Mom Tips
1,186 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 10 ratingsWelcome to Mom Tips, your 60-second dose of positive parenting content from the team at Mom.com. Created with your busy morning routine in mind, these hacks and motherhood anecdotes are perfect to listen to while you're scrambling to get your family up and out of the house!
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Episodes
Dear Fit Mom: You Aren't 'Brave' for Showing Off Your Flaws
October 21, 2019 10:02 - 3 minutes - 1.79 MBThe day I found body positivity, my life was saved. I was a plus-sized person living every day on the edge of my emotional seat. I stressed about how I looked in clothing, whether or not my husband was “really” attracted to me, and even how I looked when I sat down in a chair. I'd say silent prayers, hoping that no one would get upset if I sat next to them on the train. I called myself names.
5 Books Every Little Girl Should Read
October 18, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.26 MBHere at Mom.com, we are taking the time to celebrate something very special during the month of October: The Greatness of Girls. Through a collection of essays, open letters, and round-ups of influential women, we are doing our part to remind the world of just how amazing girls are. How can we celebrate girls and all their amazing capabilities? One way is by showcasing the young heroines in some of our favorite books.
5 Things Tattooed Moms Are Tired of Hearing
October 17, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 847 KBWhen a woman becomes a mother, society as a whole tends to forget that she existed before she had a child. While your priorities shift, and your ability to love grows exponentially, you're still generally the same woman with the same interests. That certainly doesn't stop people from attempting to put motherhood (and the women who are part of it) into a neat little box.
4 Working Mom Hacks
October 16, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 720 KBBeing a working mom is no joke. Between balancing our jobs and all the needs of our little ones, our time is precious. So anything that allows us to get two things done at once is pretty much a game changer. Here are just a few of my favorite working mom hacks: 1. Shower party I take my little girls into the shower with me before bedtime. Everyone gets clean.
The Baby Onesie Trick No One Told Me About
October 15, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 574 KBWe’ve all been there. Everything’s going peachy keen with your sweet little baby, when, all of a sudden, you smell it. You rush over to pick them up, and then you SEE it. Poop. Everywhere. Up their back, all over their onesie. Just a huge, stinky mess. You consider your options: If you pull the onesie up over their head, you’ll just be smearing the poop all over their body. (Excuse me while I gag.
Mom Confession: I’ve Used Electronics to Babysit My Toddler
October 14, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 1.13 MBNo matter how many times we hear that screen time isn’t a good thing for kids, sometimes it’s hard to resist bringing out the iPad, iPhone, TV, or some other sort of gadget as a means of keeping them occupied. I mean, there are only so many hours in a day, and moms have so much to juggle and accomplish, so it’s not as if we can spend every second entertaining our little ones.
Easy Tips for Getting Your Kid to Drink More Water
October 11, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 580 KBGetting kids to drink enough water is a battle most parents are all too familiar with. It's super important for little ones (and everyone else) to stay hydrated, but it can be tough to sell them on the idea of water once they've discovered the existence of such tasty alternatives as apple juice and chocolate milk. Instead, make water a fun option with these easy tips. 1.
The Best Instagram Food Hacks
October 10, 2019 10:30 - 1 minute - 657 KBWhere better to learn hidden tips and tricks than on social media? Here are some of our favorite food hacks that we can’t stop obsessing about, thanks to Instagram: Spray coconut oil on top of a cut avocado to keep it from browning. Yes, really! This one really blew our minds: Wrap the top of your bunch of bananas with plastic wrap to make them last four to five days longer. Unscented dental floss works better than a knife for cutting through things like soft cakes and ...
Awesome Bath-Time Play Hacks
October 09, 2019 10:11 - 1 minute - 632 KBGetting kids in the bath can sometimes be a struggle. One way to make the routine easier is by including some fun play-time hacks with the nightly routine. Kids will have fun and get clean at the same time. Win-win! Still have pool noodles left over from a summer of pool time? Simply cut them into 2-inch pieces to create new bath-time toys. Let your kid stack, swirl, and play away. Freeze ice cubes with a little bit of natural food coloring.
5 Sanity-Saving Tips for Super-Busy Sports Moms
October 08, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 1.32 MBSports season can roll in like a hurricane and wreak utter havoc on your life if you don’t have a firm handle on schedules, uniforms, health forms, deadlines, and team contacts. Add in multiple kids in multiple sports, and your house, life, and family dynamics can become a total disaster zone. Remember that, above all, sports should be a fun experience — not only for you, but most important, for your child.
