Parents Who Surprised Themselves With Their Own Genius Hacks

Parents have to be some of the most resourceful humans in the world. Every day, they face crazy situations that no one could have prepared them for even if they tried.

But from these situations come some incredible hacks that can be passed down to other parents who might really need them.

Every Bathroom Needs This Sticker

toilet paper with a little sticker on the wall under it that says,
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kyleighsmomma101320
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kyleighsmomma101320

This person put a sticker on the bathroom wall that says, "you shall not pass."

The idea is that any kid, or maybe adult, using that bathroom will know when they've taken enough toilet paper.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Not-So-Sweet Surprise

ADVERTISEMENT
broccoli wrapped up in a Tootsie Pop wrapper
Photo Credit: Instagram / @afunandfrugallife
Photo Credit: Instagram / @afunandfrugallife
ADVERTISEMENT

Kids aren't that hard to trick. That's probably not a great thing to say out loud, but it's true.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's why doing something as simple as making a vegetable look like candy would work.

ADVERTISEMENT

No One Wants Cough Syrup

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a jar of maple syrup with a cough syrup label
Photo Credit: Instagram / @alexasunshinerose
Photo Credit: Instagram / @alexasunshinerose
ADVERTISEMENT

Want your kids to stay out of the maple syrup in the fridge? It seems like the solution is putting it in an unmarked glass jar and writing "cough syrup" on the side.

ADVERTISEMENT

Who is going to take the chance?

ADVERTISEMENT

Cheese, Coming To The Rescue Again

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
cheese string being used as a wine stopper
Photo Credit: Instagram / @imomsohard
Photo Credit: Instagram / @imomsohard
ADVERTISEMENT

Just when we thought cheese couldn't be any more amazing than it is, this photo changes everything.

ADVERTISEMENT

Here we see a cheese string being used to keep some much-needed wine fresh for after the kids go to bed.

ADVERTISEMENT

You'll Never Lose Socks Again

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
snaps on a sock to keep them together
Photo Credit: Instagram / @lollie.88
Photo Credit: Instagram / @lollie.88
ADVERTISEMENT

This mom was tired of losing socks in the laundry, so she got some little snaps and attached them to the top of the socks.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now she'll never lose them again.

ADVERTISEMENT

No One Is The Wiser

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Tweet: Everyone at home kept watching Netflix using my profile. Messed up all my lists and history...so I renamed
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mikeangiulo
Photo Credit: Twitter / @mikeangiulo
ADVERTISEMENT

It really is the worst when someone is using your Netflix account and they go in and start messing up your algorithm.

ADVERTISEMENT

Looks like changing your icon to an update prompt will keep people out.

ADVERTISEMENT

Who Is Going To Have The Best Drawing?

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
dad napping and a bunch of kids drawing him
Photo Credit: Facebook / Monica Weber
Photo Credit: Facebook / Monica Weber
ADVERTISEMENT

Dad really needed to have a nap, but he also wanted to watch the kids. His solution?

ADVERTISEMENT

Take the nap and tell the kids to have a drawing contest to see who could draw him the best.

ADVERTISEMENT

No Yogurt Mess Again

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a straw in a yogurt tube
Photo Credit: Instagram / @robynperrier
Photo Credit: Instagram / @robynperrier
ADVERTISEMENT

The solution is so simple, but those are usually the ones we overlook.

ADVERTISEMENT

Putting a straw in a yogurt tube will stop your kids from squishing it all over themselves.

ADVERTISEMENT

Babyproof With Diapers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a diaper taped to the end of a table
Photo Credit: Instagram / @lee.numero.uno
Photo Credit: Instagram / @lee.numero.uno
ADVERTISEMENT

There seems to be a ton of diapers around all the time, so why not put them to good use?

ADVERTISEMENT

Who needs a fancy corner protector when you can just duct-tape a diaper onto the corner of your tables?

