50 Mom Hacks for When Life Gets Busy

50 Mom Hacks 

#momlife is BUSY. And I don’t know about you, but I can use all the help I can get. When I find something that works, I love to share it. You won’t find any gatekeeping here, because today I’m sharing fifty of my favorite mom hacks. Be sure to save this post so that you can come back later when you need a hack!

50 Mom Hacks

Visit a Cosmetology School

Feel guilty spending money on yourself when there are backpacks or onesies to buy? 1: You shouldn’t. You are worth taking care of. 2: ease the guilt by utilizing a cosmetology school. The students need the practice, and you can save money in the process! Get your nails done at a discounted price by visiting an institute or school near you.

Bring Clothing to Their Level

Hang a tension rod in your toddler’s closet at their level so that they can be involved in their clothing choices. This gives them a sense of control in their daily lives and helps to foster independence.

Bonus: Their clothes are less wrinkly than when out in a drawer, and outfits are already matched (from when you put the laundry away to begin with). 

Command Hooks

Use command hooks on the back of your child’s high chair to hold extra bibs. This is one of those mom hacks that will save your sanity with a baby!

Holiday Defense

Put Your Christmas tree inside a baby play pen. It keeps mischievous little hands away from the ornaments and presents while still allowing you to have  some holiday cheer!

Carabiners

This mom hacks one I still use to keep items handy in the car! Use carabiners or paci clips to keep your toddlers toy from falling while in their car seat.

Sort Clothing By Item

When doing laundry, put items away in outfits, rather than by clothing item. That means instead of all the pants going in one drawer, and all the shirts in another, fold all outfits together. This will save time when you are in a rush and you are more likely to know when an item is missing. 

Personal Backpack

Assign a small backpack to each child for overnights. We keep this toddler sized backpack stocked with an extra set of clothing, undies, and socks in the front compartment. It is exactly big enough to hold my sons sound machine, blanket and favorite stuffed animal. That way you know exactly where sleep stuff is whenever you arrive at your destination. 

Toy Basket

Keep a small bag or basket of toys out of sight but near the kitchen table. I kept books and puzzles on hand for those times when I needed my son to stay in his high chair while I got something done. Because they weren’t in regular rotation, these toys felt like a treat and would keep him occupied. 

Hidden Protein

Mix cottage cheese into eggs and sauces to up the protein content without your child noticing. This mom hack is a favorite because I can sneak in some protein for my bread-loving kiddo!

Paint Smock

Use one of dad’s old button downs as a smock. Put it on your toddler backwards so that they can’t unbutton it for messy art projects. 

Keep a Basket of Toys in Rooms You Frequent

I keep a small basket of toys in my bedroom, so that my son can keep himself entertained while it clean the room or the adjoining bathroom and closet. This allows me to get stuff done without having to personally keep him entertained. Check out my post on teaching your child to play independently for more advice. 

Create a Car Box

I made an emergency car box when I was pregnant. I keep it in my trunk and it has saved me on several occasions. Keep an extra pack of wipes, a few diapers, snacks, hair ties, sanitizer, and an extra shirt for you in it. Eventually you will run out of what you need and the Car Box will save you. 

Teach Your Toddler to Clean

When they are young, children love to help, and while it may slow things down at first, you’ll be so glad when your kiddo starts cleaning up on the regular. See my toddler clean up post for more ideas. This mom hack doubles as a life skill.

Double Your Batches

When you cook spaghetti sauce, soup, or any item that freezes well, double the recipe. That way, you can freeze half and have it when you’re in a pinch for dinner. This is one of those mom hacks that is really just a life hack, I was doing this before I ever had a child.

Freeze Activity

Freeze small toys (I used small plastic animals) in a large bowl. You may have to freeze it in increments so all the toys don’t float to the top or sink to the bottom. Pop it out in the grass and give your kiddo protective eyewear and a hammer. My son spent TWENTY MINUTES straight hammering away and discovering. Free and fun!

Use Muffin Liners under Popsicles

Cut a small hole in the middle of a paper muffin liner and Slide Over the popsicle stick. It catches drips so there is less clean up!

