If you find yourself eating donuts in the closet so that you have them all to yourself, it’s pretty obvious: you have kids. As you probably know, having kids can be a real rollercoaster complete with ups, downs, twists, and turns!

For this article, Smalljoys collected some hacks from experienced parents that will make your life a little bit easier and help you stay on top of things — even if you have kids running around.

1. The sorting game

Want to buy yourself some time to enjoy a cold brew in peace (look for the recipe at the end of the article)? Ask your kid to sort some little toys, different kinds of pasta or any other little things that can be found around the house into a muffin pan.

2. Toilet paper stopper

Tired of your kid wasting paper and clogging the toilet? This simple trick can teach your kid how to use just enough toilet paper, saving you some money and your nerves.

3. Tooth fairy money

Losing teeth is no fun. But you can make this experience special for your child. Put some glittery hairspray on a dollar bill you’re planning on gifting them so they’ll be looking forward to getting more money from the tooth fairy.

4. The anti-dripper

Hot summer days call for some cool refreshments such as ice cream or popsicles — not doing laundry. This simple hack using a cupcake liner will help your munchkins stay clean and mess-free so you can do something more enjoyable, other than laundry.

5. The dot method

If you have kids of the same gender, in order to not get their clothes mixed up, put a dot on the tag for one kid and two dots for the other one.

6. Monster spray

Make an easy spray for the monsters under the bed if your child is afraid of them. You can use anything from simple water to linen spray. Works like a charm!

7. Shoelace size guide

Shopping for kids’ shoes without them can be overwhelming. To make it a bit easier, measure your kid’s size with a shoelace, tie it, and put it in your purse. This way it will always be with you (even if your kid is not) on those random shopping sprees.

8. Mess-free painting

Painting time shouldn’t be a nightmare of yours anymore! Put a paper sheet in a ziplock bag, squeeze some paint inside, close it and watch your child be a little Picasso without getting everything dirty.

9. Diaper pail freshener

Let’s be honest — diaper pails can get really stinky. To naturally combat the smell, put a little bit of baking soda on the bottom of the pail or garbage bin. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the baking soda for an even nicer smell.

10. Pacifier clips for toys

To prevent your little one from throwing away a toy in a public place, use a pacifier clip and attach it to her clothes. This way the toy won’t get lost and it won’t touch any gross surfaces.

11. Stain remover

Getting rid of stains on baby clothes is no easy task. What if we told you that you don’t need to buy any special stain remover? The most affordable stain remover that can be found almost anywhere is…the sun! It works real wonders on whites and colors.

12. Baby gear trials

Baby gear can be rather expensive and you never know if your baby will love or hate it. To avoid wasting money, buy the necessary stuff before your baby is born, and afterward, take the baby to the store and let them try different things to see what they like.

13. Prioritize

Don’t you love those sweet moments of silence when your little one is napping? But that peace doesn’t last long when you remember all the things on your to-do list! But what do you start with first? Do the dishes? Or make phone calls? We suggest doing the things that can be most tricky or that seem impossible to do when the baby is asleep and leave the rest to do when they wake up.

14. Necessity kit

Put together a little basket of things that you need for your baby and put it in every room of the house that you go to with them. This way you won’t need to go back and forth every time your baby has an accident.

15. Say yes to delivery

Having a baby is stressful in itself, so you probably want to eliminate any additional stressors. To do this, try getting delivered as many things as possible. Groceries, clothes, baby products, you name it! This will also give you more time to spend with your little one.

16. Cleaning up

The mess that appears everywhere once you have a kid is beyond belief. In order not to feel overwhelmed when you are trying to clean it up at night, clean a little every time you move to another room throughout the day.

17. A glove full of rice

Try out this hack if nothing else helps soothe or keep your baby asleep. This will give you a few minutes to breathe and relax. Please be sure to watch your baby closely while doing this.

18. The power of a flashlight

You don’t need to feel mortified or embarrassed anymore in the grocery store when your kid yells and takes stuff off the shelves. Give the little one a flashlight or a laser pointer and tell them to point to the item that they want.

19. Say yes to cornstarch.

Did you know that baby powder is made out of cornstarch? Now you do. If you run out of baby cream or powder, just sprinkle a bit of cornstarch on the diaper area.

20. Washcloth to the rescue

Put some apple sauce or fruit puree on a clean washcloth and put it in the freezer for a few hours. This is a great remedy for a teething little one since it’s not too cold and tastes sweet.

Bonus: coffee recipe