ADVERTISEMENT

Finally, A Use For Coffee Stoppers

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
little kid with their hair in a bun held together by a coffee stopper
Photo Credit: Instagram / @the_jersey_showman
Photo Credit: Instagram / @the_jersey_showman
ADVERTISEMENT

The coffee stoppers seem too sturdy to be just recycled when you're done with them. It turns out you can use them as an emergency hair accessory.

ADVERTISEMENT

All you have to do is twist up the hair and stick it through.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Last Place They'd Look

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
mom standing in front of the dishwasher with her finger over her mouth
Photo Credit: Instagram / @mel_mum.wife.healthylife
Photo Credit: Instagram / @mel_mum.wife.healthylife
ADVERTISEMENT

She knew that the last place her kids—or her husband, for that matter—were ever going to look was in the dishwasher, because no one uses it but her.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's the perfect place to hide snacks.

ADVERTISEMENT

A Multifunctional Baby Stroller

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
apples in a stroller
Photo Credit: Instagram / @julia_c_romanchuk
Photo Credit: Instagram / @julia_c_romanchuk
ADVERTISEMENT

If you take the baby out of the stroller, it's basically a shopping cart you can take with you.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's really not a bad idea when you think about going places like the farmers market.

ADVERTISEMENT

He's Not Going Anywhere

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
bedsheet tied around a dad lying on the couch and a baby on the floor
Photo Credit: Twitter / @kaybrynell
Photo Credit: Twitter / @kaybrynell
ADVERTISEMENT

Here's a good way to make sure that your kid is going to stay put while you try to get 20 minutes of shuteye.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tie a sheet around them, and they can't go anywhere!

ADVERTISEMENT

Keep That Laundry Seperated

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
laundry dividers in a laundry basket
Photo Credit: Instagram / @thechavarastory
Photo Credit: Instagram / @thechavarastory
ADVERTISEMENT

Do you find that going through the laundry after you've washed and folded it all is a bit of a hassle?

ADVERTISEMENT

Putting some dividers in the laundry basket will help you divide them up and make it easier to put them away where they belong.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keeping Baby Out This Time

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a cage around a bbq
Photo Credit: Instagram / @ladbabyofficial
Photo Credit: Instagram / @ladbabyofficial
ADVERTISEMENT

The great thing about those little baby cages is that they're just as good for keeping kids out of things as they are at keeping kids inside of them.

ADVERTISEMENT

Case in point, this genius dad protecting his kid from the BBQ.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get Those Kids To Eat Those Peas

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
peas hidden in the squares of a potato square
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kealharry
Photo Credit: Instagram / @kealharry
ADVERTISEMENT

Like with most things, if you surround it with potato, it's a sure bet to be something that your kid, or any person, is going to end up eating.

ADVERTISEMENT

It would work for me.

ADVERTISEMENT

It's A Perfect Fit

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a huggies top over a socket
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nicole20030404
Photo Credit: Instagram / @nicole20030404
ADVERTISEMENT

Do you not want to spend a bunch of money on socket covers? Do you not like the ones on the market?

ADVERTISEMENT

You can use the tops of the wipes packages to make a convenient little door.

ADVERTISEMENT

Get The Ice Cube Shapes You Want

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ice made out of the fingers in gloves
Photo Credit: Instagram / @anaccidentalnomad
Photo Credit: Instagram / @anaccidentalnomad
ADVERTISEMENT

If your ice cube trays aren't giving you what you want, then here's a good way to get some thin ice cubes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Just freeze a bunch of water in some gloves.

ADVERTISEMENT

That's Not A Long List

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a note that says,
Photo Credit: Imgur / CoyotaTorona
Photo Credit: Imgur / CoyotaTorona
ADVERTISEMENT

Mom wanted the chores done, so she knew the right way to get them done.

ADVERTISEMENT

You take away the Wi-Fi, you take away their lifeline, and they're going to do whatever you want to get it back.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Going To Win The Game For Sure

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
kids holding controllers that aren't plugged in
Photo Credit: Imgur
Photo Credit: Imgur
ADVERTISEMENT

You want some time to play your video games, but the kids are asking to play too?