Play in the Sprinklers After Chalk Time

My kiddo gets covered in chalk every time we play. It inevitably gets tracked in the house, leaving more clean up for me. To avoid the mess, go straight from chalk to sprinkler fun. Your kid will get rinsed off, and the entertainment lasts longer!

Keep Empty Cardboard Boxes

Do you love FREE mom hacks? Let your kiddo climb inside and color! It is a free activity, and extends the life of the box. I have also used a large piece of cardboard as a canvas and let my son paint away. You don’t have to buy expensive art supplies to be creative.

Use Floss Picks

Instead of trying to get the floss string in between each little tooth, use floss picks to ease the process. My toddler now handles it himself, and I just check behind to make sure nothing is stuck. 

Alphabet Laundry

For this mom hack, do one load of laundry per family member. Use magnetic letters to stick on the washer or dryer to indicate whose laundry is currently being washed. No sorting or confusion!

Keep Stickers on Hand

Stickers are an easy way to keep your toddler entertained for an extended period of time. I love giving my son a page of stickers in he car. He’ll stick them all over himself and pull them off and stick them some more. As long as your kiddo has moved past the swallowing anything they can get their hands on stage, stickers are a great distraction too. 

I also have this reusable sticker book that is a hit whenever we have to wait somewhere like the mechanic or DMV. 

Buy Winter Coats a Size Up

If your kiddo is pushing out of a 2T and into a 3T, buy a 4T, so that you can get two seasons out of it before having to buy the next size. If the sleeves are a bit long, simply roll them up.

Stair Basket

Keep a small basket on the stairs and drop items that need to go up as you’re cleaning. Then you can take everything up at once instead of making multiple trips every hour. If you can’t tell, I’m a HUGE fan of baskets around the house!

Move the Coffee Maker

We moved our coffee maker into our bedroom a couple of years ago This eliminates time spent in the cold kitchen first thing in the morning, and more time in bed enjoying snuggles with my kiddo.

Use Your Washer’s Timer 

Many newer washers come with an automatic start setting. You can load your clothes in the night before and add detergent before setting a time to start the following morning. I like to set mine for 7am. That way it is ready to move over to the dryer when breakfast is done. When I get home after errands,  can go ahead and put the laundry away. Easy peasy!

Include Your Toddler

When cooking, give your kiddo their own pot and ingredients. Kids love to help and be involved, and this will introduce them to the concept of helping in the kitchen, rather than viewing it as time when mommy won’t pay attention to me. 

Rotate Your Child’s Toys

Instead of constantly buying new toys or your child getting bored quickly with their toys, rotate them! By rotating your child’s toys, there is less overall clutter and less to clean up at the end of play time. Stay tuned for my post on how to rotate toys. 

Be a Shoes Off Family

Have everyone take their shoes off at the door. This lessens the amount of dirt tracked into your home, as well as the amount of germs. There’s nothing better than a mom hack that keeps the sickness at bay.

Run the Dishwasher Before Bed

You’ll have dishes clean and ready to use first thing in the morning. This creates less stress and your mornings are likely to flow smoother. 

Assign Water Bottles

Give each person in your family a dedicated water bottle. This cuts down on fighting between siblings, and there are less spills than if they were to use cups. It also benefits you by not having to guess which bottle you’re looking for when your kiddo inevitably loses it somewhere in the house.

Curate a Daily Uniform

Instead of guessing what you want to wear each day, have a set ‘look.’ This cuts down on decision fatigue and allows you to focus on more important things. Plus, you’ll feel more confident knowing your outfit fits you well and you are comfortable in it. 

Use a Toddler Knife Set

This is great for getting your child involved in the kitchen. It allows toddlers (and older children) to safely learn how to cut fruits and veggies while feeling included. We have this set and love it!

Have a Snack Shelf

When I moved snacks down to a shelf where he could reach them, my toddler was so excited. It fed his need for independence and cut down on my running back and forth to the pantry. Simple grab a basket and fill it with approved snacks. Set it on a shelf at their level and voila! Less fuss. 

Keep First Aid Kits All Over the House

We have this kit in our laundry room, bathroom, and hall closet. This means we dont have to go far to get what we need. It saved time and gives peace of mind.

