parent hacks Archives - Bright Star Kids

Best Mum Hacks By Real Mums

naomi — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 08:00:36 +0000

7 Real Mums and Their Best Mum Hacks Revealed

Get to know these amazing mums as they share with Bright Star Kids their best mum hacks that make mum life such a breeze. Because you can be a mum, be great at it, and look awesome, too!

1. Ashleigh, mum of 4

Ashleigh, a 29-year-old Content Creator from Queensland, Australia, is a proud mum to 4 beautiful Lebanese-Aboriginal babies named Zahli 8, Lamar 6, Tyriq 4, and Jakai 2.

Get to know more about Ashleigh on Instagram.

Her most-used mum hacks:

I always make the kids’ school lunches the night before. It’s a serious game-changer.
I always carry sunscreen, hand sanitiser, and baby wipes in the car, because you just never know when you will need them.
Home-made Play-Doh is where it’s at. No nasties, and it’s so quick and easy to make.
Breakfast for dinner. During the week, things can get a little chaotic, so sometimes, when I don’t feel like cooking, we will have bacon and eggs and the kids love it!
I always pre-chop up fruit and have it accessible to the kids in the fridge for when they want a quick snack.
Everything we have to do or attend is on a planner each week on the fridge.
We have a separate drawer for kids’ cutlery, so they can help with getting things ready for dinner.
We try and get the kids’ stuff ready the night before, so it’s all ready for them to get dressed in the mornings.
Sometimes, I wake up before everyone just so I can have a coffee in peace and get myself ready before everyone else gets up.
I always have frozen ice packs in case the kids hurt themselves.

2. Joey, mum of 4

Joey is a Sydney-based Content Creator who regularly posts about fun toy reviews and recommendations with her precious bubs.

Follow Joey and her lovely brood of 4 on Instagram.

She shares her Top 5 mum hacks:

Always prepare the night before.
Love using Bright Star Kids labels, so my children always remember which is theirs
Personalised Bright star kids school bag especially if they just started school easier for them to recognise their property
Get groceries delivered, no need to drag along 4 kids doing the groceries
I always keep a small bag with activities in the car for the little ones to keep them busy and no screaming during car rides

3. Erinn, mum of 1

Erinn is a proud mum of a dashing 4-year-old boy named Emmett. Get to know more about their gorgeous family on Instagram.

Erinn shares: We love all things matching and personalised. We enjoy slow lazy mornings with action-packed afternoons!

I literally use my car as a baby bag. Everything I could possibly require is in my car! It saves you from carrying a huge bag around with everything in it. I just purchased a large plastic container and put it in the boot. All is set to go–everything from spare clothing to wipes.
For me, I vowed to never be a backpack mum, and to be honest, I never owned one. Then my son really wanted one with a truck on it and his name, of course! So we got the Bright Star kids backpack which is the perfect size for on the go. To this day, my son loves packing his own bag which he mostly fills with snacks and his toys. It’s a task that he loves to do all on his own.
To make Christmas shopping easier for all the little ones amongst family and my friends’ kids, I always start with a Bright Star kids personalised stocking and then I fill the stocking with all that child’s gifts! Makes it easy to know what you have for who and saves so much time and when gifting everyone looks the same!
I also learned pretty quickly to always get yourself ready but not dressed to leave the house till last, this saves you from all the breakfast spills and ensures you can at least start the day without toast marks down your shirt.
Label everything you own! That way you won’t lose anything. Well, hopefully not. Sometimes you just have so many things to remember, it’s hard to pack up all your belongings. At least if they are labelled, you have a pretty good chance of it returning to you!

4. Lisa, mum of 3

Lisa loves documenting and creating content highlighting her busy mum life to 3 beautiful kids.

Get a glimpse of their fun family life on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook!

