An Ignoble Experiment: [Parent Hacks] 3 new posts in Parent Hacks

2009/03/02

[Parent Hacks] 3 new posts in Parent Hacks

Hello, ignoble.experiment@arconati.us, and thank you for subscribing to Parent Hacks. Got a hack you'd like to share? Send it to hacks@parenthacks.com, along with your name and Web address (if you'd like us to link to you).

Amazon deals: Graco backless TurboBooster, headphones, iPod FM transmitter, Swiss army knives

A new month usually brings a new round of promotions at Amazon. Here's what I found during my initial poke around the site:

25% off Graco Backless TurboBooster seat
If you have the TurboBooster (my favorite booster seat), you only need to remove the back to get the backless version. But if you're a carpooler or regular chauffer to little ones, it's handy to keep a second booster in the car. Good price -- not sure how long it will last.

50% off headphones (including kids and noise-canceling models)
We have found that, for our sound-sensitive son, noise-canceling headphones have been a godsend while traveling, and even on drives home from school. You can find an inexpensive pair that may not be as perfect-in-quality as the pricey models, but they will do just fine for your kids' music and Gameboy play.

Belkin FM Transmitter for the iPod 88% off!
Could this be a pricing mistake? As I write this, this FM adapter is 88% off ($9.95, usually $79.95). We use one of these (unsure of which brand) in the car so we can listen to the iPod without a direct plug-in jack.

50% or more off Swiss army knives
Woo hoo! Swiss army knives are on sale again! They're the inspiration for the Parent Hacks logo and an indispensable part of any Parenthacker's arsenal.

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Shorten pajamas with first aid tape

Kendra's quick, no-sew pajama-hemming hack:

We're big fans of superhero PJs and sleep pants, but we either have to buy several sizes too big to even get a pair (e.g. Life Is Good lounge pants) or the buggers are simply far too long.

After about the millionth cuffing / quick-basting / waistband rolling gave out, I found a better way: Nexcare first aid tape! I use the 1-inch wide Flexible Clear Tape. I turn the pants inside out, fold to the right length, and tape the cuffs down all the way around. The tape has made it through multiple washes (even on shrink-prone cotton pants) and I can remove it and lower the "hemming" as the kids grow. You can see a flat line where the tape is once the pants are turned back around, but since it's PJs, no one cares. And the tape is bendy enough that even my super-sensitive eldest kid doesn't mind how it feels on his legs.

We got our tape at the local grocery store. I've seen it in several big-box pharmacy stores too.

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Baby Swing Renaissance: Save Money with Parts Replacement

This guest post is by the lovely, brilliant Adrienne Jones of Baby Toolkit.

When we had our first child, a friend loaned us their baby swing. Our son loved it. I shared that love because it offered me some opportunities outside of nap time to get things done.

Soon after the birth of our second child, I started shopping for a similar Fisher Price cradle swing. At $120, I was not excited to buy one new, nor was I looking forward to storing it after it was outgrown.

An email to some friends quickly located another loaner swing. Our daughter loves being in the swing, so we were distressed when it started moving more slowly each day. After a week of slowing, the swing stopped moving entirely (though it still made noises like it was operational).

As our daughter was the swing's third rider, it was no wonder that swing might be wearing down. A Google search suggested the problem might be the motor, so I called Fisher Price to investigate.

While the 5 year old swing was no longer under warranty, they did have a replacement motor housing in stock. The part with standard shipping cost $32, a dramatic improvement up on the $120 new pricetag.

A week later, the part arrived. Rather than being a motor to place inside the white plastic housing, it turned out to be a replacement of everything except the legs, swing arm, seat, and plush fish that dangle from the mobile.

With an Allen wrench, I was able to swap the parts to the new motor housing in less than 20 minutes.

We saved $88 in replacement costs (versus buying a new swing), and my friend will get a visually identical, but functionally improved swing in return for her kindness in loaning it.

Related: The bare-bones baby gear guide