How to Make the Most of Single Mom Life
October 07, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 1.1 MBLife after divorce is a bit of a roller coaster at times, and it can be hard to navigate life as a single person when you’ve been used to someone sitting on the other end of the couch for a number of years. But let me be the first to tell you that being a single mom is anything but lonely, and actually, it can be pretty awesome and rewarding, as long as you make the most of it instead of telling yourself you aren’t complete without a partner.
5 Stress-Busting Beauty Hacks
October 04, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 683 KBLet’s be real. We’re moms, which means we hardly have time to take a shower, let alone do a full-on beauty routine each morning. So here are some hacks to help you maximize your time and try to avoid any beauty mishaps that often take more time to undo than to do right in the first place. 1. Quick-dry nails Painting our nails seems like a luxury from the past. But when you finally do get around to it, speed things along by dunking painted nails in icy water.
Baby Sleep Tips That Real Moms Swear By
October 03, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 845 KBGetting baby to go to sleep is no easy feat. They're fussy, crying, and unwilling to get some shut-eye. It seems as if they'll do whatever they can to stay awake. So it's time to pull out some tricks from your parenting arsenal and get that little one snoozing. We asked real moms (who wished to remain anonymous) to dish on their tried-and-true methods to get baby to sleep. Some are classics, some are a little "out there," but they’ve all done the trick. Here are a few of...
4 Things Not to Say to a Working Mom
October 02, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 732 KBWhen my husband and I decided to start a family, there was no question about it: I would be a working mom. Whether it's a choice for a woman to work once she has children, or if it's more out of necessity, certain things should just never be uttered to a mom who works. Here are just a few that really bug me: 1. Who raises your kids? Um. Last time I checked, that was me and my husband.
Fun Outdoor Fall Activities to Do With Kids
October 01, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 927 KBWell, moms? The dog days of summer are finally over. The kids are back in school, we’re finally back in a good routine, and much to our relief, the temperatures are getting cooler, so we can really enjoy the great outdoors. Honestly, there’s no better time of year to get outside and explore, now that the air is crisp and we don’t wind up in a pool of our own sweat at the end of the day.
6 Effortless & Effective Multitasking Tips for New Moms
September 30, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 812 KBThe baby’s crying (again). Yesterday’s dinner dishes are still in the sink. You can’t find a pair of clean socks. And your office emailed to see if you could just answer this one question. Life with an infant pulls you in a million directions at once. The only way to get it all done, it seems, is to take on six things at a time. But that’s easier said than done, so we’ve assembled these surefire tips to help you multitask through your crazy, busy, baby-centric days: 1. ...
4 Reasons Moms Love Wine
September 27, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 1010 KBIs there anything better than relaxing and unwinding at the end of the day with a nice glass of wine in hand? Let’s be honest, sometimes thinking about sipping on an evening cabernet sauvignon is the only thing that gets us through the day. And while we all know to drink responsibly, moms really don’t need to be ashamed of loving our wine. I’ll tell you why. First of all, wine is basically a binky for moms. It shuts us up, calms us down, and helps us sleep through the ni...
Surprising Tips for Getting Pregnant Faster
September 26, 2019 10:01 - 3 minutes - 1.51 MBOnce you've decided to start trying for a baby, you want to get pregnant fast. Not because the "trying" part isn't fun, obviously, but because you're so ready for baby. Unfortunately, when it comes to all the tricks and tips that purport to speed up conception, you'll probably hear a lot of crazy myths. (For the record, you don't need to have an orgasm, and taking cough syrup won't boost your fertility.) Before trying, see your OB for a preconception counseling visit. ...
No One Told Me I Wouldn’t Love Being Pregnant
September 24, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 738 KBWaddling into the restaurant, I found my friend and sat down. She patted my pregnant belly with such gusto that the baby inside rearranged itself directly onto my bladder. I fought the urge to pee — and lost. “Don’t you love being pregnant?” she asked. I recognized my cue.