She says: I definitely feel the struggles of Mum life and the day-to-day running of an organised household. Here are my 5 Mum hacks to make your life a bit more organised and manageable:

Sprinkle a little baby powder over your children’s skin after a day at the beach. The powder stops the sand from sticking and you will no longer find sand all through the car.
Use Bright Star Kids easy to apply labels to all of your children’s daycare clothes and you will never lose them again.
When I have to go to work early in the morning, I dress my kids in their daycare clothes straight after their bath at night, then I don’t have to go through the stress of waking them to get them dressed in the morning.
To keep dolls’ hair knot-free, I add 1 part fabric softener to 2 parts water into a spray bottle. Spray on the dolls’ hair, comb through and allow to dry. My kids also love playing hairdressers and using this spray on their dolls.
The Bright Star Kids Jumbo Santa Sacks are a great way to put all of your child’s presents together ready for Christmas Morning. The added bonus is you can use it every year and you don’t have to wrap each and every present. Sustainable and a time saver!

5. Steph, mum of 2

Steph runs the Instagram social media account @TheVaraTribe that’s all about motherhood and interiors. She also loves supporting small businesses and sharing the products she loves most.

Find out more about Steph and her kids Anthony and Amelia on Instagram.

Here are some of Steph’s best mum hacks:

Make everything a game. Have you noticed how competitive kids and toddlers are? When you’re running late or are struggling to encourage your kids, make it fun and pretend it’s a game!
Invest in a large freezer, I personally love to cook and buy my meat in bulk. When the day has been crazy, I always have something in the freezer to cook or reheat.
We love to use a meal planner it just gives me peace of mind and takes the stress of thinking about what to cook every night. We love using the Meal Planner notepad from Bright Star Kids. The designs are customisable and it attaches easily to the fridge.
Don’t stop dating your partner! It’s so important to make time for your relationship. Once a week or at least once a month, go out to dinner or put the kids to bed early. Also, make it a rule not to talk about the kids.
Organisation is really important to me. Everything in my house has its own spot. Labels on the kids’ toys really help develop the children’s awareness of the relationship between words and objects. Bright Stars Kids labels are my go-to when I need to label anything. The quality is really great!

6. Kristie, mum of 2

On the weekend, you will generally find this mum with a coffee nearby the beach, parks, tracks, or attempting to ride a scooter to keep up with her active boys. Life’s too short not to be lived!

Keep up with Kristie and her adorable boys on Instagram and Facebook.

Kristie shares her top mum hacks:

I always prepare a bento box daily even if we have no plans. Children are the biggest snack munchers and are always wanting food. This also makes it super easy if we have last-minute plans to grab ‘n’ go.
Every week, when our food shop comes, we always pre-cut everything. It saves so much time throughout the week.
Once a month I will go through a toy cleanse and put it in the dishwasher for an easy but effective clean.
Baby wipes are life. It quite literally cleans our entire house.
Throughout the year I will collect Christmas gifts where I store in the Santa sack. It is then kept safe inside a

pillow slip, so the kiddies don’t find them.

7. Christina, mum of 2

Christina, who lives in Sydney’s beautiful inner west and works part-time in banking, runs the blog MadeForMadison and is a mum to 2 beautiful girls, Madison 8, and Macie 6.

Read up more about Christina and her beautiful girls on Instagram.

Check out her best mum hacks:

Meal plan: Every Sunday, plan out your meals for the next 7 days. This is will help you stay sane, save money, and avoid take-out in the process. I started meal planning recently and it’s been amazing and has saved lots of money and time plus have been cooking a variety of dishes.
Family planner fridge magnet: Our family planner from Bright Star Kids has helped me stay on top of the whole family’s activities and appointments. Being on our fridge, the whole family can see it and add to it as we go! It’s been a lifesaver!!
Diffuser for calming: Every morning, put on a diffuser. Let the aromatic mist permeate through your home with essential oil to distribute relaxing scents or increase moisture levels to make any stale room feel livelier!
Quick tidy: Every night put on a clean-up song before bed (we use kids’ one) and get the kids to help tidy up. They get so excited hearing the song and find it fun! The whole family does it together while the song is playing and you would be surprised how much gets done in the short 3 min song with the whole family contribution.
Lunchtime: Personalise your kids’ lunchboxes! The kids used to come home with different lunch boxes and would often lose them till we started using Bright Star Kids personalised Bento boxes! I let the kids pick their font and design from their massive selection.

