinoh, Mam, ThinkBaby, and Hygeia bottles. And you can stack adapters if needed -- eg Spectra's narrow-neck adapter screwed into the Joovy Boob adapter = Spectra parts that pump into Lansinoh bottles. </p> <p>• Haaka pump. I built up a huge frozen stash while LO2 was in the NICU, but I've hardly touched it despite my partner doing a night feed every night. So easy to collect a feed over the course of a day or two. </p>