Try These Makeup 'Magic Tricks' to Fake Looking Awake
September 23, 2019 10:02 - 2 minutes - 939 KBEvery sleep study under the sun seems to come to the same conclusion: We're not getting enough of it. Not that we really needed science to tell us that when it's written all over our face — literally. When copious amounts of coffee only serve to get you through school drop-off or that morning meeting yet do nothing in terms of making you look more awake, it's time to fake it 'til you make it with the right makeup and skincare.
4 Things to Think About When Picking a Middle Name for Your Baby
September 20, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 750 KBLet’s be honest — naming a baby is fun. But most of the brainstorming, research, hand-wringing and opinion-gathering focuses on first names. Middle names, while also important, are often more difficult to select. Here are things to keep in mind before you make your final decision. 1.
4 Genius Tips to Get Even the Laziest Kids to Help Around the House
September 19, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 645 KBGetting kids to do their chores is no easy feat. It's pretty common for kids to moan and groan about having to clean up their toys and feed Fido — and pretty normal, too. But study after study tells us it's not just helpful to get kids to pitch in around the house — it's also good for them. So how do you make them step up? Bring on the mom hacks! 1. Change the WiFi Password Want a quick and easy way to get them to do chores? Change the WiFi password.
5 Healthy On-the-Go Snacks for Kids
September 18, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 884 KBNow that the kids are back in school, we’re back to our busy routines of shuttling them around from here to there, whether that’s to class or after-school activities. As any mom knows, you’re bound to hear, “Mooommmmmm! I’m hungggrrrry!” coming from the back seat of the car while getting from point A to point B.
The Simple, Cheap Baby Product I Will Never Live Without
September 17, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 651 KBAs a mom of five, I’ve seen many hip baby products come and go throughout the years, but there’s one product I will never, ever live without. It’s my tried-and-true method for getting babies to sleep, and it’s cheap, effective, totally portable, available everywhere, and has even been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. What is it? It’s a fan. A simple, plain, old box fan.
3 Toddler Discipline Tricks That Don't Involve Spanking
September 16, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 775 KBLet’s face it, when toddlers go into meltdown mode, they basically turn into mini lunatics. If you’re not hyper-vigilant, you might find yourself promising them what they want just to get them to stop screaming. Then they learn they only have to scream to make Mommy batty enough to give into their tyrannical demands for "Paw Patrol" and chocolate. Sometimes you need a few creative options up your sleeve to get your little one to behave — or at least to calm down. ...
Back-to-School Tricks to Keep Moms Sane
September 13, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 777 KBThe reality (and panic) of back-to-school busyness hits moms every September. This year, though, trying some new strategies to spare yourself the added stress might just be worth it. Here are a few one mom recommends. Forget about the clothes — just forget it Every year, some deluded part of me is convinced that the kids absolutely need their fall and winter wardrobes by the time they head back to school.
3 Twists on Lunch Ideas to Keep Kids Happy
September 12, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 941 KBA new school year is underway, which means we’ve all said goodbye to the lazy days of summer and are back in our regular routines. Let’s get real — it’s kind of a relief when the kids go back to school, but then again, we have to get back into the habit of keeping them organized and getting them out the door on time. We also have to get up and pack them a lunch each school day.
Genius Mom Hacks to Try When Kids Are Sick
September 11, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 996 KBNothing brings out the “MacGyver mom” in all of us like a sick kid. Whether the little ones are feverish, coughing, or crying over a boo-boo, it's in our DNA to make them feel better by any means possible. And that's led moms to come up with some incredibly ingenious solutions for a whole range of medical woes. Ever heard of life hacks? Introducing first-aid hacks — ways to make the kiddos feel better with things we all have around the house.
4 Things To Never Say To a Stay-at-Home Mom
September 10, 2019 10:57 - 1 minute - 729 KBThink being a stay-at-home mom is for the June Cleaver era? Think again. Some of these moms are home because they "opted out" of their high-powered, well-paying jobs. Some of these moms are home because they have to be. Some of these moms are home simply because they want to be. Whatever their reason, there are four things no stay-at-home mom ever wants to hear: 1.
Real Skills Teachers Want Your Kindergartner To Know
September 09, 2019 10:02 - 1 minute - 645 KBWhen your child is about to start kindergarten, it’s normal for parents to worry if they’ve done enough to get them ready. Do I need to work with them on writing? Should they know all the basic math skills? The truth is, the academics aren’t what teachers are most concerned about when it comes to kindergarten readiness. Instead, here’s what real teachers said they wish kids would come in knowing instead. Kindergartners should be able to zip or button their own pants. ...