Post and tag us on Facebook and Instagram. Who knows? We might feature your amazing tips and hacks on our blog, too!

Want More Busy Mum Hacks?

Read about our Meal Planning Tips and Meal Prep Ideas. You’ll love our Clever Fridge Storage Hacks! And if you’re prepping for back-to-school season, you’ve got to check out our Back To School Hacks for busy parents.

Organising Your Kids’ Belongings?

You’ve got to label everything! Personalise your kids’ stuff with cute designs from our kids’ name labels range. We’ve also got backpacks, lunch bags, and drink bottles that you can personalise in coordinated designs! The best part? It’s made for you in Australia and shipped super fast! You’re going to love them!

The post Best Mum Hacks By Real Mums appeared first on Bright Star Kids.

Genius Newborn Baby Hacks For Newbie Parents

naomi — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 00:22:01 +0000

Newborn Baby Hacks: Clever Tips For First Time Parents

Image Credits: @pamariaston

Getting ready for your little one’s arrival? Pick up some of our best newborn baby hacks to help you get through the first few weeks. It can be overwhelming, we know! So, we’ve listed down only the simplest but most practical hacks for you!

1. Newborn Baby Kit

Image Credits: New Born Baby Australia

Have a newborn baby essentials checklist to make prepping all your newborn essentials a walk in the park! From bringing home your baby from the hospital to sleeping and breastfeeding essentials–this list has you covered.

Bright Star Kids Parent Hack: Get a personalised backpack for your newborn’s essentials, so you don’t get it mixed up with other bags. Place it in the car, so you don’t forget anything before that frantic drive to the hospital.

2. Milestones and Memories

Image Credits: Instagram @calais_emerson

Never miss a chance to document all your little one’s milestones. It’s unbelievable how babies grow so fast, it’s important to take heaps of photos of them growing up!

Bright Star Kids Parent Hack: Grab baby milestone cards, so you can capture and preserve every memory. You can personalise them with your little bub’s name, too!

3. Baby Cues

Learn your baby’s cues to know exactly what they need when they need it. Save yourself the stress and energy. Be ready with all the things they need.

4. Blissful Breastfeeding

This simple mum hack works wonders for breastfeeding mums! Make this DIY hands-free breast pump bra, so you can save money or buy yourself a self-care treat for being a such genius mum!

Bright Star Kids Feeding Hack: Whether you’re breastfeeding or formula feeding, make it a breeze by using dry erase labels for your frozen breast milk stash and baby milk bottles! Label them with their names, date, and the time you made them, so you know which one to grab first–especially if it’s dad’s turn to feed! He’ll need a little help. Label, label is the answer!

Image Credits: Dry Erase Labels from Brightstarkids

5. Master The Diaper

Here’s a complete guide on baby diapers every new parent will love! Know the basics tips, do’s and don’ts, plus compare types of diapers, sizing, and brands. Learn what’s works for you and what’s best for your baby, too!

6. Onesie Wonder

Ever wondered what those seams were for? This little onesie hack makes it easy for you to change your baby’s clothes when there’s a poop blowout! Keep your baby clean by pulling the onesie to one side instead of pulling it up.

Image credits: Instagram @thevaratribe

7. Bathtime Buddies

Make baby’s bathtime fuss-free with a baby shower cap. This little trick helps them feel a bit at ease and makes sure no shampoo and soap gets into their eyes. Bye-bye tears and no more bath time fears!

Got More Newborn Hacks?

Share them with us! Post and tag us on Facebook and Instagram. Who knows? We might just feature your amazing tips and hacks on our blog.

Need More Helpful Parenting Hacks?

We got you, busy parents! You’ll love our Easy Meal Prep Ideas and Fridge Storage hacks that will save you time and money. Enjoy parenthood as you should!

Organising Your Newborn Baby Kit?

You’ll love our personalised backpacks that will come in handy for your trip to the hospital and whenever you’re on the go with your little one! Don’t forget to grab our baby bottle labels, too! Personalise all your baby essentials and choose from a variety of super cute designs. The best part? These are all made for you in Australia and shipped super fast! You’re going to love them!

The post Genius Newborn Baby Hacks For Newbie Parents appeared first on Bright Star Kids.

