There's nothing quite like a clever little hack to half the time and effort it takes to do a job, especially when you're a busy mum or dad running on very little sleep, baby hacks are always welcome.
From bathing, to changing and dressing your baby, we've rounded up some of the best baby hacks trusted by parents to help your everyday baby caring tasks.
- Keep those tiny baby socks together by washing them in a mesh laundry bag.
- Does Your child need some medicine? Pierce a hole in the end of an open-ended dummy and use a syringe or medicine dropper to administer the medicine into the dummy as they're sucking.
- Make your own bibs or bandanas for drooling babies from old items of clothing you no longer want.
- Use an old (but clean) make-up brush to apply nappy cream so your fingers stay nice and clean.
- Save water at bath time by using a BabyDam.
- Wipe a wet wipe across your baby boy's belly (just under the belly button) before changing as this can prompt them to pee before changing.
- Save the nail cutting for when they're asleep!
- It might be a good idea to set your baby up with an email address now before others are taken!
- Invest in a good flask for your tea and coffee - you'll never have to drink a cold cuppa again!
- Take your daily shower in the evening before you go to bed to get a head start in the morning.
- Invest in some plug-in night lights for your landing - you'll be very thankful for these when you're walking around half asleep in the night.
- A baby carrier is a must for keeping your hands free to do jobs.
- If you're bottle-feeding or feeding expressed milk in the night, it's a good idea to store this in a cool bag next to your bed so you're not having to fumble around in the kitchen at night.
- Dishwasher baskets are a must for keeping smaller items like dummies safe in the dishwasher.
- Put a command hook on the back of baby's highchair and hook some bibs on there for quick and easy access to bibs.
- Use hot glue to seal the holes in your baby's bath toys to stop water from getting inside and mould from growing in there.
- Get your ice lolly moulds out the freezer and make some breast milk popsicles for your teething baby.
- Don't forget to pack a change of clothes for you as well as your baby when heading out.
- Mastering the art of swaddling can be tough, so you might prefer to use a swaddle with velcro.
- Breastfeeding is thirsty work - you'll want a good water bottle near you at all times when you're feeding.