Bottle-Feeding Hacks to Make Mealtime With Baby So Much Easier
September 06, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1010 KBGetting a baby to feed is no easy task! Before they become ragamuffin kids eating pizza and french fries, babies first need to learn how to drink from bottles properly. And there are tips and tricks to make the process easier for mom as well! Because, let's face it, after trying to get the baby to feed, the last thing mom wants to do is go to the kitchen and sterilize dirty baby bottles.
3 Important Things I Wish I’d Known As a New Mom
September 05, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.21 MBNo matter how prepared you think you are for your first baby, the minute that little one arrives on the scene, it’s as if your whole world gets turned upside down in an instant. In the days before my son was born, I can remember thinking things like, “I’ve got this in the bag! Motherhood is going to be such an easy transition for me.” News flash: Not only was I wrong — I was DEAD wrong. I’ll just cut to the chase.
Here's What You Should Actually Do When You See Someone's Kid Having a Meltdown
September 04, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 586 KBIt’s a parenting inevitability: Your child will have a public meltdown. It happens to the best of us. So, here's what you should do when you witness another parent’s kid coming unglued — because one day it’ll be you in their shoes. First, don’t judge Good kids have bad days. So do good parents. And good parents have kids who aren’t always at their best in public. So keep the judgmental thoughts to yourself.
The One Birthing Product No One Tells You You'll Need
September 03, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 546 KBThese days, baby registries and pregnancy books are beyond thorough. They cover a variety of birth experiences for most every type of mom and baby. But, in all of my preparations for becoming a mom, not one person told me I should research birthing stools until I was having my fourth baby. If you’ve never heard of one, a birthing stool is a low, U-shaped stool that a laboring mom sits on — or perches on.
3 Genius DIY Toy Hacks That Will Keep Toddlers Busy for Hours
September 02, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 974 KBAny parent will tell you that your kid needs entertainment, at least some of the time. Failure to do so will result in a curious child who may or may not climb onto furniture, clog the toilet with toys because it's funny, smear an unidentifiable substance on the walls, and get into something you thought was safely stored away. Yeah, it's time to break out the toys, but not just any toys — something that you made yourself.
Kitchen Organization Hacks that Make a Space Feel Bigger
August 30, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 957 KBWhen it comes to the kitchen, organizing is no easy feat. Why is it that no kitchen ever seems large enough to fit all that is needed? In the interest of eliminating clutter and making sure everything has its place, we have gathered some of the best hacks for kitchen organizing that will not only make it easier to find that colander, but also help with flow and order. 1.
School Snack Ideas for When You're All Out of Ideas
August 29, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 714 KBIt’s back-to-school time, which means it’s also lunch and snack-packing time. We totally get it. So if you’re already scratching your head about healthy snack ideas, we’ve got you covered! Peanut butter and banana roll-ups are delicious and super easy to make. Simply spread peanut butter on a tortilla, place a peeled banana on one end and slowly roll it all together. No-bake energy balls are so simple to make.
Redshirting my Kindergartner Was the Best Decision
August 28, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 867 KBWith an August birthday, my son met the age cutoff for kindergarten when he was 5. But he wasn’t ready in many regards — and neither was I. They say “mama knows best,” and in this situation that couldn’t be more true. Yet, unlike a lot of other parents, I didn’t force my son to be a 6-year-old kindergartner because I wanted him to be the oldest, smartest, or biggest in his class.
4 Co-Parenting Tips That Make Life So Much Easier
August 27, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.22 MBLet’s face it — divorce is never easy, no matter how much two people know they aren’t right for each other and need to move on. But when you have kids thrown into the mix? Learning how to move from parenting together to parenting them while living in separate households can be all sorts of stressful.
4 Snack-Packing Hacks to Save Your Sanity
August 26, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 795 KBMoms have a love-hate relationship with snacks. We all love snacking, but we hate what sometimes happens to food when it travels. Cracker crumbs, brown apples, mushy peaches — a tragedy! So we've gathered up a smorgasbord of hacks to protect your yummy snacks from the ravages of time and travel. 1. Keep soft fruit from bruising If you can find one, pack your peach in a plastic container that's nearly the same size. If not, use an empty, clean Pringles or tennis ball can....