Get a Gym Membership*

*With Childcare. This is one of those mom hacks that give you a chance to focus on yourself while your kiddo is safe and entertained. He can socialize with other kiddos and you get a much deserved break. 

Regularly Have Date Nights

You and your husband need time together without the kids. It reduces stress, gives you a chance to have adult discussions, and brings you closer as a couple. Check out my post on At Home Date Ideas for when you can’t get a babysitter. 

Grocery Shop Online

I am obsessed with curbside pickup and I will not go back! I went from spending over an hour each week in the store to fifteen minutes (including drive time!) Check out my post on time saving grocery tips for more ideas. 

Assign Each Kid a Color for Travel

Let your kiddos choose a color (usually their favorite) and color coordinate items. Your oldest daughter gets the purple plate and cup and lunchbox and backpack. Your youngest daughter’s items are green. This can help a ton when traveling. Check out more tips for traveling in this post. 

Make Up Songs

Your kiddo doesn’t want to  brush his teeth? Make up a jingle about brushing. Barney’s clean up song is a hit for a reason. Small children love songs and singing about a menial task makes it fun. 

Save your Butter Wrappers

Need to grease a pan but hate the mess on your hands? Save your butter wrappers and wipe them on your pan. Your fingers stay clean and your pan never has egregious clumps of butter on it. This isn’t just a mom hack, but solid life advice!

Use Painter’s Tape

Need your little one to stay put and entertained for a while? Bring a roll of painters tape along. They can rip pieces off and stick them on the chair or walls. You can tape up a long piece to use as a bridge or to stick small trinkets on.

You can write on it and practice letters or numbers. Make a bracket or let them rip it into a million pieces. This is great for plane rides or appointments where you need a few minutes to talk to another adult.

Paint the Shower

Need a moment to yourself? Bring washable paint and brushes in the shower, put your kiddo in their bathing suit and let them go crazy painting the walls. It’ll entertain them for a lot longer than you think, and clean up is a breeze!

Utilize Baking Trays

When your kiddo is playing with something sort of messy — think kinetic sand, play doh, painting, or other sensory activities, use a baking tray with a lip to (somewhat) contain the mess. I love mom hacks that keep me from having to clean more!

Keep Sunscreen & Bug Spray in the Car

Pretty self explanatory, but this will keep you from getting caught somewhere unprepared. Or worse, having to tell your kiddo no and dealing with the fallout. This mom hacks a necessity for the warmer months of the year.

Keep a Water Bag Ready

In the same vein, I keep a beach bag stocked with goggles, swim diapers, sunscreen, googles, towels, etc… that we can grab in a hurry. In the summer months, it just lives in the trunk of our car. 

This keeps you from having to hunt down all of these items. Anything that needs to be washed can be washed together, and then straight back into the bag it goes!

Use a Pee Pad

Those doggy pee pads for training puppies make for great disposable changing pads. Keep a pack in the car for emergencies. Hooray for mom hacks on the go!

Layer Beach Towels

If you are new to breastfeeding, you’ve inevitably leaked through your sheets while sleeping. My mother in law taught me to layer beach towels under my sheets so that when I did leak, I could strip off a towel and get back to that oh-so-precious sleep during the newborn phase.

Sandbox Tent

A genius mom hack I saw on the internet was to use a zip-up tent as a sandbox. Simply fill it with play sand and toys and you’ve got a shaded play area for you little one! Plus, you can zip it closed, meaning no critters digging or leaving a mess. 

Transition to Quiet Time

If your kiddo has or is dropping their nap, institute quiet time in it’s place. We do it at the same time that nap was, which is after lunch. We do his regular potty routine, and made a rule that he can only play with quiet toys, so nothing with buttons, noise, etc… 

He goes into his room and we turn the sound machine on and the lights off. He can play quietly for about an hour. It gives little ones a chance to settle their bodies, digest their food, and give their parents a much needed break. 

Take Family Walks

I try to get outside with my son daily, but it is not always possible. However, we are much more likely to get some fresh air if we make it a family ordeal. The dog gets a walk and we get to talk and move our bodies. 

Even if the weather is less than nice, I still try to get out because I think it helps everyone’s attitude and mentality. 

What are your favorite mom hacks to get you through this season of life? Drop them in the comments below so that we can all learn from each other!