ADVERTISEMENT

Unplug some controllers and give them the illusion of playing. They'll never know.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're Such Busybodies Anyway

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
baby wearing a floor cleaning suit
Photo Credit: Instagram / @samginnifer
Photo Credit: Instagram / @samginnifer
ADVERTISEMENT

This is a genius idea. Little ones are such busybodies anyway.

ADVERTISEMENT

Why not fit them with a bit of a dusting cloth for the floor? Everyone wins that way.

ADVERTISEMENT

Vodka Is The Answer To Everything

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
someone using a vodka bottle as a rolling pin
Photo Credit: Twitter / @the_razzo
Photo Credit: Twitter / @the_razzo
ADVERTISEMENT

Don't have a rolling pin but feel like doing some cooking? No problem!

ADVERTISEMENT

Get that bottle of vodka or wine out of the cupboard and throw some flour on it. Problem solved.

ADVERTISEMENT

She Took Matters Into Her Own Hands

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
pockets sewn onto sweat pants
Photo Credit: Instagram / @veganhousewife
Photo Credit: Instagram / @veganhousewife
ADVERTISEMENT

This woman, like all of us, was sick of not having useable pockets on her pants.

ADVERTISEMENT

So she took matters into her own hands and sewed some on herself. That's pretty sweet.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keep Those Hands Warm

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a diaper wrapped around a Starbucks cup
Photo Credit: Instagram / @jazmin_bree
Photo Credit: Instagram / @jazmin_bree
ADVERTISEMENT

Want to avoid getting cold and wet hands while you're sipping your necessary iced coffee?

ADVERTISEMENT

Wrapping a diaper around it is a great way to make sure that you're getting the best of the situation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Much Less Mess

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
 kid eating a burrito out of a popsicle holder
Photo Credit: Instagram / @_marybower_
Photo Credit: Instagram / @_marybower_
ADVERTISEMENT

Those little Popsicle holders are for so much more than Popsicles.

ADVERTISEMENT

Literally any food that you can fit in it will be easier to eat and create less mess than if your kid was left to their own devices.

ADVERTISEMENT

Those Shoes Are Never Coming Off

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
glue in front of two doll legs
Photo Credit: Instagram / @oklahomacitymom
Photo Credit: Instagram / @oklahomacitymom
ADVERTISEMENT

Why do dolls have removable shoes? They don't need to be able to take off their shoes!

ADVERTISEMENT

They're just going to get lost. This mom decided super glue was the answer, and she isn't wrong.

ADVERTISEMENT

Never Misplace A Bib Again

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a command hook on the back of a high chair with bibs on it
Photo Credit: Instagram /@barangbabycantik
Photo Credit: Instagram /@barangbabycantik
ADVERTISEMENT

This person had the genius idea of putting a Command hook on the back of the highchair.

ADVERTISEMENT

Now, they can leave all the bibs there so they're always right where you need them to be.

ADVERTISEMENT

Create A Fun Snacking Experience

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
fruit, cheese and crackers in an ice cube tray
Photo Credit: Instagram / @life_with_lisak
Photo Credit: Instagram / @life_with_lisak
ADVERTISEMENT

Using an ice cube tray is a great way to give your kids a fun experience while snacking and also give them a lot of variety.

ADVERTISEMENT

Plus, it is easy to clean up for you!

ADVERTISEMENT

Never Miss A Dose

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a small calendar drawn on a medication bottle
Photo Credit: Instagram / @alanacvalentine
Photo Credit: Instagram / @alanacvalentine
ADVERTISEMENT

If your little one isn't feeling well and you needed some medication from the doctor, you can write the dates that they need to take it on the back and cross it off as you give it to them.

ADVERTISEMENT

That way you can keep track of when they've had their meds.

ADVERTISEMENT

Keeping Everything Clean Is Important

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
a bunch of toys in a dishwasher
Photo Credit: Twitter / @WaterLibertyRC
Photo Credit: Twitter / @WaterLibertyRC
ADVERTISEMENT

Put your kids' toys into the dishwasher with a little bit of vinegar.

ADVERTISEMENT

They're going to come out clean as a whistle and not full of germs or mold.