5 Real Mom Hacks for Taming the Morning Chaos
August 23, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.1 MBNo matter how long you’ve been doing “the mom thing,” mornings can still be a chaotic mess. Here are some ways real moms manage the chaos in their own house. Hopefully, one of their methods or hacks can help make your morning a little more peaceful. 1. Set a strict morning routine Laurel G.
4 Things to Do With Your Baby for 10 Minutes
August 22, 2019 21:24 - 1 minute - 718 KBIf you’re like most moms, you live your life in small, stolen snatches of time in which you may or may not have an actual whole thought to yourself. But to get those snatches of time? That’s easier said than done. If you have a baby on your hip, you might want to file away these tips to help you gain 10 minutes — or more — for yourself. 1.
6 Genius Cleaning Hacks
August 21, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 888 KBLet’s face it: Cleaning sucks, so let us help you make it a little less awful with these genius hacks. 1. Use Tongs to Clean Your Blinds Blinds are a total pain to clean, but here’s how to make it easier: Secure microfiber cloths on a pair of tongs using rubber bands. Then use the tongs to grip and clean each blind individually. 2. Your Dishwasher Can Clean More Than You Think Using your dishwasher to clean only the dishes? How basic.
Mom Confession: My Kid Eats Dinner in Front of the TV
August 20, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.03 MBOK, I’m just gonna go ahead and cut to the chase on this one. I am not, nor have I ever been, one of those people who enjoys sitting around the dinner table every night, making small talk about what went on during the day, not to mention having to set the table and clear the table at the end of the meal — condiments and all. Seriously, we are all so over-scheduled and overwhelmed as moms. Who has time for all that fancy stuff? And that’s why I have a shameless confessio...
Genius Breastfeeding Hacks to Make Life as a Nursing Mom So Much Easier
August 19, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 899 KBJust because breastfeeding is natural doesn't mean it's always easy! Luckily, there are some time-tested tricks of the trade to make dealing with challenges — from pumping and storing milk to dealing with engorgement and fussy feeders — a whole lot easier. We've rounded up some of the most useful tips that will save moms both time and frustration. 1.
How to Eat Out With a Toddler — Without Screens
August 16, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 928 KBWe get it: Taking a toddler to eat at a restaurant might be one of the hardest things you ever experience in your life. But it is doable — even without screens. Here’s how: 1. Pick a Kid-Friendly Restaurant We tend to check Yelp!, but if the reviews are not explicit enough, call ahead and ask if they have highchairs. These places usually also have crayons and other things to entertain the kids while they wait.
After the Baby, We Got Rid of Our Dog
August 15, 2019 20:10 - 1 minute - 887 KBBefore we had our son, our dog Levi made us a family. We planned our evenings around taking him to the dog park, and pictures of him dominated our social media pages. When I became pregnant, we didn’t consider him the family pet — he was the older brother. And when we brought our son home from the hospital, our eyes welled with tears as we saw this 60-pound ball of energy slowly sniff out his new family member and lay down his giant head next to our sleeping baby. ...
Celebrity Pregnancy Hacks That Just Might Come in Handy
August 14, 2019 10:01 - 2 minutes - 1.01 MBBelieve it or not, celeb moms — who've been there and done that — can be a true lifeline when it comes to navigating the woes of being pregnant. They often have great hacks to share, including how to get better sleep during those sometimes uncomfortable months. Here’s what helped these famous mamas get through their pregnancies.
5 Back-to-School Lunchbox Hacks Every Mom Needs in Her Life
August 13, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 887 KBSome kids want the same thing EVERY SINGLE DAY for their school lunch. Other kids want variety. As a mom, you just want them to eat something healthy that will boost their brain so they can learn as much as they can. But man, making lunches every day can be a chore. Here are five lunchbox hacks that will not only help you provide nourishment for your student, but will also save you time in the mornings. Can I get a hallelujah? 1.
Household Items That Double as Toys for Toddlers
August 12, 2019 10:01 - 1 minute - 881 KBIf you’re like any other toddler mom, then your living room probably looks more like a toy store than a place where the family sits to recharge and relax. Am I right? With so many different toys on the market for our little ones, it can sometimes be tough to resist buying the latest and greatest thing every time we hit the toy aisle. But when it comes to toddlers, they tend to play with one thing a handful of times before deciding they’re completely bored with it. ...