The Ultimate Christmas Morning Hack for Parents

naomi — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 23:35:13 +0000

Best Christmas Morning Hack Ever

Want to have the perfect Christmas morning? Here’s a clever Christmas hack that you’ll thank us for later.
Prepare a Christmas Morning Survival Kit, so you can celebrate a festive and clutter-free Christmas morning with the family.

Image Credits: Instagram @thegrumblegang
Personalised Christmas Stockings by @brightstarkids

What Is It?

It can be a box, a basket, or any container to stash all the tools you’ll need to cut, tape, and pack away gift wrap, set up toys, and more!

What’s In It and What Are They For?

Pair of scissors and other cutting tools – cut open packages and undo zip ties
Batteries in all sizes – for anything and everything battery-operated
Tool kit with screwdrivers, Allen key set, etc – handy tools for toys
Sandwich bags – where tiny parts and pieces should go, so you don’t lose them! Remember to label!
Garbage bags – for discarded gift wrappers (don’t forget to recycle!)
Tapes – to seal, secure, and put together things
Sticker labels – to label everything that needs to be properly labelled

Image Credits: Confessions Of An Overworked Mom Blog

More Christmas Morning Survival Hacks:

Use Christmas Jumbo Santa Sacks to store all those unwrapped presents. Aside from keeping the mess at bay, it saves their gifts getting mixed up too! They make an instant and practical personalised toy storage solution!

You can also use your laundry basket or storage tubs to do this. Instantly pack away everything in one go & have the kids take them straight to their room in one trip!

Parent Hack: Use tub labels for each storage bin or basket with their name and assign a spot or corner where they can unwrap their gifts. Mum, Dad, you’re a genius!!!

Image Credits: Instagram @living_the_blessed_life

Prepare a quick and easy breakfast.

From a buffet-style menu of bread, pastries, to an instant meal or a one-pot dish, we’ve found some Christmas breakfast ideas you can easily make while still enjoying your Christmas morning.

Here are some more ideas to keep you relaxed and away from the mess:

Coffee, Tea, or Cocoa – get these ready early so you have overflowing drinks prepared for yourselves, kids, and guests
Paper plates and cups so there’s no need to wash anything after
Tray or tub where everyone just places their used plates, glasses, and cutlery to keep them off the table and neatly stacked near the sink instead.
Sippy cups and travel mugs – avoid any spills on their presents, clothes, and carpet. Minimise the mess early & you’ll have less to clean when everyone’s gone home!

Image Credits: My Life and Kids Blog

Christmas Morning Playlist

Hype the family up on Christmas morning with a Christmas playlist. No time to create your own playlist? Just open Spotify or Youtube with their own Top Christmas songs you can play on repeat!

Thank you Cards

Write your Thank you Cards on the spot for every present that you open. This way you make sure everyone is acknowledged for their gifts, thoughts, and gestures. Clever right?!

Christmas Family Photo Hacks

Image Credits: Instagram @ivonehendarta

Coordinated PJs – wear the night before so when everyone wakes up to open presents, their clothes are perfectly coordinated for nice photos to be taken
Have a fully charged camera or phone ready
Camera stand – so everyone is in the photo; don’t forget to set your camera to timer

Parent Hack: Pop a mirror behind your camera so the kids look towards the camera. It’s an especially great tip if you want to take some fun & silly photos with the kids.

Got More Genius Christmas Morning Hacks?

Share them with us! Post and tag us on Facebook and Instagram. Who knows we might feature your amazing tips and hacks on our blog too?!

Looking For More Christmas Ideas?

Read about Christmas Food Ideas that you can prep for your menu on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We’ve also got a Free Christmas paper placemat printable you can use to entertain your kids at the table!

Organising Your Christmas Gifts?

Once the Christmas holidays are over, you’ll be back to organising and we’ve got an awesome stationery range that you can use for everything you’ll ever need— from dry erase shopping lists to meal planner notepads and more! The best part? These are all made for you in Australia and shipped super fast! You’re going to love them!

The post The Ultimate Christmas Morning Hack for Parents appeared first on Bright Star Kids.